Alongside his remarkable contribution to the series, we sat down with KWARTZ who shared his thoughts about his career, inspirations & aspirations!
- Hi Mario, thanks for answering our paradoxical questions! What have you been up to lately?
Hi there! As always, I’ve been completely locked in the studio during the week and playing gigs around the world on the weekends. I still feel incredibly lucky every day to be able to dedicate myself full-time to something I love.
- By the way, how do you feel the crowd’s “open-mindedness” has evolved over the last 10 years in the techno scene?
I think people’s mindset has evolved and changed quite a lot in recent years. The scene has become more diverse, and techno has reached a much broader audience, something that would have been unthinkable years ago. That said, it’s up to us to take care of the scene and give visibility to the people (whether they’re producers, promoters, or label managers) who truly work hard every day to create and sustain a high-quality scene we can be proud of in the future.
- You’ve played all around the globe, from Azerbaijan to Argentina, Japan to Georgia. Do you adapt your sets based on the culture and musical taste of the audience?
I always take into account the crowd and the environment I’m going to play in, as well as the context of the event. From there, my goal is to share my signature sound and my own approach to what a DJ set is, regardless of the country I’m in.
- Last summer, you had three gigs in the US, but it seems like it wasn’t your first time there. How was your first experience?
That’s right, I played in New York, Phoenix, and LA. I can only say great things about the scene over there. Even though it’s a “relatively” young scene, the vibe and the production quality of the parties are incredible. I honestly can’t wait to go back.
- You’re behind Order & Devotion, a techno label. Can you tell us a bit more about that project—how and when it started?
It’s a label I started back in 2016, with just five releases under its belt. At that time, the sound was completely different from what I’m doing now, and I felt the need to create a platform where I could express myself and release music from young producers whose sound resonated with me. Unfortunately, due to several factors, I decided to close that chapter. After so many years, that kind of sound no longer speaks to me, so I’m planning to launch a new project that better represents my current vision of techno and allows me to release the kind of music I’m into nowadays.
- Your new release on PoleGroup, Under Control EP, is four slices of full-on techno—and we really love the result! What made you feel it was the right time for this new EP?
Thank you so much! The EP took shape during the pandemic years and was basically the result of all those months of isolation. Music became the only outlet where I could release all my emotions, which is why it has that touch of rage and, let’s say, ‘mala hostia’ as we say in Spain. I had to let it out somehow, and it came out in this record.
- As a DJ, you must receive tons of promos. What’s your take on the current techno production scene? Do you think there’s enough creativity and innovation?
From my point of view, the market is oversaturated right now. It’s crazy to receive over a hundred promos in my inbox every week. Don’t get me wrong, there’s definitely quality music out there, but it’s becoming more and more difficult to find tracks that really stand out. That’s one of the reasons why, even though I produce music every day, I don’t release that much. Over the years I’ve come to realize that the old saying “less is more” or “quality over quantity” really does hold true.
- Is there a particular moment in your career that you’ll never forget—or that you’d consider a turning point?
The first time I met Óscar Mulero. He was the one who gave me the opportunity to join PoleGroup, and everything changed from that moment on. I’ll always be deeply grateful to him.
- How did you record the podcast for Paradox ? Can you pick a record from the mix and tell us why you like it or how you found it ?
I recorded the podcast late at night in my studio in Berlin. Coincidentally, it was the same week I was preparing music for my upcoming set at Berghain, so I tried to condense a four-hour session into just one hour. As for a specific track, I’d highlight the opening one, by Anny Mello. She’s a Brazilian producer based in Berlin, and I love her music. Her tracks combine emotion, groove, and sound design in a way that really resonates with me.
- What advice would you give to a young artist emerging in the scene? Should they stay focused on what’s trending or always keep in mind the roots?
My number one piece of advice is to always make having fun in the studio your top priority. Enjoying the process is key. Never create music based on what others expect from you or what you think they want to hear. It’s important to keep this in mind in order to produce something that’s unique and truly represents who you are on every level.
And of course, you shouldn’t ignore trends altogether, it’s important to stay aware of what’s happening around you in the world, but with that knowledge, you should still do your own thing without letting others’ tastes influence you, as long as you believe in what you’re doing.
- Many techno artists admit they’re not very comfortable with the technical side of production. How important do you think it is to master this aspect in today’s industry?
Personally, this used to be the part of production I hated the most. You can’t imagine how many tracks I ruined during this stage of the process… hundreds! But over the years, I’ve come to really enjoy it. I studied a lot, listened to a lot of different music, and I can say now that love spending hours perfecting technical details in my tracks. I think that’s largely thanks to having a properly treated studio where I can hear all the frequencies clearly. Lately, I’ve noticed that many of the tracks I receive don’t pay enough attention to this part, which is a real shame, because no matter how much I like a track, if it doesn’t sound the way it should on a system, I have no choice but to pass on it.
- What can we expect from you in the near future?
You can expect a new label I’ve been working on for a while now, which will become my main platform for releasing music,both on vinyl and digitally.
Thanks for having me!
Thanks a lot Mario, we hope to see you very soon somewhere, keep the good vibe on!
Love and respect