Soundtracksforthem

The Man In Barcelona

A few years ago I interviewed the Dublin based producer Chymera for a college based newspaper, he’d just supported Miss Kitten in that barren old box for the musical soul, the then TBMC. The paper never used the article I submitted, and while the perfectionist in Chymera thinks the album he touted at the time Everyone Dies…Even Horses is sonically flawed, it’s still a masterful release of downbeat electronica to soothe your ears. Did I say its available online for free too, no? Well it is.

Now based in Barcelona, his next scheduled appearance in Ireland is in August at the Solus Festival, just another of those smaller festivals popping up outside the main efforts people seem to be turning their backs on.

He won the Beatport Award for best chillout single of 2007 for his “Umbrella” track and is up again for more award goodness in 2008. A few years ago, when I was first exploring electronic music, there was this one mix of him playing at Electric City, most likely in the Metropoliton – it always truly blew me away. So here it is, re-upped for the world to share. He’s got plenty more for the download over on his site.

Who is Chymera?

Me, myself, I.

What were the first records that really made you go, “WOW” ?
Non dance music I think stuff like NIN – The Downward Spiral, Metallica – Master Of Puppets, Tool – Aenima and many, many more. Dance music – Daft Punk – Homework, Aztec Mystic – Jaguar, Green Velvet – Flash etc etc.

Describe the sound of a Chymera Set.

Pumping, groovin, melodic, pumping. This set you are uploading now is an old one.. I play much harder these days.. Well, still as deep at the start but I pump it out by the end.

Where are you from originally ? Where are you based now ?

Somewhere in Cork and now based somewhere in Barcelona

How/when did you first begin playing music ?
I started playing guitar when I was about 12/13.. after being introduced to the joys of Metallica. Started recording myself from about the age of 17 onwards. Started Djing in 2000, and making electronic music in 2002.

Which current artists/records do you really love ?

I’m really liking Osborne, Shed, Johnny D, Queens of the Stone Age and Deus among others.

What, for you, is the most important thing about music ?

It’s got to have a feeling, an emotion, something to latch onto. Either a real emotive melody (happy, sad, uplifting, hypnotic) or a real thumping groove, or both.

What’s the most memorable DJ set you’ve ever played ?

Many that I played to an audience of none in my bedroom. Of ones the public have seen, I actually really enjoyed my last one.. in Omsk, Russia, playing to 1000 people for 3. 5 hours. Everything from deep techno to pounding techno and electro, and they were loving it… me too.

Which of your remixes are you most proud of and why ?

I like em all. But seriously there’s one I just did of an artist called Introvert on Nightvision records which turned out supremely well.

What’s the best night in your home town right now?

Well my current hometown being Barcelona, I would say Funk Dvoid’s monthly night in Moog. He gets lots of quality house artists playing on a Wednesday every month and the club is right down the road from my house too.

An Electric City Set

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