#MusicInTheAir Podcast hosts this week :
MAXI MERAKI

There is no end to new artists for Villahangar. For this week’s MusicInTheAir Podcast we have a new Belgian artist, born in Kortrijk in the early 90s, who then studied and lived in Antwerp for ten years and now lives in the Brussels capital region: Maki Meraki, whose sound is a true symbiosis between the sound of the old school and the new melodic rhythms: connections between raw disco rhythms and melodic house.

Tell us about your today’s Podcast: “I started the mix with the new “Hayibo” and then took flight to some more melodic songs with the new remix of &ME on Dj Koze’s Pampa records. Then we fly through the clouds with Sebastian Leger from All Day I Dream. To conclude again with some more melodic beats and conclude the flight with a happy remix of Musumeci!”

As for his musical taste, he explains: “Now I would describe it as a mixture of raw disco rhythms and melodic house. I’ve always been a fan of those classic series from the 80s with bright tones. Now I still like them, try mixing them with melodic (afro) house sounds!”

For him, the popular Miami Vice series was decisive. His notoriuous soundtracks and overall style influenced Maki Meraki’s musical taste, taking him to underground disco and melodic house: brilliant tones which he kept in his sets.

The DJs and producers he follows closely lately are Black Coffee, Echonomist and the guys from Keinemusik.

Fascinated by new sounds and music, he has worked with labels such as, just to name a few, Nervous records, Future Disco, SUDAM Recordings, ARTWRK, Suprematic and True Romance by German DJ Tensnake. He says: “Sudam really is a label that is emerging and growing with every release! Waiting for what the future of Jonathan’s (Dj Kintar) label will bring. Then the Nervous label has been there for a long time and is known for some incredible releases!”

Maxi Meraki’s songs are supported and played by artists such as Themba, Claptone, Roger Sanchez, Todd Terry, BLOND:ISH and Pete Tong on BBC1.

For this year 2022 he will play again in some festivals. To name 2 in Belgium: the tenth anniversary of Extrema Outdoor in June and our Voodoo village will be a memorable edition next September.

What music do you listen to when you take off your DJ headphones?

Do I really have to answer this question? (Haha) It depends a bit on the mood and on where I am; at home, in the car, at the office… Mostly I start my morning routine with some Ibiza Global Radio, then in the afternoon with some disco or melodic house sets from the 70s and in the evening when I cook or with friends sometimes we put some classy jazz songs by Peaky Blinders.

What are your plans for the present and the immediate future? Do you have new projects coming soon?

First of all, I can’t wait for the release of my EP at your record label VillaHangar. I tested the tracks a lot on sets and mixtapes and they always work. So, I can’t wait for them to be released too! I’m also working on a lot of new music and of course a lot of time is being invested in our wonderful Voodoo Village festival that will take place from 10th to 11th September!

Speaking of releases, what were your most recent projects, what are the current ones and those of the near future?

The most recent was my release for the Suprematic label. Before that I founded my own label called “Promised Land Records” with which I just released my first release. The next release will also be on this label somewhere at the end of May!

What do you think about the Belgian music scene? What do you think are the differences with the rest of Europe?

The club scene is no longer what it used to be; of course, we still have many famous artists. While clubs tend to be more commercial, our events and festivals bring together many DJs and talents in the more melodic and underground house scene! We hope for more in the near future!

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

Obviously, there is a change in the genres and artists that come with these genres. However, I am very happy that even female artists like Chloé Caillet and the South African talent Desiree have the chance to start influencing people with their musical tastes; how difficult this (musical) world can be!