Spanish DJ/producer duo MËSTIZA have created a fusion sound that blends electronic music and the origins of Flamenco with African, Arabic, and Latin rhythms.
After more than 10 years of DJing separately, they decided to join forces to explore their roots and create a new experience for their audience through their own branded event named SACRO - where live musicians and professional dancers join them on stage.
Their debut album, QUËRELES was released a few months ago under their own record label Sacro Music. ‘QUËRELES’ is a harmonious fusion of flamenco roots and sophisticated electronics.
The duo collaborated with flamenco and roots artists Reyes Carrasco on the track ‘ESTRELLA,’ Argentina on ‘LÁGRIMAS,’ Chambao on ‘MIS OJOS,’ and emerging talent Jose del Curro on ‘SOLEÁ DE LAS CAVILACIONES.’ Additionally, they join forces with Aaron Sevilla for the track ‘EL FLAMENCO.’
Your debut album 'QUËRELES' features collaborations with traditional flamenco vocalists as well as avant-garde electronic music artists. Can you share some insights into the creative process?
We are very proud to have collaborated with all the artists that appear on the album. They have given us musical ideas outside the context of electronic music production and that gives a lot of meaning to an album that talks about fusion. In the process, we have worked with them on different flamenco concepts adapted to our style and this has been the best part of the musical creative process of the album.
How did the idea of fusing electronic music with traditional Flamenco elements come about?
Traditional Spanish music is in itself a fusion of different cultures, for example Hindu and Arabic. That is why, when we were inspired by flamenco, we had to take into account the idea of the fusion of music from the beginning.
If you had to create a mixtape that represents MËSTIZA's musical journey so far, which three tracks from 'QUËRELES' would be essential?
Compañera: This song is a representation of our relationship. It’s about friendship and sorority between women, and that has been the basis of our project.
Soleá de las cavilaciones: We loved the creative process of this song, and we collaborated with a great flamenco artist, José del Curro.
La tarara: The lyrics are from a very old Spanish children's song that our grandmothers sang and that we remember with great affection.
Can you share a source of inspiration that played a role in making music?
For us, a creative moment can occur in any circumstance, but above all we are inspired by cinema, fashion, listening to music or going to art exhibitions. Depending on the project we look for more references in one area or another, but we certainly believe that it is very important to leave the comfort zone and find other artistic worlds to do something original.
Your visual presentation is striking. Does fashion play a role in MËSTIZA's identity?
From the beginning of the project we knew that not only music was important, we wanted to create a project that offered something more than music, so we turned to our background in fashion based on the references of our folklore but reinterpreting it today.
How do you stay grounded and focused on your music on a challenging day?
Normally we wake up in a hotel and we usually work or have meetings with our team, then we usually work on music production and in the afternoon we train but we used to have time to visit the city.
There is an incredible and mysterious force on the stage that pushes you to do your best. We have sometimes been sick or simply had a bad day, but when we go out to the booth, we have become other people. Being an artist is a very big responsibility that you have to deal with to always give the best show to your audience.
When you're doing what you love, how do you feel inside?
There is always a moment, especially when we are DJing, when we realize how much people enjoy our music, and that moment is what gives meaning to everything we do, and we feel proud of ourselves. We have been working in the industry for more than ten years, and it has taken us a lot of effort to get to where we are, but just for these moments where you realize that you make people happy, it is all worth it.
Finally, do you have any advice for young people wanting to become music producers/DJs?
Have an identity, be consistent daily and believe a lot in yourself.