Hernan Cattaneo Interview
Author: Ariadna
Tuesday, June 22, 2004
Last time we talked you were touring with Oakenfold. You said you were satisfied being the opening DJ because you were relatively unknown in North America and it gave you the opportunity to play for large crowds. Did it work out for you- Did it open the doors you hoped it would-
The tours with Paul were the very first times I had been to North America. I was an unknown DJ in North America and it was a great introduction. We did a tour of 22 cities in about 30 days and I had the opportunity to play in many places that normally I wouldn't have been able to. It was great because afterward my records started being released in North America and I was able to do five more tours... I've been to LA, NY and Miami about five or six times since so yes, I think it worked out well.
Didn't it bug you that you had to play more mellow sets-
You know, for me, I like playing mellow. I like mellow house. I like
playing a bit of everything. I am a pretty versatile DJ. That's why I like doing long sets because I can start with deep house, then house, then tribal, progressive, breaks, and at the end, techno (but not too hard). Warm up sets, though, I like. I like the music I play. A DJ has to know what he/she has to do in each moment. One can't be egotistical. If they've contracted you to do a warm-up you do a warm-up and you have to be happy with that. And if you're not going to be happy with that then you ought not to do it. I have no problems to do warm-ups, especially when it is for important DJs.
(Telephone rings)
It's good to do warm-ups and I've done many for Paul, John, Sasha, Deep Dish... I love doing it for the DJs I respect and, for me, it's great. I think it's fine that I do them. As well, you have to see the bigger picture. It's not just that day that warm-up. That warm-up is going to give you the opportunity to come back and do your own show and then the next time is when you get to do exactly what you want to do.
What have you done since the last time you were here-
I've been around the world a few times spinning. I was in the US a lot,
London, around Europe, doing festivals, Coachella last year, Homelands,
Creamfields, and Global Gathering. Also a lot in South America, the scene has grown a lot. I just finished my last compilation with Renaissance in January. Since January I've toured in Australia, Asia, Europe, America and South America - where the scene has being growing a lot. I've been promoting my album as well and trying to do some things in the studio though I haven't really been able to because I've been on the go so much. I was able to do some things for Bedrock, one track with Dean Coleman that's on the compilation and now I'm working on a track with Randall Jones. Basically, lots of DJing and traveling.
So you've been making up your own tracks too.
Well, like I said I haven't had much time but I did that track for Bedrock, another with Dean Coleman that's on the Renaissance album, and another track with Randall Jones and another with Martin Garcia, my associate in Argentina.
Do you see yourself making more music in the future-
Yes, well everything is a question of time. Well, see, in two, three days in the studio you can make a track and it'll be fine but if you want to make a really good album that takes much more time and I haven't had it. I've been very busy as a DJ. I think they're all phases. In the first years of my international career I was really focused on traveling and playing everywhere I could... now I am trying to find space in my schedule so I can produce because it's something that I love and it's something I think I need to do.
So you just need to spend more time at home, in London.
Yes yes yes yes, it could be in London or South America. Instead of going back to Argentina for three - four days I could stay for 15 days and spend more time working, no- I would love to but like I said Tags