Interview by Dan Prince
Wehbba a huge welcome back to DMCWORLD! Where on planet earth are you right now?
I am in Barcelona, my hometown and just got back from an awesome Chemical Brothers concert, still buzzin!
The finest piece of new music you have heard today?
Chemical Brothers “Setting Suns” vocals and lead effects mixed with the groove from “Out Of Control” – what a combo!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5NX1FC-7-w
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sOpbRL8R4g
A really exciting time for you at the moment with new releases flying out of your ears. Let’s kick off your Awkward Vacation EP swinging our way on Tronic. Three most excellent tracks on the release, please talk us through each piece of audio magic…
I have been working quite a lot on original music this year, which started to all be released from August. I haven’t been on Tronic with a solo release since December 2015, so I couldn’t have a new wave of releases without one back on Tronic. I played a draft of “Flux” to Christian when he came over and he loved it. The week after I sent him the final version and we had the EP already scheduled. I put the finishing touches to Awkward Vacation a few days later, when I was forced to stay locked up in a hotel room in Bali for a week, as it was raining so much. So I guess the title is a kind of tribute to that trip. I got a lot of work done, which I still have to finish. This EP is the first of them. Once we had these two techno bombs set up, Christian suggested I should do something different, something I haven’t before. I have always flirted with break-beat and electro but never really made and released anything before, so I took on the challenge and delivered “Ascent”, which is my own take on early electro-funk from Detroit. A style that has always heavily influenced me so much.
You are no stranger to Tronic, you have been drip feeding us a steady stream of powerful productions since 2009. What is it about this imprint that you love?
My relationship with Christian Smith plays the biggest role in my loyalty to the label. I have been a fan of Tronic since the very early days as a DJ in the 2000’s. The label over time may go through different phases, but our friendship and similar music taste and vision is the main reason why I continue to love working with him and Tronic. Its very rare to find something like that in this business, so I value it very much.
You have just returned from ADE in Amsterdam, many people are claiming it the best yet. What were some of your highlights of the conference?
I had just came from a few weeks down in South America and went straight to Amsterdam for only 2 days. I only went to the Drumcode/Awakenings party which is an essential stop for me every year, and it’s always great, and the following day I was so tired that I slept all day through the evening and only got out of bed to go to the Tronic vs. Terminal M party where I played, and from there almost straight to the airport the next day to play in Germany, so unfortunately I couldn’t really enjoy much of the conference this year.
Was there a track you couldn’t escape that was played everywhere?
Well since I’ve only been to two parties, I’ve only heard one track twice, which was my own track “Fake” – not yet released. Adam Beyer dropped it at the Gashouder and I also played it at the Tronic party. So keep an eye out for that in 2017!
The list of studio collaborators you have worked with is endless. Who has been a real laugh to create with, who has taught you the most?
Well that has to be Christian Smith. We have spent a lot of time together in the studio in the last 7 years, either when I was engineering his post production or when we were collaborating on our own material. I’ve definitely learnt a lot from him. I have also had a great experience working with Renato Cohen, and learnt so much from the time that we spent together. I also do not think I can answer this question without mentioning my girlfriend. She has been making amazing music for some time now, we share the studio and we have started to exchange so much knowledge in the last few years, its been incredibly fulfilling.
Next on your release tip comes your Systematic Shades Vol. 2 EP that is getting released at the end of November. Three original tracks, again, please talk us through them…
This is one of my favorite releases due this year, it’s the 2nd installment of my “Systematic Shades” series, which is always on digital and vinyl release. The first one was really well received. I respect Marc Romboy’s approach on handling the label, his passion and his principles value the music above everything else. He takes a more protective approach, focusing on like-minded real music lovers. I have been working with Systematic or almost 3 years now, and it always takes us some time between the first demo to the final signing of the complete single, but so far its always been worth it. I was really happy when Marc decided to make Moonrise the main tack, it’s a very special track for me, inspired by the early Plus8 releases and late 90’s R&S, Novamute and other stuff like that, which marked my way into electronic music. Those influences now play a big part on this new phase in my career, both musically and in terms of philosophy, with that more futuristic, seemingly careless and free approach to everything. The same applies to “Polychrome”, heavily inspired by that same era, but with more focus on techno. “The Persistence of Memory” is taking from that vibe with the lead sound, it also shows me exploring my new synths which I has just got when I wrote the track (Prophet 6 and the Roland MKS-80 Super Jupiter)
What are the 5 big tunes in your box this weekend…
ANNA – “Artha”
Huge track for me, doesn’t leave my set ever since she finished it. That melody could play for hours in my head.
Rob Hes – “The Solution”
When I played this tune something happened to me which hadn’t happened in a long time, I just couldn’t stop smiling and tripping. I could barely mix out of it! Proper trance in its purest and most un-offensive form
Radio Slave “Vision” (Johannes Heil Remix)
Big fan of everyone involved here, just love the trippy nature of this remix, but I play all the other versions too from the same package. They really nailed it on this one.
Trevino – “Mosaic”
Love Hotflush releases, and love every single thing Marcus Intalex/Trevino does! He’s such a don!
Emmanuel Top “Acid Phase” (Timmo Rework)
Timmo has been doing some really good stuff and since I heard Adam Beyer playing this for the first time, I immediately fell in love with its raw power. It bought be back to that late 90’s vibe. Was really happy when Timmo sent it to me, haven’t stopped playing since!
Where have been some of the stand out gigs of the summer for you?
I really enjoyed our annual Tronic Beach Festival during Sonar, such an amazing venue and always packed with a great crowd, also had a great time in Berlin at Sysyphos, I just love playing long sets, especially where I can really be a DJ and explore together with the crowd, rather than being just an entertainer.
Your favorite tune of the summer?
My remix of Alloy Mental – Alloy Mental, a classic favorite of mine with a raw energy that deserved an update, and I gave it one, haha.
Okay let’s rewind for a moment. What is your earliest musical memory from your childhood?
I was maybe 7 years old when this move called “La Bamba”, which is the story of Ritchie Valens, came out, and I loved so much of the soundtrack, which had stuff from Ritchie Valens as well as Bo Diddley, Brian Setzer, etc…that I took my father’s old camcorder and started to record myself dubbing the guitar and vocals, wearing a corny 80s nylon jacket. Glad that video is gone now.
When did dance music first appear on your radar and how?
I’ve always been into music from a very young age, my father has always been a sound enthusiast, he’s always had this passion for nice speakers, headphones, cassette and record players, amplifiers, etc…he used to work for a Brazilian brand called Gradiente, which was basically a JBL clone. So like any young kid I wanted to impress him, by showing him I knew a lot about music, so I’d listen to the radio endlessly, and soon enough it became a habit, and I was always the “DJ” at those little school dances and birthday parties, always had the hit records at the time… my first vinyl ever was Erasure’s single “Stop”, which I got when I was about 9 or 10 years old, and recently I managed to get signed by Vince Clarke himself!
Was music always going to be your life path or was there ever anything else you wanted to do?
Not sure many people know this, but I was a dentist!! I’ve worked as a dentist running 3 clinics and performing surgeries every day, for almost 10 years. I dropped out of it when I started to tour internationally and more frequently back in 2006-2007.
What was your first ‘big break’ into the music industry?
I’m not sure I ever had one, I’ve been working my ass off for almost 15 years and I think it just pays off.
What did your family think of your career choice? Do they like your music?
They had a son who was a dentist with a postgraduate degree, but then dropped it to become a DJ. So yeah, my mother hasn’t quite got over it up until now some 10 years later, my father was always supportive though. They are not crazy about electronic music in general, my mother doesn’t really pay a lot of attention to music overall, but my father is more of a rock’n’roll/classic dude. They are very proud though of my career and for making it all completely on my own.
I had an earth moving experience dancing to your tunes at Enter at Space in Ibiza a few years back, truly wonderful. Space is now just a distant memory with Ushuaia taking over the venue, what are some of your happiest memories of the club?
I’ve been to Space just a few times, once playing, and a few others partying, there’s an amazing energy in that place that will certainly be missed. It’s not just the music, not just the DJ or the crowd, and not just the venue, it’s the whole combo. I’m always gonna remember going to the booth to play right after being served sake by a bartender called Richie Hawtin, just priceless!
As you mentioned earlier, you now live in Barcelona after moving from Sao Paulo. What is the best and worst thing about living there?
The best thing about living here is that there is not a “worst” thing about it! But joking aside, I feel truly blessed to be living in one of my favorite places in the world. I love the people, the culture, the weather, the food, I hope I can stay here for a long time to come.
An up and coming producer to watch out for next year?
Raxon – an amazing person, full of passion, talent and energy.
True or false? You were once kidnapped by a rogue taxi driver in Jordan???
A bit of both. It wasn’t really a kidnapping, but since he didn’t speak any English I wasn’t sure he was the right driver, and neither was he! I was supposed to visit the Dead Sea quickly before heading out to the airport, but the original driver had to cancel it and sent in a friend, but did not advise me or the promoter about it. So I got out of the hotel, and there was a line of drivers outside, no one claimed me so I went one by one asking but none spoke any English. One of them knew how to say “Dead Sea” so I figured that was the one. Half way on the road I started to wonder if he was the right one or if he was just a random driver taking a tourist to the Dead Sea. After many attempts of calling the promoter he finally picked up, and spoke to the driver, who then clarified the situation, so by the time I did get to the dead sea I was so stressed out I didn’t want to stay at all, and asked to go to the airport! Then he started to take a different route than the one we came through the highway, and it freaked me out because it was this dirt road up into the hills with nothing around for miles and miles, only some odd camping sites, and again he didn’t say a word or understood anything I was saying, and there was no cellphone signal for me to call anyone, but in the end I managed to get some signal and called the promoter again, who spoke to the driver again, and explained me it was a shortcut, phew. Jordan people are lovely and friendly people though and I really can’t wait to be back there.
And finally, what is coming out next from you studio wise…
After my singles on Tronic and Systematic I have a track in collaboration with Christian Smith coming up on Tronic’s annual compilation and also a remix for Harry Romero on Tronic as well due in December. For 2017 there are lot’s of good surprises but can’t really mention anything at this point, but you’ll sure hear about it pretty soon!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wehbba/?fref=ts
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/wehbba
Gorilla Manchester RA event: https://www.residentadvisor.net/event.aspx?876335
