Chus and Ceballos bring their Iberican sound to Def Mix Ibiza

Chus and Ceballos are the Madrid-based duo behind Stereo Productions and the iconic "Iberican Sound"; the rhythmic, percussive electronic house with a touch of soul stemming from the Iberian peninsula between Spain and Portugal.

With Spain having become an inspirational creative hub for both house and techno and amassed growing worldwide appeal and respect in recent years, Chus and Ceballos have been driving the musical mothership on the house front; captivating dancefloors throughout the world via a rather impressive and lengthy list of remixes and original productions.

As a team they have built a mini-empire encompassing a record label, management & DJ agency, recording studio and a supervisory role with Double Zero publishing.

In the lead-up to a busy summer schedule which includes the Def Mix and Saw Recordings party alongside David Morales at Pacha in Ibiza this weekend, RA spoke to the duo.

Whenever anyone talks about Chus & Ceballos or Stereo Productions, people talk about the "Iberican Sound", which in simplistic terms might be described as a tribalistic fusion of house influenced by the Spanish culture on the Iberican peninsula. What does the "Iberican Sound" mean and sound like to you?

C&C: We thought we needed a name to describe the music made in the countries where the music was born, Spain & Portugal, the Iberican Peninsula. ’It’s a very groovy sound, very rhythmic and percussive, that is always looking at the dancefloor. It has an electronic touch, but with soul, sometimes a bit housey, sometimes harder, but never cold, it's hot, 'caliente'! This Is the 'Stereo Sound', our sound!

"It’s a very groovy sound, very rhythmic and percussive, that is always looking at the dancefloor. It has an electronic touch, but with soul, sometimes a bit housey, sometimes harder, but never cold. It's hot, 'caliente'! This is the 'Stereo Sound', our sound"

Your biggest remix to date, that is, your re-rub of Deep Dish's "Say Hello" has recently been released on Positiva and has featured on Pete Tong's Essential Selection on BBC Radio1. Although you have done tons and tons of remixes and original productions, were you ever briefly phased by the remix since Deep Dish's original version is a standout in its own right too?

C&C: It's always difficult to make a remix when the original is very good, but we love that challenge, to try to make something better; our remixes are famous for that. In this case the target was to make a version with more energy in the beats and the sounds, make the vocals more dubby, more focused on the dancefloor. However we didn’t want to lose the amazing musicality of the original so we used the piano and vocals in the breakdown reinforced with a powerful synth that surprises you. We're very happy with how it worked out and the amazing feedback the
remix has been getting.

You are both responsible for putting Madrid on the map in terms of the house scene. In recent years Barcelona has also been under the spotlight due to its dynamic techno scene. You play in both of those cities and other parts of Spain on a regular basis. What do you find is the biggest difference between the two cities from a musical perspective?

C&C: Both cities are cosmopolitan, but Barcelona is closer to Europe, more touristy and easier influenced by avantgarde music. The Sonar Festival is a perfect example of this spirit of being really open to new tendencies. On the other hand Madrid has more history in terms of house music, more roots, American-influenced. It has a more solid underground culture which is the reason why most of the house producers come from Madrid.

Between the two of you, you've both played at many clubs in Ibiza including Pacha (where you'll play again this weekend on July 9th at Def Mix), Space, Privilege and El Divino. Which club have you had the most receptive response at? Which do you enjoy playing at the most? Why?

C&C: There are many good clubs in Ibiza, each club has a different vibe, Space is the place …. J perfectly suits the Iberican Sound, El Divino is very funny, Privilege, as you know, is huge !!!! Maybe too big for us...but to be honest the club that most reflects the original spirit of the island is Pacha. We love to play there…it's magic!

Some people have been critical about the tribal sound in the past because after it blew up, many producers started making 'dark tribal' tracks, which in turn diluted the number of quality tribal records out there. How do you keep the energy within a track whose overall atmosphere might be quite dark? What do you think many producers do wrong when trying to make these kinds of tracks?

C&C: That always happens when something becomes popular and everybody tries to do the same and saturates the market. We try to use the best from each of our influences. Tribal music has the best beats but our productions are something more; not only good beats but we also make music with soul. We're always looking to make something different, to surprise the dancefloor with, to always be one step ahead. Not to always live life with the same formula…

"In Ibiza every day is party day"

Tell us what releases are coming out next on Stereo Productions and its various imprints.

C&C: The most important projects coming out are our new vocal track: Chus & Ceballos featuring Derek Conyer called ‘Wrong About Me’. Part One is out now and Part Two will come out in September with the new 2005 remixes from DJ Chus.

The Groove Foundation ‘That Feeling’ will rock Ibiza this summer, and new compilations like Balearica ‘05 with the best fresh, balearic house music and an amazing new album of Flamenco fusion with electronic music called Onuba, will surprise everybody….

What upcoming new productions, compilations or projects do you personally have planned for the second half of 2005?

C&C: We are working on a new colaboration with el maestro Danny Tenaglia called ‘Madricians’ another co-production with Victor Calderone called ‘Cubic’ (C&C&C), many new remixes and a new album with the best remixes of Chus & Ceballos. Lots of new stuff as usual.

Chus, tell us one interesting fact or story we might not know about Ceballos.

Chus: Ceballos is really friendly and patient. He is so calm, no hurries, the opposite to me…

Ceballos tell us something we might not have heard about Chus.

Ceballos: He is so active, impatience and nervous. We are like yin and yang, a good balance…

Finally, given that you are both natives of Spain and are heading over to Ibiza this weekend, tell us a Spanish expression or phrase (and of course its English equivalent) that every international clubber should know and practice before they get to Ibiza.

En Ibiza todos los dias son dias de fiesta (In Ibiza every day is party day)