Nightlife
Overtime at the C + C Music Factory: Boston’s House of Blues, Providence’s Therapy & Miami’s White Party crowd Chus + Ceballos weekend dance card by Rick Dunn
EDGE Community EditorWednesday Nov 25, 2009"Thank God for Chus + Ceballos," says DJ legend Danny Tenaglia, a confirmed evangelist for the church of C + C.
Chus L. Esteban and J. Pablo Ceballos are the praise-worthy duo behind the multi-functional, Madrid-based Stereo Productions and the iconic "Iberican Sound," which is a distinctive blend of rhythmic, percussive electronic house with a touch of soul stemming from the Iberian Peninsula between Spain and Portugal.
Spinning as a duo and separately, Chus + Ceballos have galvanized world clubbers, alternately booking high-profile gigs for thousands (Black & Blue/Montreal, Black Party/NY), while remaining true to their roots by spinning intimate, underground clubs, such as Boston’s Rise.
Pablo Ceballos is the calm one; Chus Esteban, hurried. In and out of the booth, they manage to balance each other out.
This Saturday they’ll be on double-duty, first spinning at Epic Saturdays at the House of Blues, followed by an after-hours set at Providence’s Therapy. If that sounds daunting, their two-state double-shift follows a 10-hour Friday night set at the White Party in Miami. (They start at 10 p.m. and finish at 8 a.m. on Saturday morning of the 28th.) Hopefully, they’ll get some sleep during their direct flight from Miami to Boston.
What is the Iberican Sound?
Chus: "We thought we needed a name to describe the music made in the countries where the music was born, Spain and Portugal, the Iberican Peninsula. ’It’s a very groovy sound, very rhythmic and percussive, that is always looking at the dance-floor. It has an electronic touch, but with soul, sometimes a bit housey, sometimes harder, but never cold, it’s hot, ’caliente’! This Is the ’Stereo Sound’, our sound."
When approaching a re-mix, how do you retain the essence of a song, but still make it sound like Chus + Ceballos?
Ceballos: "It’s always difficult to make a remix when the original is very good, but we love that challenge, to try to make something better; our remixes are famous for that."
You are both responsible for putting Madrid on the map in terms of the house scene, now Barcelona is moving to the forefront. Since you spin regularly in both cities, do you see a connection?
Chus: "Both cities are cosmopolitan, but Barcelona is closer to Europe, more touristy and easier influenced by Avant Garde music. The Sonar Festival is a perfect example of this spirit of being really open to new tendencies. On the other hand Madrid has more history in terms of house music, more roots, American-influenced. It has a more solid underground culture which is the reason why most of the house producers come from Madrid."
"In these little cities, they supply extra hospitality and gratitude. Sometimes you have amazing nights in unexpected places." When tribal hit big, it seemed as though everyone was jumping on the bandwagon, flooding the market with tribal mixes. Has it become too much?
Chus: "That always happens when something becomes popular and everybody tries to do the same and saturates the market. We try to use the best from each of our influences. Tribal music has the best beats but our productions are something more; not only good beats but we also make music with soul. We’re always looking to make something different, to surprise the dance-floor with, to always be one step ahead. Not to always live life with the same formula."
Danny Tenaglia has remained one of your most vocal advocates. What is your relationship with him?
Chus: "Danny has been one of our biggest influences at the early days of our musical career, so the fact of his support from our first production has meant a lot to us. We’ll never forget this unconditional support that he brings us. Danny is an amazing DJ and an excellent person, we feel proud to have him beside us."
In terms of mixing, are you Mac guys or PC?
Chus: "We’ve used a Mac for a long time, now we have a G5 with Logic for sequencing. In the past we worked with a lot of analog hardware and synths but nowadays we use mostly virtual instruments and plug-ins software. This is more usefull for us because in this way we can travel with the studio inside the laptop and work anywhere."
What producers or re-mixers do you see as at the top of their game?
Ceballos: "DJ Simi & Masterkeys, Ferrer & Sydenham or Matthew Dekay are doing really interesting things, and from Spain, Electro Prompt will rock the dance floors."
Chus: "Peter Bailey & Richie Santana, Buick Project, Deepgroove, Rene Amesz & Peter Gelderblom, Mark Knight & MTV, Chris Lake, Funkagenda, Switch, Kurd Maverick. David Penn a.k.a Deux, Toni Rojas and Carlos Manaa."
The two of you are also piloting Stereo Productions, which is becoming incredibly prolific.
Chus: "I’m always putting goals in my life and trying to pass beyond them. I’m a combative person and Stereo has been the most ambitious project in my life and my dream come true, thanks also to Carlos Calico and Pablo. I met Carlos during my residency in Kadoc Club in Portugal and we started to work together on events, bookings, and other projects. Then Pablo joined us when we were installed in Madrid. We released several projects on different labels and remixes for some artists, so we decide to release our productions on our own label. Since that moment we haven’t stopped. Our main target? Quality above all, and our main house style but also influenced by other styles. This summer we’ll release a new volume of Balearica, our third volume, which is an unmixed CD compiled by myself with the freshest Mediterranean tunes, the most sensual side of the Iberican sound."
Where are your favorite places to spin?
Chus: "It is very difficult to choose one place in the world, but Stereo in Montreal or Sonic in Toronto."
Ceballos: "Stereo/Montreal, Sonic/Toronto and Vertigo/Costa Rica."
You’ve played Boston and Providence several times. How do these conservative cities compare to the huge international parties you play?
"In these little cities, they supply extra hospitality and gratitude. Sometimes you have amazing nights in unexpected places."
Thanksgiving weekend at the new House of Blues should be off the hook. What do you have prepared for your fans?
"We know that this is a special weekend so we will say ’thanks’ to them in the best way we know, with our music and beats."
Chris Harris and Rafael Sanchez present Epic Saturdays at House of Blues on Nov. 28 with special guest DJs Chus + Ceballos. 21+. $15 cover.
For info go to: Chris Harris Presents.
An EDGE Founding Editor, Rick Dunn’s writing has appeared in Bay Windows, The Windy City Times, Washington Blade, among many others. He also initiated The Boston Globe’s very first (and last) gay column, Out & About in 2001. He was the editor of In Newsweekly from 1996 to 2003.
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