“I’m full of energy and feeling really comfortable in the studio again. House music is in a good place right now; I’m literally jumping up and down with excitement about the projects I’ve been working on recently” - so sounds DJ Chus’ battle-cry for 2010.
The Madrid music-maker, real name Jesús López Esteban, is set to make quite an impact this spring; a slew of remixes, new tracks and high-profile compilations already cued up for launch. But then Chus has been making waves since the late 80s, when he was suddenly propelled from the DJ booths of tiny hometown discos to Kadoc, Portugal’s largest house venue. A lime-lit residency there quickly led to the equally illuminating environs of new Madrid superclub Teatro Kapital in 1994 - Chus clocked up 10 impressive Teatro years before quite simply exploding.
Exploding in every direction…. The platform for many of his forays remains Stereo Productions, the Madrilenian label he founded in 2001 alongside regular studio cohort Pablo Ceballos and manager Carlos Caliço. “Stereo was my dream come true” Chus confides. “We put promoting at Kadoc and Teatro to one side to concentrate on really building our own sound, our own movement. I think we managed that; you know, I’m really proud that we’re celebrating 10 years this year. We have a lot of new artists on the roster, lots of good events planned; it remains a dream.”
Chus’ sound, of course, is Iberican; in the man’s own words: “a percussive, groovy and tech-y sound that makes clubbers dance for hours!” The title of Stereo’s first ever release, Chus, Ceballos and Carlos Manaça co-production The Strong Rhythm, speaks volumes; as do many of Chus’ follow-up cuts alongside Ceballos – On The Strength, In Stereo and Low Frequencies to name a few.
It’s a meaty double act that has paid immeasurable career dividends. Much, though, can be said of Chus’ other notable pairing with city-mate David Penn; and now he’s off partnering with New Yorker Rob Mirage on a new Defected co-production, the TwentyTen EP. Can Chus even hear himself think among so many collaborators?
“I like partnerships, you learn a lot from them” he answers, “and it’s more fun than being trapped in a studio on your own. Sure, sometimes co-productions are difficult; their success often depends on everyone’s mood at the time. But they do get the best from me, and that includes my solo work.”
They also inspire several different vibes. “That’s true, Pablo and David influence me in different ways” Chus adds. “David was actually my first reference in music production; there’s a lot of soul in the house we create together; Pablo, meanwhile, draws out my wilder side; the much deeper, tribal and even trancey Iberican groove. I wouldn’t swap those guys for anyone….”
But he has added to them. Rob Mirage is an entirely new proposition and both he and Chus’ recent work is a tasty suggestion of what might lie ahead later in 2010: “Rob has actually been on Stereo for a while; he and I are old friends. But it was only when I hit New York a few months ago to start a residency at Pacha NYC that the first opportunity presented itself to work together. TwentyTen was a quick two-day thing, so fast; we wanted to drop a heavy old-skool Big Apple tribute. Clubbers seem to respect it.”
And so we hit Chus’ latest endeavors. And there’s a stack of them. Where do we start? “I’ve got my first new song with David Penn for three years, and a new track with Pablo, plus some interesting remixes. Pablo and I have also just finished Back On Tracks, a new compilation for Nervous Records that should drop in March – it’s a sexy, housey and tech-y journey through our classic Iberican sound. We’re both over the moon with it; spring will be a busy time.”
There’s also the prospect of more four-to-the-floor with Defected: “Defected was always my home!” Chus laughs. “We’ve done lots in the past and now you catch me working hard to finish some new Defected surprises before this year’s Miami conference. Madrid is covered in snow right now so it’s the perfect time to be holed up in a studio working it. I feel good; I’m on a roll.”
Clearly there’s no business like snow-business…..
