Churning out mind-scattering, deep house sound constellations, El_Txef_A looks to depression for enlightenment and his music is unconventionally incredible.
Next Monday (20th March, 2012) underground Spanish house music producer Aitor Etxebarria, aka El_Txef_A, will release his debut album entitled Slow Dancing In A Burning Room on self-founded imprint Fiakun. Just 25, despite enjoying success with accomplished track releases on taste-making labels Hypercolour and Cray Labworks, Aitor remains fairly unknown on the electronic scene. Professing to not being much of a dance music fan himself, the Bilbao-based composer prefers to take inspiration from more mainstream tunes, citing James Taylor, Dolly Parton, A$AP Rocky and John Mayer as significant influences upon his sound.
Exploring aspects of his own character though his creative processes, the reclusive talent finds songwriting cathartic. Bravely melancholic and heart-wrenchingly ambitious, his restrained sonnets feel effortless. Describing himself as a musician rather than a DJ, Aitor’s background is in classical music, experimenting with chords and choruses on the piano, his starting point with each new track is conceptual. Mixing on Ableton Live, Aitor then records and translates a tune using Juno-106, a Yamaha DX-100, a Roland TR-606 and an Akai APC-40 before moving into the studio to use ProTools HD, Genelec 5.1 and Control 24 Digidesign to lay down a final mix. Working to a strict process, which has produced a distinctive aesthetic and rich sound, El_Trex_A stands alone with the abstract music he is making today. Planning to tour the world this Summer playing festivals and getting himself heard, 2012 will be his year. i-D online commissioned a mix before the hype hit.
Listen to the album in full here
Text: Milly McMahon
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