Interview: GRAZZE

GRAZZE, in love with music, nature and the magic of the night. He begins his journey into the electronic music scene at the age of 14 after having studied piano and musical theory. With a degree in sound engineering, GRAZZE specializes in the technical areas of production, mixing and mastering as well as guitar and percussion in the artistic field. His versatile sound has been evolving ever more with each song created by producing in different styles while maintaining his essence and own identity. At the moment he is exploring and developing a more elegant and emotive approach in his deepest side. On the other hand, he is also using more ethnic and dynamic elements as his inspirations for producing “club” sounds. As a music producer, he reached TOP1 in sales on Beatport Styles with “Blow Your Mind” in 2015. Since then he has been working with the major labels ANJUNADEEP(GBR), ARMADA ELECTRONIC ELEMENTS (NL), BEATFREAK (SPA), GLASGOW UNDERGROUND (GBR) and BAROQUE RECORDINGS (GER), while gaining the support of well-known media like DJ MAG, FAZE MAG, RED BULL MUSIC, WE RAVE YOU, IBIZA GLOBAL RADIO, WHEN WE DIP and DATA TRANSMISSION, among others. His polished sound and personal style have received special attention by many of the most recognized artists in the international electronic music scene such as Above & Beyond, James Grant, Jody Wisternoff, Tube & Berger, Juliet Sikora, Nora En Pure, Wally Lopez, Kevin McKay and being remixed by important artists as D-Formation, Stan Kolev and Tube & Berger (official remixers of 'Cat & Mouse', 'Lost' & 'Time we are in'). Since 2012 he has been working in sound production and technique in broadcasting companies such as KISS FM, HIT FM, LOCA FM or UNIKA FM (Spanish radio stations), being an official DJ of several radio shows like “Don’t Stop DJ” (Hit FM), taking part in 4EVERY1 FESTIVAL 2015, “U Rockz Radio Show” (Unika FM), nominated “Best Radio Show” in VICIOUS MUSIC AWARDS 2016 by VICIOUS MAGAZINE & his new radio show 2019/2020 “Sounds of GRAZZE ” at IBIZA GLOBAL RADIO. Currently, in addition to focusing on his own artistic project, he is also working as a music producer and sound engineer for other acclaimed artists and prestigious music labels of international renown. With standout releases via Beat Boutique and Zerothree to begin the year, GRAZZE returns to Beatfreak this week with the much anticipated 'Another Breath', we had a chance to catch up with the Spanish artist for an exclusive interview just prior to the release. Enjoy!

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

Hey guys! So many thanks to you for having me here and supporting my music so many times, I’m a big fan of your blog and appreciate your work a lot. The last piece of music I think it was the classic track Greece 2000 by Three Drives On A Vinyl since I was working out one hour ago and usually like to listen to house and dance classic tracks when I do sports to get energy (Laughts).

How’s your year so far? And what are your plans for the coming week?

I started the year with so many positivity and energy, also new projects, aims, collaborations, etc. Next week I have to keep pushing my new songs in the studio, also have some meetings about the upcoming Ibiza’s season and of course go to my lessons in Madrid where I’m teaching music production during this winter in Inted Music School.

Talk to us about growing up and living in Spain, how has it affected your musical taste and the music you make?

I think the 90’s and 00’s in Spain were so important in concern to electronic music. I was a child in those years but I started to listen to the music and Dj Sets from all the important clubs that we had in Valencia, Ibiza, Madrid or Barcelona. It made me to create so much interest on the electronic music field and of course it’s part of my current knowledge and experience.

What are some of your best memories from first going to clubs in your country? Were there specific nights or sets that really made you feel you wanted to pursue electronic music?

I started going to local clubs around my city, Guadalajara and Madrid when I was 16 years old, but the inflexion point was the first time that I landed in Ibiza. I was 19 or 20 I think and my first experiences in Amnesia, Privilege or Space of Sound were a magic dream that I will remind all my life. The sound, the music, the concept of the Island caught my heart.

Who are some up and coming Spanish artists to look out for?

To my mind, some of the biggest ones in my country and the international scene are D-Formation, of course, it’s already a legend in the electronic music history of Spain, my current musical partner and it’s working so hard so we will see what he has for us in the upcoming months. Dj Chus, with his new label working back to back to La Santa have so many magic thinks to show us in the upcoming months and years I’m sure about that. About coming artists to look out for, Th3 Oth3r which was my musical partner for so many years and now is back creating masterpieces again, Liv The Pilot, is a great new talent, Sosandlow, big friends and we will release a collaboration E.P. very soon by the way also Masella is one of the great ones new talents in our label Beatfreak and probably I’m forgetting some other names in this moment.

You have a new EP out this week via D-Formation’s Beatfreak Recordings, tell us a bit about the release and how it showcases your sound.

Yeah, actually 2 of the 3 tracks are in collaboration with my buddy Liv The Pilot who I talked about in the previous question. “Another Breath” is the name of the main song and we are keeping the essence of my sound: emotive melodies, deep basslines and beautiful vocals, I really love the vibes of the songs. “On My Own” is also a melodic track full of harmonies and hypnotical patterns related to the current Melodic House but keeping a good essence for the club with its drums which are so energic for the dancefloor. “Waiting” is the 3 track of the EP and I think it keeps an essence of the progressive house. It has a main vocal driving all the song and it’s a versatile track that we can use for a live set or just to listen to it in any other moments.

I would say these are some of your strongest tracks to date, what has the reaction been to the EP so far?

Yes, I’m so happy with reactions since we sent the EP to so many artists before releasing it and there are many good feedbacks from people such as Innellea, Ziger, Darin Epsilon, Steve Parry, Lonya and so many others.

How would you feel about these tracks being remixed at some point? And do you generally enjoy hearing remixes of your work?

Yeah I haven’t talked about this with Dimas and Teddy but I think it would be a good idea for the future. I always love to listen how other artists work and see my music from their talent and soul.

If you could travel anywhere for one day, all laws and limitations void, where would it be?

Honestly, any part of the world. Specially the ones which are no too visited. I love to travel, meet new people and get new experiences, it makes me learn a lot and get more motivations and inspiration to face this life.

Apart from music, what makes you happiest?

Of course, the people that are surrounding me. I consider myself so lucky to get the family and friends that I get. To spend any kind of moments with them are the engine of my life and it affects so much my creativity and motivation in music. Also get contact to the nature, animals, new experiences are part of my favorite moments and the jewel in the crown is my cat “Pichombo” who takes me almost all time in the studio, of course (Laughs).

What does 2022 hold for you? Anything you can share with us?

Wow, after these last 2 difficult years specially for the people of our industry, I’m starting to see 2022 as our return to the happiness and freedom. I’m sure that we are going to have a great year full of music events and good moments. Next summer in Ibiza will be memorable, I will be back from May on in the island playing at Nikki Beach, my residence and home for the third consecutive year and so many other places and clubs that I will announce very soon. I will be there also teaching music production in Ibiza Blau Music / Point Blank Music School. Me and the Beatfreak team will start in a few days to road with our national and international showcases. I’m also scheduling a tour in India and some music releases with other amazing artists like Diana Miro, Altreal, Eleonora, D-Formation, Masella, Chris Luno, Sosandlow… So I’m more than happy to see how are the things going and so excited for the future.

'Another Breath' is available now via Beatfreak Recordings: https://bit.ly/3shGNOx