Brian Harrison and Martín Kasall, known as Brigado Crew, united in 2012 to craft innovative musical projects, adopting their stage name from the Portuguese word “obrigado,” meaning thanks. Their dynamic collaboration has seen them release music across esteemed dance labels globally, including Diynamic, where their hit single ‘Zulu’ reached number one on Beatport’s Deep House chart for over twenty days in 2017. Their pioneering sounds have garnered support from industry luminaries such as Solomun, Tale of Us, and Adriatique, and have shared decks with prominent artists like Paul Kalkbrenner and Nora En Pure. In 2020, they embarked on their first album project, ‘Symbiosis’, released on German prestigious imprint Stil vor Talent, earning acclaim with tracks like ‘7’ reaching third place in Indie Dance Beatport sales. In 2022, they launched their own label, Symbiosis, followed by releases on Bedrock Records and Tomorrowland Music in 2023.
DMCWORLD checks in with the duo after the release of their new single ‘Time Slave’ with Crisstiano on their label…
1. What inspired you to come together as Brigado Crew, and how did the meaning behind your name influence your musical journey?
Well 10 years ago Martin was Brian’s music production teacher, after classes they spend a lot of time talking about music etc. and that brought the idea to make a duo together and try those things. After that they were always be so grateful in life to everyone that was involved, so they want to be called something that indicated that. That is when Brigado appeared which means thanks in Portuguese.
2. Can you describe the evolution of your sound since you started in 2012, and what influences have been most significant in shaping your music?
We started making tech house music, then we tried afro, and now we focus on melodic house and techno with indie vibes. We always love to put melodies in our tracks, also in the beginning we used a lot of melodies in tech house music and that gave us a bad results as we couldn’t achieve the labels we wanted in that time due that, as we were different than the typical sound in the market.
3. Your track ‘Zulu’ reached number one on Beatport’s Deep House chart for over twenty days. What do you think contributed to its success, and how did it feel to achieve such a milestone?
Yes, we have such amazing memories from that.
Perhaps it was because in that time afro wasn’t so popular and we made it just in time before the huge wave of afro tunes arrived on the market!
4. What impact has the support from artists like Solomun, Tale of Us, and Adriatique had on your career, and how have their endorsements influenced your music?
It helps a lot, when a big DJ plays your music and starts to get your name into the fans ears – that’s very important. You can reach people from all over the world, influenced a lot cause it gives us corage and show the path to make music
5. You’ve performed alongside prominent artists like Paul Kalkbrenner and Nora En Pure. How have these experiences influenced your live performances and overall approach to DJing?
It is always very special to share the booth with these amazing artists. It gives you a lot of experience that you cannot get in the studio, you need to live it to get it!
6. What was the creative process like for your debut album ‘Symbiosis’, and how did releasing it on Stil vor Talent shape its reception?
Making an album was one of the most important things we have ever done in our lives. It’s so nice to create a lot of music under a concept. And Stil vor Talent gave us this enormous opportunity to show the world our idea of an album and music!
7. ‘7’ from your album ‘Symbiosis’ reached third place in Indie Dance Beatport sales. Can you tell us more about the inspiration and production process behind this track?
Well for us, 7 is our magic number so we wanted to make a very very special track with this title. For many people this title is basic because is just a number, but for us it has a lot of meaning. Then seeing the great results it has was a very nice achivement for our career!
About inspiration, we wanted to make a dancefloor killer track, easy sounds, basic but very significant for dancers.
8. In 2022, you launched your own label, Symbiosis. What motivated you to start your own label, and what vision do you have for its future?
We wanted to create a platform where we can release our music whenever we want, with the cover we want. Of course we also wanted to make a community where we can help other artists to grow up and show their talents. We had this idea in mind for years and we thought it was the time to make it live.
For the first time this year, we are making 3 label showcases. 1 already happened and 2 more are coming. There are still some great releases from very well known artists on the horizon that we can’t spoil haha!
9. You’ve recently released music on prestigious labels like Bedrock Records and Tomorrowland Music. How do these releases reflect your current musical direction and growth as artists?
We think it’s so nice to release on these kind of labels and it was something we have been waiting for a loooong time. We know everyone wants to release on labels like this or no?
They are very big platforms that push your music all over the world to many many people
10. Your track ‘Sunrise’ was recently remixed by London-based talent Paride Saraceni. What was the inspiration behind the original track, and how do you feel about the remix version?
With Sunrise, we wanted to make a sentimental track, inspiration for people and on the other hand to make a track that gives that power of a sunrise, that something is starting and you need to be there stand up and be ready for everything! That’s why we want Paride as remixer also, cause he can give to the remix with another vision of the original without losing this feeling.
