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Interview: Rafael Cerato to Play At the Warehouse

Rafael Cerato talks with our guest writer DJ Miss Roberta who catches up with French progressive house and techno producer to hear about his latest endeavors before his upcoming show in Malta.

Miss Roberta jumps into the chat with Rafael Cerato

What exactly triggered you into becoming a DJ and what lead you into production?

I’ve been a DJ for a while now, like 14 years ago. I was a client in clubs from my city and the scene there was great with all the best artists like Laurent Garnier and Jeff Mills among others.

When I was listening to these guys, they were like “shamans” for me on stage. It was something special. About production, it was something logical to start a few years ago because I’ve been a musician from a young age.

Your productions are really melodic and feature a lot of nice chords, arpeggios, and synths. Do you have a musical background or do you play any other musical instruments? 

Yes, I was a guitar player when I was young. I was experimenting with some different sounds, emotions. I’ve long been a fan of musicals so emotions are the most important things in my music. I’m producing basically with Ableton, VST, and some different stuff. But I’m not producing with a lot of gears – less is more sometimes.

Advantages and disadvantages of collaboration

You have been releasing tracks solo but you have also collaborated with other producers lately. What is your preference and can you tell us a bit more about the advantages or disadvantages of collaborating with other producers?

Yes, at the beginning I was producing alone every time, but I was really interested to share ideas with my producer friends and experimenting with some new sounds. It’s always great to see how ideas come with another vision of the music from another producer.

The disadvantage is to waste your time when both producers don’t agree about the right way of the track, but that’s all..

You also managed to release on Solomon’s own label Diynamic Music and other big labels like Still Vor Talent, Get Physical, Systematic Recordings, Suara, etc. Getting your music heard and releasing music on big labels like this is not easy – how long did it take you to get here?

Yes, I did everything by myself. Sending tracks directly to Solomun, Marc Romboy, Coyu, or Oliver Koletzki and I’m still doing it on my own. I had the chance to send the right stuff at the right moment to reach them directly. But I’m a long fan of these labels so I presume that’s why I sent the right tracks.

Rafael Cerato on his production routine

Tell us a bit about your production routine. How many hours do you spend in the studio and what does your studio consist of? Do you use hardware or any other instruments or do you prefer virtual synthesizers?

I try to be in-studio most of my rest time. But you know about my tours and gigs, I don’t have a lot of time so I try to be productive as much I can.

My studio as I told you before is really simple, a computer, keyboard, some drum machines and that’s all.

I used to use hardware but since few months I moved from my place so I need to rebuild a new studio properly in the next few weeks.

Credit to Malta’s clubbing scene

Malta is a very small island, but it’s gaining a lot of recognition and credit in the clubbing scene lately. What was your first reaction when you received the booking?

 

I know about the Malta scene and you are doing great, I was super excited to play there! And I really can’t wait to be there with all of you!

What can we expect during your set here in Malta? Do your sets usually consist only of your productions or do you include also other tracks that are currently in the charts or other tracks that you like?

I’m playing almost only my stuff and upcoming stuff coming on my label RITUAL. But of course, I’m playing also tracks I love and some promos.

Rafael Cerato live in Malta
Rafael Cerato live in Malta

No rest for the wicked

Leading a very busy touring life and managing to release regular music at the same time must be exhausting. Do you find time to relax or do you have other hobbies on the side? Tell us how is your schedule and how you manage to do everything?

I don’t have time to relax, to be honest.

When I’m at home I’m in the studio or organizing my own RITUAL parties here in my city. But I try to find time to go out with my friends, family. I need to do it but I wish for some holidays soon haha. Besides that,

I’m doing some sport because the DJ life is not the healthiest one.

Where do you see yourself in the next couple of years and what’s next in line? Do you have any plans in taking your own Club Night “Ritual” internationally and do you have plans of starting your own label in the future?

Yes, Ritual is a party and a label. The first release is coming in early 2019 and parties will be exported all around the world.

We are working hard with my team at the moment on this amazing project.

Catch both Rafael Cerato and Miss Roberta on November 3rd at the Warehouse in Zurrieq.

RSVP HERE

Words by: Miss Roberta

Images Courtesy of: Rafael Cerato

Written by Luc Rouffaud

Luc Rouffaud is the founder of Underground Sound, with eight years of experience running publications, organizing events and promoting underground culture.

He has a Bachelor's degree in Political Science & International Relations from the Lebanese American University and is currently completing a Master’s in Supply Chain Management at the French business school INSEEC.

He has a decade of experience analyzing, writing and editing topics from economics, geopolitics and security, to music, festivals and subculture.

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