Giovanny Aparicio [Interview]

Hailing from Colombia, Giovanny Aparicio has emerged from his country's electronic music culture with a fresh organic sound. On the strength of early collaborations with fellow countryman and progressive music star Kamilo Sanclemente, Giovanny has spent the last half decade compiling an impeccable resume. His club-focused productions have found a home on trend-setting imprints such as Abracadabra Music, Anjunadeep, Hoomidaas and Sol Selectas, while world class DJs Armen Miran, Blond:ish, Hernan Cattaneo, Nick Warren, Sabo and more have been steadfast with support. Clubsonica Records has also been a vehicle for Giovanny's groovy sounds, with his label debut coming in 2019 with a remix of 'Mahat' by Jan Dalvik; a project which was followed by a second and equally well-received remix for 'El Fin' by Gux Jimenez in 2020. Now, returning to the label for his first artist EP, Giovanny caps off a great year with 'Eric | Azul Profundo', alongside remixes from Kamilo Sanclemente, Maze 28 and Weird Sounding Dude.

Progressive Astronaut caught up with Giovanny to learn more about the release of 'Eric | Azul Profundo', creative process, DJing, and more. Enjoy.

Hi Giovanny, thanks for sitting with us today! What is your current mood and what was the last piece of music you listened to?

I feel very happy and grateful, the last musical piece I heard was by Eric.

How has your year been so far? Are there any gigs or releases which have stood out for you across 2023?

This 2023 has been a very good year. I had a residency at Scorpions Mykonos, Greece, where I shared the stage with my daughter Yura Aparicio. It was a moment of great pride for me to see her shine in such a place. Later, I played at the Formula 1 event in Mexico City and am eagerly anticipating the release of Club Sonica.

Take us through a typical day when you're not traveling, what does a day in the life of Giovanny Aparicio look like?

I'm usually in the studio producing. I have a wonderful family, a wife, and three children who share and support me in this musical world. My time is divided between production and taking care of them.

You've been releasing music for around four years now but your DJ career dates back much further, so would you consider yourself a DJ or producer first? And which do you enjoy more and why?

I've been a producer for 7 years and a DJ for 28. If you ask me which I enjoy more as a DJ, I would say both. I enjoy both immensely. For me, they go hand in hand. It's very satisfying when I'm playing one of my tracks, and I see people dancing and enjoying it. It transports me to the moment in the studio, shaping ideas, and creating the tracks. That feeling is indescribable.

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

There's one in particular that is different from all, called "El Tunel." I would say it's unique, located in the city of Pereira. Local DJs include Arbey Gonzales, Juan Pablo Torres, Kamila Sanclemente, Fernando Olaya, Dabeat, Sevastian Valencia, Yura Aparicio, Cristian monak and many more. In Colombia, there is a lot of talent.

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?

First, it was Gustavo Braveti (Uruguay), then I started working with my brother Kamilo Sanclemente, and from him, I've learned a lot. If you're without inspiration, which happens quite often, listen to a track that you really like; something can come out of it.

'Azul Profundo' is a track which has been played by Above & Beyond's Tony McGuinnness over two years ago. Tell us how it ended up on Clubsonica and why the label is a good home for this EP.

Both were played by Tony. In ClubSonica, I had the opportunity to do 2 remixes, but this is my first EP. Eric's track is very special to me, and I wanted it to be released on a very special label. ClubSonica is a great home and more; it's also family and a reference worldwide. The best progressive DJs always have his music in their sets.

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 your Clubsonica EP?

I use Ableton, a keyboard, an X-Station 25, a sound card (MOTU Hybrid Mk3), Focal monitors, and a Zone K2.

What generally inspires your work as a producer and was there anything specific which inspired either 'Eric' or 'Azul Profundo'?

My inspiration is always my family, moments of my life, and places I have visited. Eric, this track is one of my favorites. It is inspired by my son, that's why it carries his name. This track has brought me to tears several times; it has its story. 1'11 telI you a little bit. During the pandemic, my son was psychologically affected by the harsh reality we were living. Despite our efforts to handle the situation, it wasn't enough. Information was coming from somewhere, and as a result, Eric started experiencing frequent night terrors. He would wake up in the middle of the night screaming with panic attacks and tachycardia, episodes of 15 minutes in which he was wide awake but in another world, not recognizing anyone. We couldn't do anything more than wait for the crisis to pass. We just tried to calm him, but it was heartbreaking to see my child suffer so much; he was only 5 years old. Many things were going through my head at that moment; we didn't know what was happening to him. I decided to tell the story, create this track, and express everything I was feeling. The song starts with a keyboard that shows Eric's peaceful sleep; then, the first cello enters, marking the beginning of his crisis. Later, the track falls, it's a chorus of angels, I relate it to the moment we were trying to calm him down. Then, the chorus turns into violins, like a lullaby sung by his mother and Eric's tranquility upon waking up.

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

I enjoy everything from start to finish.

Let's touch on DJing a bit more. I think you started as more of a traditional house DJ. How did your style evolve into something more organic over the years and how would you describe your approach to DJing in general?

Music changes and evolves over time, just like artists. There were two moments in my career that changed everything. The first time was with Maestro Hernan Cattaneo in 2003 at a Moonpark event in Buenos Aires; this led me to progressive. There, my way of seeing music changed. Then, in 2013, I saw Acid Pauli and Nu playing in Tulum, and it was an entirely new musical learning experience, organic.

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?

It's a before and after when you start producing your own music; you see and hear everything differently, appreciate each sound more, and immerse yourself more in
the music.

How much prep do you put into the tracks you choose to play? Or are your sets totally spontaneous?

I have never prepared a set; you don't know what you're going to face. My sets are entirely spontaneous.

Current top five tracks in your sets?

Giovanny Aparicio & Kamilo Sanclemente - Redemption
Giovanny Aparicio - Azul Profundo
Giovanny Aparicio - Eric
Rredrollo - Playces
Arbey Gonzalez - Natural Soul

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?

I would spend the night like this first

1 Oceanvs Orientalis
2 Acid Pauli
3 Lee Burridge
4 Hernan Cattaneo
5 Bedouin

If you were not a DJ/Producer what do you think you'd be doing with your life?

A football player; before I pursued a DJ career, I was offered to play abroad. Maybe that could have been.

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

At home, spending time with my family.

What TV series have you been enjoying recently and what are some of your all time favourites?

I really enjoy Marvel superhero action movies, DreamWorks.

Apart from music, what makes you happiest?

Sharing time with my wife and children.

What does 2024 hold for you in terms of releases and gigs? Anything you can share with us?

In January, the party in Laguna Tulum is coming up. Releases by Nature Rec, Quantica, Scorpions Music, and a new residency in Scorpions Mykonos and Bodrum, Turuia.

'Eric | Azul Profundo' is available now via Clubsonica: http://tinyurl.com/4najjtvx