Photo: Cecilia Diaz Betz (Pau Roca)

With editions in Amsterdam, São Paulo, Tel Aviv and newly Santiago de Chile as well as Barcelona, DGTL Festival is perhaps the most international festival brand of our scene. Attracting a broad range of DJs from all over the world, the eco-friendly festival usually puts an emphasis on its connections within the local scene and its DTGL Barcelona edition this weekend between the 10 and 11th of August 2018 makes no exception. Bons Records co-founder Pau Roca, who takes the stage on Friday between 5.30pm and 7.30pm, has prepared a vinyl-only mix that blends classic deep house with some newer cuts from the Regelbau roster and elsewhere. Warm and lush, traditional but firmly rooted in the here and now – who could better represent his hometown?

 


 

You’ve been long active as a DJ in the Barcelona scene. How would you describe the community?
I think the Barcelona scene is quite interesting: we have good record stores (Discos Paradiso, Rhythm Control, Subwax or Lost Tracks to name a few), 3 or 4 important clubs and good artists in the city. However, we continue relying too heavily on international artists to fill the clubs, and the laws make it tough to do projects that fall outside the norm and typical schedules. Also, mass tourism is not helping at all to change this. Don’t believe the ‘hype’ that Barcelona is as cool as they say: it’s a good city if you have good money and follow the rules, merely that. And don’t even think about comparing it to the great cities of Europe: we are very, very far from them.

With Libido, you hold a bi-monthly residency at the city’s Nitsa club. What is important to you when programming those nights?
We have been throwing Libido parties for 10 years now, and we always try to bring artists that catch our attention and that mean something to us. For example, it was an honor to invite Glenn Underground, a true pioneer, for our tenth anniversary, or to enjoy the good taste of Jamie Tiller and John Gomez, or Mr Mendel or Dan Shake, among many others. We also try to give visibility to artists in the city that we admire, such as Dadame, MLiR, DJ Bruce Lee, the Discos Paradiso crew, Salva (MouseUp) and Abu Sou, among many others.

In 2013, you’ve launched Bons Records together with Gon. What is the label philosophy?
I don’t think the label has a clear philosophy, nor do we want to be pretentious and search for a specific sound, or for a record that “sounds like Bons Records”, but just to put out interesting club music records. Like when you listen to a record at a store and you say: “wow, this is a banger, I need it” – that’s what we’re aiming for. We’ve released afrobeat EPs by Philou Louzolo, reissues of classic house like Eclectiz by Joey Kay, acid-infected records like the Shrimp Traxx one and EPs by newcomers like Reformed Society or Embezzlement Society, as well as big names we admire, such as Doc L. Junior or Fulbert. We’ve also put out local producers, like DJ Bruce Lee and Javi Frías. We are very grateful to all of them.

You’ve been a regular guest at DGTL Barcelona. What makes the festival special in your eyes?
DGTL takes place at the Parc del Fòrum, which is an iconic space in the city because that is where Primavera Sound is held. Also, I am very impressed by the festival’s sustainability project and its vegetarian and waste recycling policy. Festivals have a responsibility beyond entertainment, and DGTL proves it. That’s great.

DGTL Barcelona brings together international acts and local DJs. Which of the Barcelona-based artists are you looking forward to the most?
Abu Sou is definitely the local artist to follow. Besides being a great friend, he’s one of the best DJs and selectors I’ve seen. He just launched his own label, reissuing a record by a musician from Cape Verde (Universo Da Ilha by Vasco Martins), and the truth is that he has a special sensitivity for selecting and mixing records. It will be a luxury for me to play after him at the festival because I always learn a lot or discover new records when we see each other, so yes, he’s the one I’m most eager to see at DGTL.



Stream: Pau Roca – DGTL Barcelona 2018 Mix

01. C.K – Ember (Regelbau, 2018)
02. Dream 2 Science – How Do I Love Thee (Power Moove, 1990)
03. EX-T – Portal Vision (NAFF, 2018)
04. 2 Trax – With U (Final Cut, 1992)
05. The New Sound Of Soul – The Earth (Magnet Records, 1992)
06. D. Futers – Never Givin’ Up (Dolphin Traxx, 2016)
07. Hi Mount In The Heat (Regelbau, 2017)
08. Low Top Hold Me (Inner Sunset Recordings, 2018)
09. X-Tasy – Indian Summer (The Passion mix, 1991)
10. Homero G. – Manos Lujosos (Inner Sunset Recordings, 2018)
11. Eric Kupper presents K-Scope – Planet K (Tribal, 1995)
12. Timeman – Extra Soft (Regelbau, 2018)
13. C.K – Spatial Dynamics (No Hands, 2017)
15. The Break Boys – Underground Breakdown (Fourth Floor Records, 1990)


Groove presents: DGTL Barcelona 2018
August 10 and 11, 2018

Line-Up: Adriatique, Amelie Lens, Apollonia, Ben Klock, Black Coffee, Carl Craig & Cassy, Dixon, DJ Koze, Fatima Yamaha (live), Hot Since 82, Jamie Jones, KiNK (live), Maceo Plex, Oscar Mulero, Rødhåd, Solomun, Abu Sou, Anika Kunst, Antal & Palms Trax, Baldo, Bambounou, Ben UFO & Job Jobse, Dax J, Detroit Swindle (live), DJ Fra, DJ Tennis, Eclair Fifi, Fjaak (live), Flug, Fort Romeau & Pional, Hitch, Honey Dijon, ISAbella, JMII, Maher Daniel, Mind Against, Morgan Hammer, Motor City Drum Ensemble, Nightmares On Wax, Pau Roca, Peggy Gou, Perel (live), Sonodab, Speedy J, Tijana T, Traumer (live), Tuff City Kids (live), uvm.

Tickets: Tagesticket 42,50€, Festivalpass ab 70€

Parc del Fòrum
Carrer de la Pau 12
08930 Sant Adrià de Besòs
Barcelona
Spanien

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Kristoffer Cornils war zwischen Herbst 2015 und Ende 2018 Online-Redakteur der GROOVE. Er betreut den wöchentlichen GROOVE Podcast sowie den monatlichen GROOVE Resident Podcast und schreibt die Kolumne konkrit.