Talented Argentinian producer Luis Kiverling has sadly passed away. Here is a copy of the interview we ran with him back in 2016.
1. How old are you, where are you living and how long have you been producing and Djing?
Luis Kiverling: I’m 30 years old, from Argentina, Resistencia, province Chaco. I am a musician since an early age, I play guitar since age 8, at age 10 a piano, and after the bass. Found this great passion for electronic music at 18, i started an amateur way, just for fun. From the 27 years I have taken seriously the production and started to travel to play music in many clubs in my country and I have my label.
2. Where do your musical roots lie, what are your first memories of electronic music and when did you know you wanted to pursue it seriously? Are there any particular productions or artists from the past that really made you think to yourself ‘this is what I want to do.”
Luis Kiverling: From an early age I began to connect with the music, at 8 years and played guitar, my beginnings had nothing to do with electronic music. I played many styles, folk, rock progressiv, instrumental music, pop, fusion, bossa nova, jazz and Latin styles, always the music woke my attention to meet their genres. Then learn more instruments, felt an attraction by the sounds of synthesizers, he aroused much curiosity in my production.
I remember that at age 18 I began to frequent a club where I had the opportunity to meet many great national artists. After a while I saw here playing my music, with an exclusive track list of my original, everything was a game, a hobby.
My greatest experience was Creamfields Buenos Aires 2006 and 2007, there had a revelation, seeing so many great exponents, Hernan Cattaneo, Sasha, Zuker, Deep Mariano, I remember tracks like “forget the world”, “16 bit lolitas Sedna” and many more that I was fascinated. from there I decided that I wanted to share that magic, and create that kind of sounds to connect with people who enjoy this.
3. How difficult was learning to produce for you in the beginning? Did you take any Audio Engineering programs or production courses to help you out or are you pretty much self taught? And did anyone give any advice early on that really helped?
Luis Kiverling: In my case it was not so difficult at the beginning, You have a home recording studio Where I worked With artists and I’m already familiar With mixing and sound engineering resources. As every beginner I start with Fruity loops, but not feel comfortable, look for options. Then forays into the Reason and found a great ally for my production, I really liked the format and Encourage my creativity. Until now I still use and also I combine resources Logic Pro X. I never take a course, always my way was self-taught as a musician, and WHO With some friends always guide me with my doubts. I think the hardest thing is to find the sound you imagined and That Takes a lot of time and work, not to introduce random element, if not try to create in the mind and imagine the sound and then a to capture on Daw. It is difficult Renewed Continuously, Because all the time the items are being updated and new plugins Disclosed, and you always Have to relearn.
4. What parts of the production process do you find the most difficult and what comes easiest for you? When you do hit a creative block what helps you through it?
Luis Kiverling: How difficult is sometimes innovate, structures, and musical forms, I hear about 40 or 50 times the track while I produce, the dilemma is not to put random things, is to give music what the song suggests, identify your personality and decipher what each track needs for to connect. I think that music is not just a matter of Occurrence. It must be interpreted and transmitted when the beta is music to take off. Really i need patience in hours and hours work.
5. What’s a normal day like for you? Do you have a job outside of electronic music? And what do you like to do when you’re not working on music?
Luis Kiverling: Of course! I have a job for eight hours every morning, office work Which Gives me time moments listening promotions That send Other Producers to me, every day after leaving office work, came to my home studio and I spend maybe 4 or 5 hours at producing, performing selections, tracklist. Also I have a record label with Which I work, Varona Label, So that I listening music all day all time. and this is great to know new artists, create covers, look remixers, do collaborations with other labels and always trying to find what I like.
6. Apart from electronic music what other genres do you listen to and who are your favourite artists outside of electronic? and do these genres or artists have a direct effect on your own productions?
Luis Kiverling: Apart from electronic music I love many genres, from classical music, pop artists, guitar, rock bands, virtuous musicians, could make a long list. Not everything is electronic for me, I think to innovate and spark creativity have to nurture what you learn to listen to music, not assimilated all the time, but it serves, the ear is incorporating all somewhere and sometimes flourishes.
The harmonies of bossa nova and its resources are very difficult to understand, techniques like the “inferior or superior approach” the Outside of jazz music, the melancholy hues under classical music, the intensity of great singers such as Nino Bravo, Luis Miguel, occurrences and news of the music by Steve Vai or Joe Satriani, asymmetric music of Dream Theater, really is much for listening. and has an impact on production, everything you hear, if someone is persevering then incorporated into what one up, slow processes but help them grow.
There are great rock bands like Pink Floyd, Yes, they know how to create atmospheres with music, it is good to learn from as they create an atmosphere when making a PAD, see the combination of notes, it is not copied, it is inspired.
7. What was the first and last physical (CD, Vinyl, Cassette etc) piece of music you bought?
Luis Kiverling: I do not think you know as the music of my country is not the same as distributed elsewhere, I remember a lot of shopping, I have a large collection, a gondola or cabinet full of CDs and DVDs with music and concerts. my collection is EXTENSIVE first buy is “Soda Stereo” Gustavo Cerati last is “Pedro Aznar” a musician who plays in the band of Pat Metheny.
8. Tell us something about yourself that might surprise people?
Luis Kiverling: Also I sang in my spare moments and I compose songs. I love music production in general. Sometimes in my shows in night clubs I like to combine my mixes with live instruments, guitars, Synth. I met most of my traveling with country music, became very good friends with music. and I love dogs, I have a dachshund, because it is not (laughs) 🙂
9. Which producers in your opinion get consistently overlooked?
Luis Kiverling: Currently there are many excellent producers, who inspire me much are Darin Epsilon, Kintar, King Unique, Simos Tagias, Dmitry Molosh, and other friends of mine that I admire your way to create music and work with my label. I love artists from other genres tech house, Solomun, Metodi Hristov, shosho, Rafa Barrios, Elio Riso and many more.
10. Which producers consistently inspire you? And where else does your inspiration come from?
Luis Kiverling: I like the way to handle the track of an Argentine artist, Kintar, I think your proposal is very original and if you know what it takes to get to dance the dance floor without losing the original its and authentic touch. I think artists like Ricky Ryan Represent us well in the world, have suitability to manage the groove. Dark Soul Project and Argentina is another artist That I love the way They produce. there are many more That I Love, Marcelo Vasami, Andrea Cassino, Nicolas Petracca and more. but I think These Are always creating direction and trend in producing music.
11. There are countless producers out there trying to find their way and create their own unique sound, what advice do you have for them?
Luis Kiverling: Keep an open mind, do not close the door, not encapsulate a single sound. I advise them perseverance, study music, learn about scales and harmony, be patient and work every day, and especially and most importantly enjoy music, not all so technical and also feel, put feeling and create with the heart.
12. If the final DJ/live set of your career was next week what would your last track be?
Luis Kiverling: To close a set I like to use a remix perform, would choose something melodic, like Federico Monachesi – Sephdar (Luis Kiverling Remix) 🙂 Thank you very much.
Luis’ remix of Federico Monachesi ‘Sephdar’ is out now on Stellar Fountain, you can purchase the release: here
