Gabo Martin [Interview]

Gabriel Martin, a.k.a Gabo Martin, is a DJ & producer from the city of Viedma, capital of Río Negro, Argentina. He has worked with prestigious labels like Balkan Connection, Dreamers and Mango Alley to name a few, while continuing to receive support from progressive music tastemakers Ezequiel Arias, Guy J, Mariano Mellino and more. This week sees Gabo making his debut on Praveen Achary's Juicebox Music, with a contribution 'Mindseeker' to the label's popular 'Fables' series.

Progressive Astronaut caught up with Gabo to learn more about the release of 'Mindseeker', his background, studio process, inspirations, future plans, and more. Enjoy.

Hi Gabo, thanks for joining us today. What is your current mood and what was the last piece of music you listened to?

Hey guys. Thanks for inviting me. I’m having a nice time listening to some promos. Last track I heard was from Kostya Outta, ‘Zero Gravity’ that came out recently on inU. Very nice track indeed!

How has the winter season in Argentina been for you and what are your plans for the coming week?

Pretty exciting, there were a lot of big parties lately. I’ve been making some new music, and improving my sound. Also, I’ve been mastering quite a few tracks for other artists and friends. Next week I’m heading to Canada for my sister’s wedding so I’m pretty excited about that.

Do you consider yourself a DJ or producer first? And which do you enjoy more and why?

I’d say I consider myself more of a producer than a DJ. I’ve always been curious and interested about how music is made, and all the work around it such as recording, mixing and mastering. That being said, I myself am a sound technician. I could not say what I prefer, since I think both are so different yet so similar. Playing at a crowd and feeling their reaction and enjoyment has no price, as to making music you are proud of.

How did growing up in Argentina influence your music taste and direction? Or did it at all?

Definitely had some influence. Argentina was and is one of the biggest scenes of progressive music. But I think my sisters were the ones that shaped my music taste. I remember listening to Hernan Cattaneo’s Resident with them. But when I heard ‘The Master Series part 17’ I was blown away; I knew I wanted to make progressive music.

When we ask most artists what is responsible for the popularity of progressive music in Argentina the overwhelming answer is Hernan Cattaneo, would that be your feeling also? And if so please speak on that, also to add to that, who else from Argentina inspired you when you first discovered the music.

I think our culture has a lot to do. We Argentinians love to party. But what I feel is responsible for the popularity of it, is the scene and how people behave and treat each other. Electronic music has always been about connection and respect… Other scenes sometimes don’t value these aspects as much.

If you were a tour-guide for nightlife in Argentina, what would be the clubs you’d take the people to see and what local DJs do they need to hear?

I’d definitely take them to the Metropolitano at Rosario, La Fabrica at Cordoba and Crobar at Buenos Aires. About DJs I’d say Franco Armellini, Jesuan M, Juan Ibañez & Andres Moris, to name a few.

If you are not DJing or socializing at clubs, where do we find you? And doing what?

I’m usually playing my guitar, making some music or having a beer with some friends at a bar. I also love cooking. In the summer, I’m usually at my hometown, Viedma, enjoying the riverside or the sea.

When you were first getting started in production did you have someone help you or are you completely self-taught? And what would you recommend new producers do to help with the learning curve of production?

I came across DAWs at the age of 11. We used to hang with a friend of mine and mess around, since we did not know how to use the program nor music. I started to take it seriously at about 16, and yeah, I was completely self taught. Then I started studying music and production at 17. I’d say the best thing to do before even starting producing, is to learn music itself. Also to listen to a lot of music, and not only what you want to make; also other styles and genres. Moreover, try training critical listening.

You have a new track ‘Mindseeker’ out now as part of Juicebox Music’s ‘Fables 002’ collection, tell us about the track and how it showcases your current sound.

‘Mindseeker’ aims to be a functional, groovy and driving track. I’ve been trying to make tracks that hook you into the groove with trancy synths and noisy percs. Dark atmospheres are also a big highlight of my style.

Let our readers inside your studio for a moment, what is your current setup and what studio tools are featured heavily in your recent productions and more specifically on ‘Mindseeker’?

I make, mix and master in an acoustically treated room, this is the most important piece of my studio. In terms of hardware, I own a pair of Adam’s T7V as my main monitoring, a pair of Sony’s MDR 7506, a UMC 404HD as my audio interface. Also I own a midi controller, and a Squier Stratocaster which I used on my Dreamers EP. But other than that I produce in-the-box. Some time later I want to acquire some hardware synths.

Let’s talk about production a bit more for a moment, where does the impulse to create something come from for you? What role do often-quoted sources of inspiration like dreams, other forms of art, personal relationships, politics etc play in writing music for you?

I love going out and listening to other DJs. I get inspired a lot when I listen to new exciting music. There’s something about it that makes me want to make music and explore other things. Also movies and dreams play a big part. Sometimes I dream of melodies or even whole tracks, but the problem there is to remember them long enough to be able to transfer it from my head to Ableton.

What is the task you enjoy the most when producing and what would you prefer someone else to do?

I love creating the groove. Bass, kick, drums and percs are the most important pieces of a good track in my opinion. I enjoy post production a lot as well, such as mixing and mastering. I sometimes struggle with harmonies and FXing, but every part of a track is important to make oneself.

What would be a musical extravagance for your studio you would pay for, if you were very wealthy?

I’d love to own an American Fender Stratocaster, and some hardware such as an API 2500 compressor or Pultec EQP-1A. Some synths like a Virus TI and some Moogs. A Martin acoustic guitar would be great too.

Now let’s talk about DJing for a moment, it’s a unique discipline at the border between presenting great music and creating something new with it, between composition and improvisation to an extent. How would you describe your approach to it?

When mixing, I try to create a story; take you somewhere. I often prepare a playlist with moments of the night and a rough order. But I always bring lots of extra music and improvise, guided by my pre-selection. Reading the dancefloor is key in keeping people engaged.

Can you tell me a bit about how your work as a DJ has influenced your view of music, your way of listening to tracks and perhaps also, your work as a producer?

I think DJing made me more pragmatic when making music, also more structured. When I did not have too much experience mixing, my track sometimes would not be enjoyable to mix or would stick out too much. Sure, I listen to music differently than before, I get more selective with the tracks I choose more and more every day.

How much prep do you put into the tracks you choose to play?

I take my time prepping my music before a show. I like to know my selection to ensure I tell a coherent story. Usually I prepare 3 to 5 folders with about 20-15 tracks that work well together, each folder with a different time or mood of the night.

If you could set up an event with a line-up of five artists of your choice, who would you book and what set times would you ascribe to the artists?

20 – 22 | Bob Moses

22 – 0 | Simon Vuarambon

0 – 3 | Ricky Ryan

3 – 7 | Guy J

Current top five tracks?

Kostya Outta – Zero Gravity

Jesuan M – Taiga

KYOTTO – Robots Took Over My Tribe

Fede Pals, Eichenbaum – Instabilis

Maze 28 – Flux

What’s a book you’ve read or film you watched that has left an impact on you, and why?

I’m currently reading 1984 by Orwell. The way it depicts totalitarianism and how it kinda predicted technology or modern life, is quite amazing and disturbing at the same time.

Also Kill Bill and other Tarantino’s films impacted my art a lot.

Apart from music, what makes you happiest?

Having a good time with friends and cooking. I’m passionate about coffee and whisky.

Also, I work as a full time software developer. Anything that involves creating something new interests me.

What does the remainder of 2023 hold for you in terms of releases and gigs? Anything you can share with us?

A lot of music is coming, I’ve got a lot of unreleased music looking for a home and a couple of remixes on some labels. About gigs we have a big one planned for the new year party in my hometown. That’s all I can share for now, but stay tuned!

'Mindseeker' is available now via Juicebox Music: https://bit.ly/45uw9VG