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Juan Sanchez

With two hot new releases out and a remix slated for a November release, Juan sanchez is in pole position for an exciting season. Steadily building a reputation since his debut release, zebra (2007), the amsterdam-based producer is at the forefront of the latest evolution of the minimal clubsound. his track elvis, out on the german great stuff label, offers minimal with a decidely housey feel. if minimal is the new tech-house, Juan sanchez is blazing the trail.

When Juan Sanchez bought his first pair of decks back in 2001, he had been playing guitar for well over a decade. “Ever since I was eight years old”, Sanchez explains. “I’d been playing in bands; guitar-oriented and progressive rock, complex music.” While the decks never managed to stiffen his affection for the six-stringed instrument, he stopped bringing his axe to dj gigs and wailing an emotive solo over the break of, say, Funk D’Void’s Diabla (check You Tube for Sanchez’ guitar-enhanced dj set at Mystery Land 2003). However, he still does sessions for friends and acqaintances who want to spice up their tracks with some serious fretwork. “I never figured I would be a dj one day”, he chuckles.

But he is and his fame his on the rise. Since 2007, Sanchez has released half a dozen of tracks on respected labels like Darko Esser’s Wolfskuil, Bla Bla (run by his brother Daniel, a dj/producer as well) and Great Stuff from Munich. His latest releases, however, set Sanchez apart from the pack: he is one of the talents to watch out for in 2010. Elvis – part of the Munich Disco vol. 5 vinyl sampler on Great Stuff – is a cracking minimal track with a distinct house feel. The personal favourite of his output so far is Dr. Kneep, the title track of his upcoming EP (out in late October) on Gregor Tresher’s Break New Soil label. “I sent him my tracks and within minutes he got back to me. The track works great in clubs when I drop it in my sets.”

selfexpression
Sanchez started clubbing in the mid ‘90s, attracted by the energy of house and techno. “Deejaying is a lot more interactive than performing on stage in a band”, he says. “That aspect appealed to me. Moreover, I wanted the freedom of being out on my own. I’m not good at doing concessions, particularly when it comes to music. Mind you, I do like to contribute to projects and teamwork.” Juan Sanchez minds his own business. “Music is selfexpression, not a shortcut to fame and fortune”, he muses. “I create music from the heart and soul. Maybe that’s the hard way, but that’s okay. My productions are not planned. I work from track to track, so to speak. I don’t have a gameplan.” Indeed, let the music do the talking: Elvis has just wrecked the club.

Elvis will be out on vinyl via Great Stuff in October. The Dr. Kneep EP will be out in late October via Break New Soil. The Juan Sanchex remix of Rainer Weichhold’s Infernal will be out late November via Great Stuff.

Juan Sanchez will spin at Studio 80, Friday October 23.

Source: DJ Broadcast / Alfred Bos

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