Erick Morillo

Erick Morillo needs no introduction. A platinum selling artist, owner of one of the biggest record labels in the world and a superstar DJ who fills clubs and stadiums alike. Here, Dan Prince speaks to Erick about the brand new Subliminal 2012 album, the tunes, movers and shakers at his record breaking 12th season at Pacha in ibiza this year and how his beautiful wife has finally turned him onto the sounds of jazz…

Erick dude welcome back to DMCWORLD. Yet another incredible summer for you and a major release just out Subliminal 2012 mixed by yourself and your Sympho Nympho partners. Talk us through this brilliant compilation and what you were aiming to achieve with it…

“Sympho Nympho (Myself, Harry Romero and Jose Nunez), wanted to put together a compilation that show cased our sound.  Since the inception of Sympho Nympho we’ve been working on creating a sound based on our past and present musical experiences and in doing so we are combining different genres – tech-house, dubstep, reggae, tribal, dance and latin to create a very unique and special sound. The first CD on the compilation sets the tone with some very sexy vocals and chill tracks followed by the more aggressive CD 2 which promises to take you on a musical journey. The four Subliminal exclusives (T3ktone ‘Prelude’, T3ktone ‘Sankadilla’, Yanik Coen ‘Throw Your Handz up’ and Eddie Amador & Harry Romero ‘We Are The Beautiful Ones’ – Sympho Nympho – Nympho remix) and a favourite track of mine ‘World In Your Hands’ glue the compilation together and are sure to make you want to dance.

When the concept of Sympho Nympho was born you admitted that “we wanted to explore our diversity in a new dimension for us – popular music.” So how important to you is a radio friendly sound as artists – were you feeling restricted in dance boundaries?

“I wouldn’t necessary say that I was feeling restricted but rather I feel it is time to explore outside our comfort zone. Sympho Nympho was in part created to explore the unknown. We didn’t want to stick to the same formula, instead we wanted to take risk and see what would be the outcome. Thus far it has been amazing. We’ve created some great commercial music with a twist of underground, and tech-house. It’s definitely a completely new style for us and I think a lot of people are going to like what we’re doing.”

Your residency at Pacha in Ibiza now enters it’s 12th amazing year, and it’s fair to say this summer has been off the hook. Who have been some of the highlights joining you in the booth at the world’s most famous club?

“2012 will definitely go down in my book as one of the most memorable Ibiza summers.  It has been an absolute pleasure having Chuckie and Sunnery James and Ryan Marciano as our resident DJ’s. They have been killing it all summer. My boys Harry Romero and Jose Nunez have been tearing it up as part of our Sympho Nympho group. Additionally, playing back to back with Steve Angello and Sunnery James and Ryan Marciano were both two very special nights. Who can forget the opening party with the voice of house music Shawnee Taylor performing live to a packed house.  A few weeks later, Segarra performed her new track ‘Beautiful Reality’, a memorable night indeed. Sneaky Sound System, Carl Kennedy, Norman Doray, and An21 & Max Vangeli worked their magic and created some very special memories as well. One very special guest that stopped by to say hello and to spend some time with me in the booth was my old friend Louie Vega. It is always a pleasure to see Louie. It has definitely been an amazing season and we are just past the midway point. I’m sure there will be many more memorable moments to write about as the 2012 season comes to an end.”

What has been your anthem of the summer?

“I love playing a track that we (Sympho Nympho) did for Sneaky Sound System called ‘Bringing It Up’. It’s a real crowded pleaser. Another favourite of mine is the Shawnee Taylor Denis The Menace Sandro Monte ft. Erick Morillo ‘Love In Me’. Both tracks are destined to be anthems upon their release.”

What were your initial thoughts on the new look Pacha this season?

“I’m a true believer that the only thing constant in this world is change. At first it took me a little while to adjust to the new look but I’m loving it now. Things have certainly changed over the years. I recall practically playing out of a small closet near the entrance of Pacha twelve years ago and gradually moving closer and closer to the dance floor. Today, Pacha Ibiza looks and sounds as great as ever and the parties from Monday thru Sunday just keep getting better and better.”

The island was in the headlines last week with the news that the big four venues are threatening not to open until July in 2013 unless the Councils do something about the opening hours of the day time clubs in Ibiza, who they feel have affected numbers through their doors this year. Thoughts on that…

“I really can’t comment without having the full knowledge of both parties and their decision making process. I am however confident that whatever differences there are between the venues and the councils will be resolved amicably and in the best interest of the island.”

Who have been some of the celebrities you have had jumping around your Subliminal Ibiza dance floor this summer?

“Pacha is a unique club in that you never know who is dancing next to you in the VIP area or on the main dance floor. Each week I hear a certain celebrity was partying it up and having a great time in the club. Sometimes I get the pleasure of saying hello to them in the DJ booth. It is always an honour to have guests of the club stop by to say hello and to thank me for a special night. The list of celebrities is too long to mention names but take my word for it, next time your in Pacha take a look around and for sure you’ll see a hand full of celebrities having a great time and enjoying life and the spirit of Pacha Ibiza.”

Some new cool restaurants have sprung up this year, where have you enjoyed hanging out?

“Lio is definitely a very cool spot and doing brilliantly since its opening in 2011. You can dine and enjoy a great show at the same time. It is certainly one of my favourite restaurants this summer. Cipriani has opened in Ibiza this year and it too provides a great dining experience.”

Some of the producers I have interviewed in the magazine over the last few weeks have been discussing EDM in America. Some have said that maybe the US has already had it’s ‘golden period’. Thoughts on that?

“Firstly, I have to say I am not a lover of the term EDM. For me house, techno, electro, trance will always be known as ‘Dance Music’. I’ve been 20 years in this industry and that is what I know of it to be. Dance Music is as hot as ever in the United States and I do not foresee the movement slowing down in the States anytime soon. I never in my wildest dreams thought that I would be playing in a festival in Houston, Texas. Nowadays, there are dance festivals literally throughout the United States. I think we are very far from reaching the tipping point and with radio now involved in the movement, it’s almost as though Dance Music has had its second birth in the U.S.”

What is the current top 10 you are spinning?

T3ktone – ‘Prelude’
Dannic – ‘Tombo’
Erick Morillo & Konshens ft. Sympho Nympho ‘Murder The Dance Floor’ (Acid Mix)
Denis The Menace & Syke’n’Sugarstarr ‘World in Your Hands’
Erick Morillo and Sympho Nympho feat. Sean Paul & Segarra ‘Feeling It Baby’
T3ktone – ‘Sankadilla’
Shawnee Taylor Denis The Menace Sandro Monte feat Erick Morillo ‘Love In Me’
Erick Morillo and Sympho Nympho feat. Segarra ‘Beautiful Reality’
Yanik Coen ‘Throw Your Handz Up’
Erick Morillo and Sympho Nympho feat. Craig David ‘Fight 4 Love’

What are the current studio projects you are working on?

“Myself, Harry Romero and Jose Nunez (Sympho Nympho) have been spending a lot of time in the studio over the last 24 months. We have several projects cooking at the moment with the likes of Dizzee Rascal, Sean Paul, Busta Rhythms, Wyclef Jean, Craig David, Shawnee Taylor, Segarra, and a few others. All I can say at the moment is, get ready to dance!”

What was the record that changed your life?

“Jungle Brothers ‘Girl I’ll House You’ – I still remember how the crowd reacted the first time I was in a night club in New York City.  I knew right that moment that I wanted to use music to make people scream, jump, and go nuts on the dance floor.  From time to time, I still drop ‘I’ll House You’ and the crowd still goes nuts. It’s an all time house classic!!”

You have been all over the world this summer around your Pacha residency, what clubs and countries have really stood out?

“Aside from Ibiza which is my favourite place to spend time during the summer, I enjoyed traveling to Greece, Italy, Portugal, and I’m quite excited to visit London for the SW4 festival! I have also enjoyed traveling back to the States, LIV Miami and Marquee Las Vegas are both great venues.”

Away from dance music, who are the artists you are currently checking out?

“I listen to Lenny Kravitz, U2 and my beautiful wife has turned me on to Jazz – Mills Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, and Art Blakey to name a few.

Dead or alive, what famous 5 celebrities would you invite to dinner at yours…?

“Prince, Mick Jagger, Shakira, Quincy Jones, Jay-Z and of course 20 beautiful models.”

Everyone has one, what is your guilty pleasure record you secretly love?

“I have a few disco tracks that come to mind. From time to time I take out my old vinyl collection and play some of my old school disco tracks and reminisce.”

And finally…who are the unsung heroes of Subliminal at Pacha?

“There a lot of people behind the scenes that help make our Subliminal Pacha parties special. From the Pacha staff to the Subliminal crew (Helen Coates, Caroline Harrington and Manny Zelaya) everyone deserves lots of credit for their hard work and commitment in making it all happen.”

Erick Morillo and Sympho Nympho present Subliminal 2012

CD1                                                                                                                                                      

Sante -Mothership (Original Mix)

Alex Tepper -Breathe In (Original Mix)

&ME-Ashes (Original Mix)

Nino Santos & Lightem-Fairytale (Original Mix)

Radio Slave feat. Danton Eeprom-Grindhouse (Nic Fanciulli Remix)

Paco Maroto & Inaki Santos-Lo Conozco (Original Mix)

T3ktone-Prelude (Original Mix)

Daniel Steinberg -On The Train (Derrick Carter Remix)

Maetrik -The Entity (Original Mix)

Sam Paganini -Back To Zero (Original Mix)

Ministers de la Funk-Gravy (Antranig Remix)

Jose Nunez feat.Taina-Bilingual (Dirty Mix)

Yanik Coen -Throw Your Handz Up (Original Mix)

Denis The Menace & Syke’N’Sugarstarr -World In Your Hands (Original Mix)

Harry “Choo Choo” Romero & Jose Nunez -Bachata (Instrumental Mix) & Live Your Life (Acapella)

CD2

Luigi Rocca & Manuel De La Mare-Opa-Locka (Original Mix)

Alex Dolby & Santos -Orange Wafer (Original Mix)

Per QX feat. Andrea Love -U Can’t Hide (Organ Mix)

T3ktone-Sankadilla (Original Mix)

John Dahlback feat. Terri B-Flirt (Club Mix)

In The Screen feat. Rachel Starr -Keep On Dancin’ (Erick Morillo, Harry “Choo Choo” Romero, Jose Nunez Groove Mix)

Shawnee Taylor feat. SYMPHO NYMPHO-Colors (Antranig Remix)

Clio-Do It (Carlos Lio Remix)

Chris Colburn-Whipped (Original Mix)

SYMPHO NYMPHO -Build It Up (Original Mix)

Alexandra Burke feat. Erick Morillo -Elephant (SYMPHO NYMPHO Remix)

Erick Morillo & Eddie Thoneick feat. Skin -If This Ain’t Love (DJ DLG Lazor Mix)

Carl Kennedy feat. Cheyenne -Once Upon A Time (Original Mix)

Craig David feat. Erick Morillo -Get Drunk Up (SYMPHO NYMPHO Remix)

Eddie Amador & Harry Romero feat. Countre Black -We Are The Beautiful ones (SYMPHO NYMPHO – NYMPHO Mix)

Erick Morillo On Tour

Aug 22             Subliminal @ Pacha – Ibiza, Spain

Aug 25             SW4 Festival – London, England

Aug 25             Ministry of Sound – London, England

Sep 2                  TAO – Las Vegas, USA

Sep 5                  Subliminal @ Pacha – Ibiza, Spain

Sep 12                Subliminal @ Pacha – Ibiza, Spain

Sep 19                Subliminal @ Pacha – Ibiza, Spain

Sep 21                Opium Mar – Barcelona, Spain

Sep 22                Divinae Follie – Bari, Italy

Sep 26                Subliminal Closing Party – Ibiza, Spain (Pacha)

Oct 13               Marquee – Las Vegas, USA

Nov 3                 Marquee – Las Vegas, USA

Dec 8                 Marquee – Las Vegas, USA

Dec 31               NYE Mantra Parador – Punta Del Este, Uruguay

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www.subliminalrecords.com

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