Chicola

Interview by Dan Prince

Chico, a huge welcome to DMCWORLD Magazine. Where on planet earth are you at the moment?

Hi Dan, and thanks for having me, I’m a big fan of the of the magazine and also the classic DMC Championships. 1988 was the best for me with DJ Cash Money! Right now, I’m in my studio preparing music for my weekend gigs.

The last piece of music you have heard today?

The next release on microCastle, which is big for me.

Well, you have turned summer into SUMMER with your beautiful ‘Childhood’ track. Please talk us through the sound and history of the tune…

Well, it’s a track that came from a very special place, my children really like to be in the studio with me when I’m working, so it was a Saturday afternoon when we arrived back from the beach. We sat in the studio and the kids starting watching some funny cartoons, they started to laugh and sing together, it was a moment when their happy joyful situation became a melody. I sat down and started to play with the Moog and the melody just came out of my heart . . .it was one of those moments that just happened effortlessly.

The track has been remixed by Argentinean gods Hernan Cattaneo and Soundexille – why were these chosen and what was your reaction to their rework…

Hernan is a good friend of mine and I would say also a role model as well. He is one of the most amazing and rare people I have ever met. He was one of the first friends who got the track and when Guy J and I talked about remixers it seemed natural to ask him, and together with Soundexile they made an amazing remix.

What is your earliest musical memory from your childhood?

That would have to be my grandmother playing a record by Astrud Gilberto, some classic Bossa Nova.

How important is your piano playing ability to your production skills?

It’s very important and I wish I knew more honestly, my son is learning now and I really want to learn more in the future myself.

The tune is coming out on Guy J’s Lost & Found label. What do you love about this label?

The “Lost” part!

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I loved your remix of the Brigado Crew on Suruba – what is coming out next from you musically…?

Thanks, yes I love that track and Suruba is a fine label with great music so I was happy to do the remix for them. Coming up, I’m doing EP for Tenampa Recordings and I’m also going to release a new EP with my dear friend Sahar Z on Roy Rosenfeld’s Rusted imprint.

What are the 5 big tunes in your box right now…

Khen – Authentica [Lost & Found]

For me Khen is one of the most talented producers out there. His skills are phenomenal and he brought them into this anthem – a brilliant, quirky jam!

Guy Mantzur & Roy Rosenfeld – Hidden Karisma [Systematic Recordings]

There is always something unique created when these two join forces. A serious track for sure.

Sahar Z & Navar – A Prelude To [Lost & Found]

Sahar & Navar brought their incredible artistic talent to this piece. A beautiful, emotional record and perfect for summer.

Hacker & Miethig – Sambal [Crossfrontier Audio]

I’m a big fan of Crossfrontier Audio and this is exactly why, a top production from Hacker & Miethig.

Cornucopia – Neverland [microCastle]

This one already won my heart a long time ago.

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What is a typical day in the life of Chicola?

After taking the kids to school I usually manage to get into the studio for a few hours and then around noon I head to my office to start whatever meetings I have scheduled for the day. I’m the musical director for a private event company here in Tel Aviv so there are lots of things to handle. After that I head back to the studio and take care of any emails, interesting promos, more producing and, of course, spend time with my family.

How did you first encounter electronic music?

I used to be the local DJ at school and I was listening to the radio shows every day and I fell in love immediately.

Early influences?

Kraftwerk, Giorgio Moroder, and later on, Gary Numan, Yello and Soft Cell.

Was music the only thing you wanted to do with your life, was there any other careers that appealed?

For me it was always music.

What is the worst job you have ever had?

I won’t say it was the worst necessarily, but the hardest job I had was at age 16. It was during the summer holidays, I worked in a carpentry shop so I could save money to buy turntables. I woke up every day at 6AM and lifted solid wood panels all day long. It was very hard work, but to be honest, I can say that this was important at that time in my life and thanks to that hard work I was able to buy something substantial. I think it was also a crucial lesson that there are no shortcuts in life. So that job stands out in my mind for that.

Best piece of advice you have ever been given?

Be grateful for what you have.

Any up n’ coming producers we should be looking out for?

I would say, both of these – Eli Nissan & The Element. They are super talented people and their productions are big. You’ll definitely be hearing a lot from them in the future.

Your favourite ever DJ set you have performed?

Club Bahrein, Buenos Aires, Argentina, earlier this year. Argentina has the best crowds in the world right now.

And finally, it is the Olympics around the corner. If you could compete in any sport and win a gold medal, what would it be?

Windsurfing!

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