What is your background and upbringing?
I am born and raised in Guatemala by my two parents who always supported me with my arts and crazy ways of expression. I'm a mix of a Guatemalan and italian descendancy. Raised in a city of traffic, corruption and chaos there was always something to be careful of which brought my awareness to different levels. I am happy that i always had the opportunity to make art and do what i love.
What was your first conscious encounter with music and what role does it play in your life?
My first conscious encounter with music was always at home. My parents used to play all that 70s and 80s classics; my dad was into Chicago, Kansas, Bee Gees while my mother was more into the funky Rod Stewart, Rolling Stones and other famous acts of the time. I built my own drum set when i was 8 years old with a couple of boxes from forgotten Jigsaw puzzles and the sticks of a chinese yoyo became my drumsticks. Of course, my mom wasn't happy that i used all her pots as cymbals but i definitely enjoyed and that lead my dad to support me with my first real Drum Set.
Who inspired you during the key moments of your life and what were they?
My grandmother gave all of us piano lessons, the teacher did not want to teach me music because he said I had to read the bible before i was such a “problematic” child. Funny that he mentions the bible as the solution to my curiosity and activity. That lead me into always wanting to do the learning by myself and always want to do what i was told not to do.
My mother and father were also a big support to my music since they always created a space where i could unfold in my expression. Along with my brother, we were always at home making some type of experiment and that was primarily my best and most inspiring companion in this musical journey.
What brought you to Berlin and how do you feel living here?
As many good stories in another city start what brought me into Berlin was a girl. I was traveling the world with my music and backpack as i encountered this girl and I came here to live with her. After a couple of tries we split and I decided I had to see for my own independent eyes what was there in this city and what it could offer me.
I feel great living here now a days. It took me a while to find my role and my own center in this city. To some extent it is really easy to get lost in this city. A lot of temptation and distraction, without a focused goal you may find yourself stuck in the honeypot of the party and the distractions of millions of beautiful beings that have lots of lovely things to do. So stay true to your dreams and focus in your passion.
You are producer at Arteriam what style does it represent and what is its mission?
Arteriam is an aquarium of art. It is a style of music directed into the fusion of electronic music and organic instruments. The mission of Arteriam is to combine different sources of art in the same space and to unite different cultural backgrounds. Arteriam is the flow and the pulsation of life. With this inspiration I have derived the most of the music that is created for such.
What can you tell us about the Wachalal festival and its message?
Wachalal Festival is our way to give something back to our culture and land in Guatemala. It integrates the mayan indigenous people with the people who come from more city like places. Our idea is to raise awareness on Lake Atitlan which is a lake that is being contaminated by the bad infrastructure that drops all the contaminated water into the most beautiful lake i have ever been on. It is also an initial to expand the music industry into a country that hasn't received such artists since it also lacks of an industry to sustain such ideas. I kindly welcome all of you to jump on this mission and initial-
What is Deekro all about?
Deekro is a duo that was formed in Berlin by Dariuz Voltra and I. This project is inspired by the fragmentation of light in the chromatic scale. The result of this effect landed in the album that we are creating to be released in the next coming times. The sound of Deekro is inspired in the different colors that this dichroic effect has, that leads us to the name of our album “Different Colors”.
How were you involved with Cosmic Convergence Festival and what is the philosophy behind it?
Cosmic Convergence Festival is not my festival but i was part of it for a 5 years. I was in charge with a group of people of the Live Stage. Cosmic Convergence aims to reunint ancient technologies and traditions with new modern rituals and projects. It was a huge opening portal to event management and Rambo Level 10 Guerrilla productions, if you know what i mean.
What is your take on the music business in general and how do you fit in?
The music industry is quite an interesting industry. Now a days sadly it doesn't matter how much good material you have. Everyone is trusting that the amount of followers you have or buy is what gives you the reputation. I am not in favor of such ideology or initial. I decided to stopt listening to corporational distributors of music and to give life the chance to show me what's coming into my real life and allowing that moment to surprise me. Music/Art comes in your way if its good and i follow the good in the world. I don't know if i fit in but definitely there is something in it that keeps involving me and i am thankful for such opportunities.
You also have a sound installation project what can you share about this and where can it be experienced?
The sound installation i am preparing is not a new technologie but it hasn't been applied in our industry and hasn't been able to be shown to many people. I am preparing some albums in a type of surround sound mixing called Octaphonic sound and also in Ambisonic sound. This allows you to experience music in a surround sensorial way and it definitely feels like it involves you and creates this idea of a womb or that aquarium that is just filled with art.
I am planning to present this shows in interesting arquitectonica buildings with odd shapes that break the pattern of the cube that we are used to experience music in. My closest performance is in June and July in Berlin in an old abandoned bunker that we are preparing to install.
What stuff do you weave your dreams from?
I have never been able to tell the difference between a dream and reality. I see the imagination in everyone. I think the process of manifestation is a great skill and art to be mastered. Create an idea, limitless and without boundaries and 3D program Limitations. Then walk through your thoughts and make the reality shape itself into your dream. That is why it is hard for me to tell the difference between a dream and a goal.
Dreams are in my opinion examples of possible futures that can be generated and created in our own reality. Reverse engineer and hack all the possible challenges that can stop you from your Dreams..
What is the greater benefit and mission of organizing festivals and their best possible impact?
The greater impact of festivals and big movements is the ability to raise awareness of topics in multiple people and different social bubbles. One of the things that are not good about them is the environmental impact that it may have. The publicity of printing posters, the human waste and trash that can be generated with so many people in one place for a limited amount of time.
The future of this gatherings in my opinion is not who can get the most amount of people together but who can cover the most amount of minds with the least amount of environmental impact and higher quality of arts, expressions and spaces to dialogue about the struggles of our society.
How do feel about the future and what role are you playing in shaping it?
The future is dazzling. Its mesmerizing and it can be scary to a certain extent. I dont know whats going to happen, if the robots are gonna take over or if we are gonna take over our technologies and create a drastic change that can lead to a more beneficial future without separation and scarcity. The decentralization of power and economy is something that needs to happen in order to have a more happy and sustainable life. I used to be scared for the future but now i am more than excited to see how we can influence a positive change into this direction.
Any advice to others musicians?
Trust yourself and when you struggle with this let this be an observation to share with others that struggle when they struggle.
Don't be overprotective over your secrets and share your knowledge, the more we grow and share the higher the chances there are to create new directions.
Music is not just about music, it’s about the whole movement that can be created with our instruments. We can build solar panels with our chords. We can generate money for the hungry with our voice.
Use your art to create an impact in your community and in your world.
Who are your favorite contemporary artists in any genre?
I am not sure about this favorite thing, I always think about the sign that says “The Best Pizza In Town”, how many times have you seen this sign? There is something good for every moment and surrounding.
I love what my friends are doing and i support them!
How important is it to you to collaborate and why?
Collaboration is like the merging of two galaxies. It is potential ready to grow exponentially. I really think that it is important to collaborate, there is so much knowledge to be shared and to be absorbed share and learn to listen.
Any other events coming up or projects you are involved in?
There is an amount of events coming and projects that are beings born. Most of them are about uniting worlds to expand our visions amongst the collaborators and to get our forces together to be able to create a bigger impact in different societies.
I am getting more involved with sustainable fashion and acting/modeling I am really curious to see how my individual self can become part of bigger programs to change and shape our reality.
What does love mean to you and what do you love?
Love is the motor that drives the world together. It's an endless fuel that can be tapped into any moment for inspiration, connection, well being and joy amongst other ideas. It is lovely to see the most hardcore punks kissing each other and appreciating another being. Love can be found everywhere. Love is the main source of energy. I believe in Unity and i believe in empathy. I Love You times a million. Thank you.
photography and interview by Richard Schemmerer, photoshoot for Ritual, accessories Nikita
