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Over the past decade in particular the world has built an affinity for the originative electronic mutation that’s closely associated with Spain, and our guest this week certainly played a pivotal function in conceiving that movement.  It’s been quite some years since his earlier days at THE OMEN and it’s derived an experience of learning, self awareness and ultimately a personal ascension in every respect.  After founding POLE records and releasing various works across other well established labels such as Tresor, you could easily make the mistake of substituting his achievements with a calculated reenactment of the industrial revolution.

An intense booking schedule over the course of the European summer didn’t come as any surprise which was augmented by the full length album release of ‘Grey Fades to Green’.  It’s inspired a fresh project that’s heavily focussed on incorporating visual media, though it’s domicile will be more aligned with theatres, distanced from the habitual club space.

Unifying what we’ve already already ascertained with a clandestine raid on your own perception of comfort summarises this weeks broadcast in an invigorating intonation.

Your host – Oscar Mulero.

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Kn:  It’s been some 20 years since you first moved into electronic life.  From the days of THE OMEN to some of the most respected releases on the likes of Tresor and your own, POLE, and to touring globally, you’ve maintained more than a presence.  How have you adapted, and what’s an example or two of a battle, conceptual or otherwise, that’s driven your persistence?

OM:  Well, one of the most important things to me is to be motivated, and in my case the way to keep my motivation in a good level is to be involved in new projects always.  Keep on doing the same thing over the years is something that makes me feel tired and bored…, so this why I like, and some years ago has become a need, to do different things in terms of productions and djin’.  Playing different types of dj sets, producing different music under a different alias or work on a live set could be some examples.

Kn: On the subject of THE OMEN, it certainly would have played a part in crafting your path.  What were some of the earlier lessons you learnt, and are they ones you’re still reminded of, whether you’re in the studio or playing out or just generally in life?

OM:  In some ways, everything that I’ve learnt playing in clubs or festivals over the years is always reminded; technique, new skills on the mix and also, it’s very important to me to try to find out how is the vibe in the club before I start my dj set.  All these things are important, and of course all of them make a difference between the way I played in those early years and the way I do it now.  I remember when I started to dj I was really focusing all my concentration on technique, but now that’s something that isn’t that important anymore.  What I mean is that I’m paying more attention to the programming and selection of the tracks that I’m gonna play.

Kn:  Pushing the clock onwards, during the past decade we witnessed a strong representation in Spanish techno with artists like Reeko, Exium and Christian Wunsch coming to the forefront alongside yourself.  In turn it led to a worldwide cult following for the offbeat Spanish techno sound.  How do you see the Spanish scene developing as we move forwards?

OM:  Our relation with the offbeat techno started around 2004 I would say.  Definitely it has been a change in a musical way and in a technical way to work in the studio too.  Our music has changed also, it’s not all about offbeats these days.  If you have a listen to the techno tracks we made in that time and compare them with the stuff we’re making now there’s a difference, but still the same dark and heavy beat flavour and the idea of keeping our music far from the commercial or trendy sounds.

Kn:  Trolley Route was an alias set up to explore styles like deep techno, pure electro and down tempo breaks and to move away from the harder edged productions you’re usually associated with.  We only saw one Trolley Route release in 2010.  Is this deliberate?  Or is it something you’d like to revisit and are there any other projects that you’ve entertained that portray different inner ideals?

OM:  Well it is not exactly like this…, actually there are two trolley Route Albums.  The first one was released on Pure Plastic ( Mark Broom’s label ) in 2003 and six Trolley Route EP’s on different labels between 2003 and 2010…, so it wasn’t deliberate to release it as a unique work for the Trolley Route project.  Apart from Trolley Route stuff there are no different projects or music released under other alias’.  I’m releasing some music that has nothing to do with techno but it is also signed as Oscar Mulero, like a new EP on the IDM oriented label Detroit Underground.

Kn:  A lot of artists work differently in the studio.  How do you employ the ideas that are fixed in your own headspace to the music that’s eventually produced?

OM:  I don’t have a specific method if you mean that, it really depends how I feel in the moment that I sit in my studio and start to work…, so most of the time the ideas come to me when I’m in my studio.  Sometimes I start on the track with a main riff, other times I just start to work with some beats.  Even sometimes first ideas of a track comes from experimentation and testing new synths or another machines.

Kn: …on the same note, is there any process that’s not incorporated enough, or too often, that’s led to a sub-standard approach regarding the final product?

OM:  Maybe the fact of not having the ideas first in my head and then going to the studio to make them happen is one process that I don’t do often.  As I told you before, most of the time the ideas come only when I’m sat down in my studio.

Kn:  We’re rolling out of what’s been a busy summer for you, Oscar.  An Asian/Australian tour is not out of the question we hope, is there any other news or thoughts you’d like to share, whether it be electronica or personal furtherance?

OM:  Apart from keeping on releasing music and djing we are working on a live set that is gonna be an audio and visual show.  The idea is playing some of the second part of my album “Grey fades to green” which is more oriented on the listening, IDM and ambient stuff, the more melodic or musical side of the album.  We’re planing to represent this in no clubs or places that have something to do with the dance scene.  So our wish is to do this live in places such a theatres or auditoriums where you can enjoy the visuals and the music while you are sat down.., like you do when you go to watch a movie.

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