It’s been 2 years since we last talked to you, can you tell us what’s changed in your life, in terms of the reactable?
Well my ability to control the table and the music that I make have both changed. I feel that the show’s concept is now completed, it is music that forms part in my new LP: The Ultracontinental album.
How has the new mobile version of the Reactable influenced the way in which you make your music?
The application allows me to prepare sessions without the needing the table itself while I`m at home or during a flight, or in the hotel. I’ll be practising on the same show on the iPad as I'll be performing on the Reactable that night. I also perform shows on the iPad itself.
Does this mobile version offer us real accessibility so that everyone might be able to create their own music by getting the app. on their phone?... Is it that easy?
Definitely, using the Reactable is a great way to understand how music is created in layers or channels. Basically, the Reactable has four channels on which to make music, one is drums, one percussion, one bass... you get the jist… but yeah this is really important so people can learn how music can be separated into these layers. It's a very intuitive instrument, so yes, it’s easy enough and I think it’s an application that can be used by all of the general public.
Do you think this accessibility could therefore lead to an increase in the number of independent productions by aspiring artists?
Well yes, in fact we’ve created the Reactable Community which acts as a new portal inside the company’s website (reactable.com/community) which is an area where all the Reactable users from around the world can gather/share their profiles or tracks with the any other users. Us Reactable users say that you shouldn't only display your tracks, but the layers that you’ve used so if anybody wishes to do a remix of your track it would be free and easy to do so.
Do you think the mobile version can keep up with the original, if not, what is it lacking?
It’s different, obviously it’s very portable but the Reactable itself is more robust and obviously much bigger, however they do complement each other very well.
There are increasingly loud cries for an increase in the quality of today’s chart music, do you agree with their worries? Do you believe that the Reactable could be utilised for this purpose?
Well, there’s always problems with music, there’s always good music and there’s always not so good music, it just depends what you’re looking for or in what circles you move in.
Which producer would you personally like to see using the Reactable?
Er, {long pause} … Man it would be great to see Diplo!
What made you come here from Argentina, what made you stay? What do you like most about Barcelona?
We left after the 2001 crisis [a crisis that crippled the once booming Argentine economy, plunging it into a depression from which it has now just about recovered], we immigrated with the band that we had at the time which was called Ethnotronic, we stayed for a season, around three months but that three months turned into three, four years playing here and then I, who was a percussionist at the time chose to pursue becoming a DJ when we all went our separate ways. The thing I love most about this city is the security, the fact that you can walk around here at night with your equipment on your back without any trouble.
What are some of your favourite places to perform?
In Argentina I like Niceto, Buenos Aires, mainly because it’s very similar to the Sala de Apolo here, Apolo is like my home, it’s where I grew as a DJ, it’s got a really eclectic mix of music.
This project has been described by the creators as a work in progress. Have you envisaged any improvements that you wish them make in the future?
Well there’s four programmers in the office working eight hours a day on both the app and the functions of the Reactable itself, the main thing we’re all working on at the moment is to improve the sequencer.
In a few years do you think people will be saying “I DJ with a Reactable” in the same way as now, they say “I DJ with a Vinyl”? Will it become a status symbol?
Well in fact at the moment there are already a few DJs who are using it like Oliver Huntermann, Carlos Lopez – another guy who’s working in the company with me – Nortec Colective which is a really famous group in Mexico. The thing is the Reactable is always going to be quite unique and exclusive because it’s a really expensive instrument, it’s never going to become so popular that all the shops will be stocking it! It’s nice though that they’re limited like this, each one is hand made, we don’t have them factory produced, it’s one by one, made to order. This gives them added value you know?
What advice would you give to any aspiring young DJs?
My main piece of advice would be to never put the volume of the headphones above the middle, you don’t need more than 50%, you’ll ruin your ears!
*Take this opportunity to see Le Freak Selector and the rest of the Reactable Crew, LIVE at the MECAL opening party this Wednesday at the Moritz Factory in Barcelona.
For more information on the event please click here.
To check out more on the music please go to www.reactableglobalsound.com
