Giving a platform to and championing new music from emerging artists has long been a goal of Nick Warren and his well-respected label, The Soundgarden. As an exciting creative highpoint in the label’s calendar, The Soundgarden welcome Argentinian DJ, producer and commercial airline pilot, Nicolás Rada, to release his debut 11-track album ‘Resilience’.
A master of emotional expression, who travels beyond stylistic boundaries, Nicolás Rada studiously avoids the tedious in favour of the vibrant, with his broad creative palette playing into his all-encompassing sound. Bringing together both his passions for music and aviation within ‘Resilience’ LP, Nicolás’ diverse musical ideas and attitudes allow both passions to unite, seen across his musical compositions and the names he has given to them.
We caught up with Nicolas to talk about ‘Resilience’.
Electronic Groove: Hola Nicolas, we are happy to have you here today. You’ve received a lot of support across South America over the years and are starting to make an impact globally. What have been the key ignitors of this success?
Nicolas Rada: I’m happy to be here as well. I consider that producing has always been the main ignitor for other people get to know you. My music, and of course, Nick (Warren) or Hernan (Cattaneo) play some of my music in many parts of the globe, and that helps a lot. I don’t have the possibility right now to travel as much as they do, so they help promote many up and coming producers. But of course, to produce your own music is the most important thing. I think that South America is now setting a progressive trend compared to other parts of the world, so the reinvention of the style is opening again to the worldwide scene.
EG: Since you began producing in 2007, what have been some of the highlights in your music career?
Nicolas Rada: To travel around the world to some places that I had never imagined that I would go, such as Sri Lanka, Budapest, or even playing in ADE for two consecutive years. To make the warmup for so many important artists like Sasha, Nick, Satoshi Tomiie is amazing.
EG: How does your production technique differ from back then to now?
Nicolas Rada: Definitely a lot. If not, I wouldn’t have grown. The quality of the sound is not the same, it has been 10 or 15 years ago since I started, so the technique has changed, the process and my brain too of course. I focus on high-quality, so it never ends.
EG: What changes in the industry have particularly stood out over the last 15 years?
Nicolas Rada: Nowadays music is even more global thanks to the internet and social media. Everyone can listen to your music if they wish. That’s amazing. We are all connected. That means that many artists like me can grow faster, but in the other hand, the scene is much more competitive, and we all have to do our best.
“I think that South America is now setting a progressive trend compared to other parts of the world, so the reinvention of the style is opening again to the worldwide scene”
EG: You’ve just released your debut album ‘Resilience’ on Nick Warren’s ‘The Soundgarden’. Can you tell us about how that relationship came about?
Nicolas Rada: Nick has always been a representative DJ in my world of electronic music. I didn’t know him. I have always been sending my music to him. Then we met, spoke about us and discovered each other. He had some works in process and I helped him. After that we continued working together. I realized that there are some people you have to pay attention to and learn a lot from them. He’s an excellent person.
EG: What are some of the key things that you have learnt from working with Nick?
Nicolas Rada: I’m always grateful for being involved with a legend in music as much as Nick is. Beyond producing music, he has the experience I don’t. Experience in music is of high value, and it comes with time in your career, and it’s impossible to take it faster. I’m proud to listen to his opinion on a track, and it is always very interesting so his thoughts are a continuous inspiration for me.
EG: The album merges your two passions, music and flying. These are both very different, how did you get in to both of them?
Nicolas Rada: Yes, I know they are really different, but I have loved them both for as long as I can remember. I don’t know how this merge happened, but as they both live together in my brain I could do it.
EG: How did you merge them together in producing the album?
Nicolas Rada: Flying makes me be relaxed, therefore I’m relaxed to produce music. One passion helps the other. Also the names, I tried to connect them with sensations, and there all the name appeared.
“We are all connected. That means that many artists like me can grow faster but, in the other hand, the scene is much more competitive”
EG: Is this a concept you will continue to use in your productions?
Nicolas Rada: I don’t know if I can call it a concept. It’s something that flowed out in that particular moment, when making this album.But may be, as flying is my relaxing hobbie, I’m sure it may inspire me once more…
EG: What’s next on the release schedule? Will there be a follow up to ‘Resilience’?
Nicolas Rada: Well… After this production I am now taking some time for mental rest. I’m now focused on my shows. It’s hard to produce a lot and not to burn out. At this moment I’m finishing and EP and some remixes that will be released in some time.
Nicolas Rada’s ‘Resilience’ is now available via The Soundgarden. Buy and stream here.
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