There is a massive catalogue of digital releases on Dani Casaranos and Felipe Valenzuelas well-established and renowned Melisma label, and their even more select vinyl-only Melisma Limited. With the output of both, they bridge the gap between the established past and the vanguard future. To establish what is going on, we go back and forth for some time. Yes, its Wednesday night and we both have not recovered from our deprived sleep we missed out on the previous weekend.
Once more, we took the chance to connect with Melisma mastermind Dani Casarano (it is the third interview MEOKO conducted with him over the course of previous years), and to talk about Felipe Valenzuela’s and his merits in putting forward a label with a giant scope is something magical: the more we talk, there is always another facet to discover plus there are quite a few releases coming up on the labels which we would love to highlight while we are at it, seems as if Dani and Melisma have gained massive momentum in the recent years of his career.
There are the remixes from the likes of Ricardo Villalobos, Thomas Melchior and Fumiya Tanaka and their project Tofu Productions with all whom have made appearances on the label, Felipe Venegas who had remixes by Birdsmakingmachine, the fifth vinyl by Argentinean producer Federico Molinari, and then an EP by Ricardo Villalobos together with Argenis Brito. On top of this, there will be the end-of-the-year anual compendium, a digital compilation with artists like Cesar Merveille, Jorge Savoretti, Cosmin, a new digital release called “Derek” by Felipe and Dani with remixes by Dorian Paic and Federico Molinari, and a Various Artist EP on Nastias label Propaganda.
Then those fantastic label nights like the one they did in Ibiza this year, in collaboration with Zoo Project, with Ricardo Villalobos, Thomas Melchior, Umho, Felipe Valenzuela and Dani Casarano. Then another one in Berlin’s Neue Heimat con Laurine, Nicolas Lutz, Jan Krüger, Felipe Valenzuela and again Dani. Right now, there is another one coming up, on Berlin’s Hoppetosse, in collaboration with nightclubber.ro. We manage to skim off the vital information in a true late night session as we are very keen to know more about these recent happenings!
You live in Berlin for three years right now, and you said you chose this city because there aren’t many like it these days?
Dani Casarano: Yes, I decided to come here because I felt I could identify with the life style this city is promoting, and also because I knew that I would be able to get better at what I do simply by listening to people who inspire me and who share the same passion.
How was Berlin treating you when you got here?
Dani Casarano: It was a hard Winter with four solid months of snow, but surprisingly, I did not feel bothered by this; things were falling into place for me. I got to know the people from Club der Visionäre and started to put on my monthly event there in 2013. It is called B.A.S, Berlin Aural Sessions. The summer editions are taking place in CDV, the during the cold season we party on the Hoppetosse which is run by the same people and is like their Winter exile.
When exactly did you start to push your label nights, and why did you not do it straight away?
Dani Casarano: We did do label nights, but we did them in other locations, such as Chalet and other clubs. Right now, we count on the stability offered by Hoppetosse and Club der Visionäre. The project B.A.S runs under a different moniker as we also wanted to invite artists that are not in any form related to Melisma.
Who do you make each project with? Or is it the same people?
Dani Casarano: Melisma are Felipe and I, who make the label and the radio show, and B.A.S are Valentina Colvin and me.
So how did you get to the stage when Melisma became more than just a label? Or did you always think of it as a concept?
Dani Casarano: This was always the basic idea right from the start. I like to generate things and it is very necessary that one, as an artist, needs content in order to be able to move forward in one’s career. Unless you have content, it is totally necessary that you are with a big agency – or you create your own brand.
Content in which sense?
Dani Casarano: What I mean is that only being a DJ does not give you much weight unless you are with a big agency that pushes you, but if you want something to say, in your own way, you do it by creating your own brand. You can do that by making many things, amongst them a label, radio shows, and events. There is your content.
Did you have a well thought-through concept – for example who would release on Melisma – when you started or did this pan out along the way?
Dani Casarano: We never thought that so many well-respected artists would participate, but this happened naturally.
So you put out digital releases with Felipe and other Chilean friends, until you made a leap and brought out stuff on vinyl? With people like Ricardo?
Dani Casarano: Yes, exactly, we started off as friends, and worked with them, which is still what we are doing these days, which is why I said that the labels progression was natural process, an evolution of what we are and what we are doing, me as much as Felipe.
Tell me about the differences between Melisma, and Melisma Limited. Why was there a need for different imprints?
Dani Casarano: We release digitally as we are living in the year 2015, and there are thousands of followers around the world who cannot buy vinyls. We also use this cannel to showcase new artists, and widen our network. Vinyl is different market. It is more reduced.
How is the connection between of Melisma and Nightclubber.ro, you are also about to release a record by a Romanian artist.
Dani Casarano: The connection is that we talked about a possible colaboration for some time, and finally we get to do it. That there is also a release by a Romanian artist – he is called Guy From Downstairs – is just a coincidence. We love what he does. But we like all sorts of stuff, so this is why the next vinyl reléase is by an artista from Argentina, Federico Molinari, and we focus on working with people who we like, whether they are from Romania, Chile, Germany, Argentina, Italy, Africa or China or wherever.
Yeah but it is interesting: the Romanian people poined out of how much importance Ricardo is to them, as he is a person who opened a lot of possibilities for them in the exterior world.
Dani Casarano: Totally.
Which is why I am surprised by these parellels in musical development coming from Chile and Romania.
Dani Casarano: I thnk it is vital that these kind of aspects flow and that there is an interchange, it only brings forth positive developments.
I would like to know if there is an underlying business aspect to make a label these days. You know: the marketing, the tendencies, who people want to listen to, where they go to dance. These things.
Dani Casarano: I do not view it as a business, to be honest. My label only grows in order to sustain itself, I would not mind if I made money with it, but what matters is the music,
Did you ever incorpórate a Melisma in your music?
Dani Casarano: As far as I know, a Melisma its a pitch change within the voice, within the spectrum of an octave. That is basically the connection with the name: this idea to change the octave for me means change within the musical spectrum. A true master for this voice effect was Stevie Wonder, check for example “Isn’t She Lovely” I have never employed it in my music!
Join Melisa Series at Hoppetosse on the 20th Nov with Cristi Cons & Vlad Caia as SIT, Dani Casarano, Felipe Valenzuela and Zefzeed. More info here.
Words and interview: Kat @ planetkat.com
