Remember Why You Started – Regal
Regal’s genre-bending sound has been capturing the hearts and minds of ravers and industry heads since 2012. His staunch productions have garnered support from techno’s well-established vanguard, including noted collaborations, projects and remixes with Amelie Lens, Hadone, Nina Kraviz, Ellen Allien, Emmanuel Top and Len Faki. Regal’s sound graces clubland with full-throttle impact – whether at the legendary Berghain, Awakenings, Possession or his residency at Khidi in Tibilisi. Alongside his own productions, Regal’s imprint Involve has become established for delivering sharpened 303-infused acid sounds. The imprint has welcomed artists including Boston 168, FJAAK and Alignment and is now also the home for his debut album this June.
“The concept has changed a few times over the past few years” says Regal. The focus was to make an album that tells the story of his personal struggles and self-discovery, a dark insight into the DJ’s life, influenced mainly by Dante Alighieri’s ‘Divine Comedy’, where Dante has to cross all the layers of hell and purgatory to arrive in paradise.
Take a read below of our exclusive interview with Regal, where we discussed his debut album, the movie he created to accompany it and the continuing evolution of his artistry.
To discuss a little about you personally – you’re of Italian/Spanish heritage and are currently based in Madrid, but you have spent time living in Berlin as well.
How do you compare the music and accompanying scenes of both Italy and Spain when compared to Berlin? What was it that made you realise you wanted to move there, and later what took you back to Spain?
I think the Italian and the Spanish scenes are quite similar, it’s not a pleasure to say this but I think the music scene in Italy is not as good as Spain’s. Of course, Berlin was and still is the epicentre of Techno music. I’m not talking about how the people and clubbers party (which is fantastic in both countries) but rather about the possibilities and opportunities that you get as a producer or DJ. It’s nothing compared to what a city like Berlin can give you. Berlin has nice clubs, many DJs and people from the industry who live there and of course they have a historical heritage of Techno that we simply don’t have in Spain nor Italy.
Basically, that was the reason why I decided to move to Berlin. I wanted to see how the scene was working, meet new people who were as passionate about Techno as me, who had been working in the industry for years and had gained a lot of experience and of course because I wanted to have some fun. After a while I thought that I had spent enough time there and that I had accomplished most of my goals, so it felt like it was time to go back to my home, Madrid, and continue the work from there.
You’ve played at some of the world’s most notable clubs and festivals, both as a headliner and a part of some impressive lineups of global talent. Khidi, the Tbilisian techno haven, is one of these venues and one at which you also hold a residency.
How do you adjust your performance for a dark, intense atmosphere at a club like Khidi as opposed to a large-scale festival? Do you have a preference for either or do you feel both bring out their own positive aspects?
As you said, Khidi is a very special place for me. Every time I play there, it’s a completely different experience. And my goal is to also offer the people a different experience, which is why I never play the same kind of set and try to move between genres and give them something fresh. I know the place; I know the people and I know what they want but I always try to do it in a different way. Sometimes I play a more trance or an acid-leaning set and sometimes it’s more industrial or EBM…
I do not have a preference between clubs or festivals to be honest. Generally, I like big spaces like Khidi with high ceilings, but with the people close to the booth and in a narrow space. I think the best thing is a balance between both vibes.
Touching on your releases – you’ve produced so many tracks but I personally first became aware of your music with acid-heavy tracks like ‘Repeat’ and ‘Pulzar’ a few years ago.
Comparing your current style of production to that which led to the creation of these tracks, how have you evolved your methods as a producer? Do you have a different outlook on music nowadays?
Music evolves day by day, and not just electronic music. In the last few years Techno music has risen the BPMs and has evolved a lot in a more rave-like direction. I think this is normal and is a must for every genre and every artist. You cannot stick to the same sound for years and decades. And also, on a personal level my music taste changes every day. I still love my musical roots, the trance, the acid, the industrial sounds… but I also discover a lot of new and different music. In the end I just try to make what I love and what I feel, trying to give a personal touch to it. I would say that the music scene is like a wheel that turns and turns, and at some point it will have made a full circle, so that music from the past will be hyped again and will be out after a while. Again, and again music genres re-emerge and experience a hype, but they will never sound the same. Because there will always be different influences. There’s always a different twist to it.
Let’s discuss your label: ‘Involve Records’. You’ve released personally on this imprint, but also have hosted the likes of Alignment, Amelie Lens, FJAAK & Boston 168.
How do you go about choosing which artists you feature? Is there a favourite release from an artist you have other than your own work?
To be honest I couldn’t really choose a favourite release because many releases are very different, and I always try to sign artists who have a personal touch and their very own sound. If some artists don’t have their own sound, it’s not going to be an artist I would sign. No matter how good the production is. If it’s not unique, it’s not meant for the label.
The first thing I consider when choosing an artist – no matter if he/she is a headliner or a newcomer – is the personal feeling. There must be some kind of personal connection with the human being, and of course I have to like their music, but that’s actually the second step. The philosophy behind the label is that this is a family thing. I’m the one managing the label but there have been artists like Z.I.P.P.O that have made the same number of releases, if not more, than me on the label. It’s because Involve Records is meant to be a hub of great artists and must feel like a family to everyone involved.
Your debut LP ‘Remember Why You Started’ is scheduled for a July 2nd release on Involve Records. The following is taken from your SoundCloud page:
‘Remember Why You Started’ is meant to be a message for everyone to look back to the roots – where anything is influenced by nothing but passion. The album tells the story of Regal’s personal struggles and self-discovery. A dark insight into the DJ’s life, influenced mainly by Dante Alighieri’s ‘Divine Comedy’, where Dante has to cross all the layers of hell and purgatory to arrive in paradise.
What does this LP represent for you? How long have you spent working on it?
This is the most important project of my whole career yet. There were many ideas and older Ableton projects already existing, but I produced the album in Barcelona during the quarantine – far away from my family and my friends, in a period where I lost my grandparents and my agent. Mentally it was a tough period for me as I had to overcome many hard situations and personal battles. And that journey is what this album represents.
Some projects were started years ago, some others were new, but I can say it took me a whole year from the very first moment I sat down and opened the first project till I received the last mastered track that could be sent out for pressing.
The album is a 12-track journey through a refreshing variety of musical stylings, but there were a few tracks which really stood out for me: ‘She Dances Alone’ with it’s driving evocative melody; the gritty, industrial ‘Dungeon Master’ and of course the acidic vibes of ‘Remember Why You Started’.
It really seems as if this album is a showcase of how many ways you can contribute musically – was this the intention aside from the above description? Do you have a personal favourite track you are most proud of?
Yes, somehow this album is a kind of a showcase of everything I know production-wise, everything I personally like and a way to show people that it’s not always only about classic peak-time bangers.
I am proud of the whole album as each track has a soul, a message, and a meaning… It’s hard to choose one that I like more than the others, but I would say that “Remember Why You Started” could be my choice as it takes me back to my acid roots. It’s a simple, very trippy track that brings me to an introspective journey state of mind.
Watching the trailer for the movie you produced in tandem with the album really helped drive home the emotional attachment and importance behind this LP.
What can you tell us about the experience you had creating this movie, and what inspired you to make it happen?
I always like to mix different forms of art with my music, starting with the covers of the album and the singles which are small pieces of medieval inspired art made by Involve Records graphic designer Juan Vazquez. Also I always liked to mix original videos with music, but as it’s something very expensive I cannot do it every time and just stick to music videos for the title tracks of my EP’s.
In this case we’re talking about an album, my first album in 11 years of professional music career, so it had to be something super special, not just a simple video or a plane flying over Amsterdam during ADE with a slogan (like I did in 2018). Last summer I met Blas Egea, the director of the movie, and I told him about this idea: producing a short film with my album as an original BSO. Blas is a completely crazy guy just like me, so he immediately jumped in and contacted some of the best actors and iconic people in Spain… and after a few months of hard work here we are, the film is ready! I’m super excited about this, it was a magical experience and I think this won’t be the last time I’ll work on a project in which I mix my music with the 7th art.
Lastly, we have fond memories of your show for us in Melbourne back in July 2019. Playing at The Sub Club basement, you produced a performance which I can personally tell you people are still talking to me about!
How did you enjoy your Australian tour? Can we expect to see you back down under once restrictions allow for it?
Absolutely yes, I have some great memories about my (unfortunately pretty short) Australian tour in 2019. I met great people and had some amazing parties that I really enjoyed, but the trip was just too short! I’m looking forward to being back as soon as possible to play for the Australian ravers, and this time I’d also like to visit more of the country and discover the cities and nature more. Hope to see you on the dancefloor soon!
Thanks for speaking with us Regal!
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