#MusicInTheAir Podcast hosts this week :
ALFONSO ARES

The artist protagonist of this week’s MusicInTheAir is Alfonso Arés. Born and raised in a small town of Cuenca, Spain, he lives between Madrid and Ibiza.

He started his career in electronic music 15 years ago, in the Madrid club scene. His keywords? Experience and innovation, maturing them from the smaller disco venues to well-known clubs around Spain, quickly passing to festivals and large productions, such as Sensation and Goa, which allowed him to make the leap on the international scene.

His is a deep love for music, with a solid foundation: a deep passion for the history of electronic music. This is evident from his DJ sets, which began with house music and then progressed profoundly from the technology point of view.

For Alfonso Arés, commitment focuses on rhythm and above all quality. As a producer Alfonso Arés has continuously polished his sound. His work has already been recognized for his style which shares roots with labels as the New York based Nite Grooves, the Italian Lapsus Music and the Holland based Playmobil. But also, with the spanish Regular, the dutch Klopfgeist, or Ghost Highway Recordings.

Thanks to his skills, and a large knowledge of the different styles, he has demonstrated his versatility in the studio.

Concerning the releases, the song “Tartaro Travel feat. Ehsan Yadollahi” is coming on Redolent Music in a month or two. He says; ““Bloco feat. Siwo” is coming on Inward Records, I believe in December. Both of them will be in Various Artists releases”. He worked with labels such as Animo, Nite Grooves, Prospectives Digital, Lapsus Music, Inward Records, Street King, Polyptych Limited, Suprematic, Highway Records, Playmobil Series, Oh My God! Records, Regular.

He played at the Vagalume in Tulum´s Vagalume, Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE), BOHO in Beach House Ibiza, Akasha Ibiza, Pareidolia, Goa and Marbella´s Playa Padre and Momento.

“I would share the decks with everyone who is good and kindly person, not tags in this business for me”.

In 2014, Alfonso Arés pushing himself to the next level, he launched “Animo”, a Madrid-based label that releases music by renowned talents, he promotes events focused on creating a unique experience. But that’s not all: he designs and manufactures exclusive products for professionals and music lovers, dealing with the design of professional booths for clubs, DJs and home studios: an exclusive production based on natural finishes and innovative design in the name of creativity and craftsmanship.

www.animosystem.com | www.weareanimo.com

Regarding his projects, he says: “Currently I have a few tracks releases coming on Inward and Redolence confirmed and new music already finished and masterized looking for labels to be released. By other hand few weeks ago we were in Amsterdam Dance Event with my project Animosystem, where we develop dj furnitures as official brand partner. We showcased 6 models in official venues like Felix Meritis or Brakke Grond during Ade Pro and Ade Lab and we are so happy for the welcome hosting that we felt: it is a new offer with the goal democratize its own music space offering customize of dj console”.

And he adds: “For the next year we are preparing a residence on Tulum with Animo and preparing two music releases in Animo with very good remixes. With Animo we have a good release plan with tracks from Bruno Zarra, remixes by The magic cube and Sylva Drums, and Bodaishin & Lupe Republic. Those releases are getting super nice feedbacks like Sven Tasnadi, Nicolas Masseyeff, Beatamines, Mandy, Nadia, Black coffee, Magic Cacoon, Alex Neri, Dole & Kom or Marco Faraone”.

Concerning the DJ sets, he is in fact planning a good season in Tulum, with the possibility to play in Brazil, Colombia, Panama and Costa Rica but not yet confirmed.

For his Podcast for Villahangar, he says: “This time I focus on deep and underground vibes without afro touch. Trying to create a hypnotical journey with harmonic guide which talks of a music travel from the start to the end of the set”.

How would you define your musical style today? And were there any differences with the past, an evolution over time?

Difficult question, maybe can be Ethnical TECH walking between minimal house, afro with underground groove touch, with a rhythmical and mental leit motiv. I play since my teenage age, the style of course changed. In this moment of my life, I can say that I loved 90´s trance style, after years I was very connected with underground house and minimal tech music, it is becoming a natural evolution to the music that I use to play today more into organic, afro and ethnic flavor, supported by tech groove and mental and hypnotic lines.

Which musical genres influence you the most and what music do you listen to when you take off your DJ headset?

From lo fi, ambient, dub tech, international folk and hits on the music story from 70´s to 90´s. Ambient, Dub tech, hypnotical breaks and international folk.

When and how was your first meeting with music?

Uffff, I remember in the 80´s to listen lot of radio programs influenced by my big brothers, remembering to record the music that we liked on tapes and later this process, disintegrate it and manual cut and paste it with cellophane and scissors.

Your artists / DJs / producers of reference or what advice do you follow?

Well, basically I love lot of producers, difficult to choose a few names to write here even nowadays with all the online music offer but Volen Sentir, Kellerkind, Sebastien Leger, Tayllor, Adam Port.

What do you think about the music scene of the country you live in and what do you think are the differences with Europe?

Nowadays it is living a very good moment due to music production. Djs & clubs are emerging with non-stop focusing in Madrid where I´m more connected. I love all the countries and of course visit them, in my opinion each of them has his own identity and music flavor.

What evolution do you think electronic music is experiencing on the international scene?

Nowadays the electronic music lives the best freedom of releases in the whole life. Twenty years ago, you had to be approved by the big labels to be published by them in physical formats, today exist lot of online platforms and servers where small labels push opportunities to emerging artist. So, it creates super big offer of good and also bad music, being each time more difficult to find the one you are looking for.