IBAN REUS / INTERVIEW ORBITA MAGAZINE
Hi Iban, you’re from Barcelona by birth but one can say you’re Balearic by adoption, since you have been living there for past 20 years. In what way does living in musical places such as Ibiza and Mallorca, influences you as a DJ and producer?
Living in the Balearic Island has been for me, without a doubt, a source of great musical influence that I use in my musical productions as well as in my live sessions.
Your sound generally moves from house to deep and tech house but what other references count and have an impact on your musical world?
The Soulfoul style is what probably most passionate me, but sadly enough its market is very limited and it’s very difficult to find clubs who play this great sound.
Your habitual presence as guest DJ in the highly frequented and popular opening and closing parties of the Space Ibiza, are probably the most important in your uprising career as a professional international DJ. Does it feel like reaching the sky for someone who loves electronic music and club culture this much?
Like all artists, DJ’s get moved by the energy they receive. Space Ibiza is one of those clubs that make me feel good, the energy there is really positive and the people go there to have fun. That is what gives us the motivation to give it all we got in our back II back sessions. The Space, besides being the number 1 club, is a place where DJ’s are treated the best way and I would like to thank the whole crew of the Space Ibiza and especially our host Rafa de Siria, for making us feel at home every time we go there.
If you would have to define what you feel while standing in front of thousands of people dancing like crazy during one of your sessions in Space, what words would you use?
That’s a difficult question, it’s a strange mix of nerves, responsibility and ecstasy.
Sharing booth with people of great calibre, such as Carl Cox, Stefano Noferini Elio Riso, Kiko Navarro, Cesar del Río, John Digweed, Pete Tong, Steve Lawler, Chris Liebing, Mark Knight, Tocadisco, Rad Damon or Wally Lopez, must be impressive. Could you tell us who thaught you the most or who you found the most amazing while seeing them live?
Each and everyone of them has remarkable facets you can’t pick only one best out of those great professionals you just mentioned. But if I could I would keep the strength of Carl, the precision of Kiko, Steve’s repertoire, and the freshness of Wally. Rad Damon is, without a doubt, the one I learned the most from. With his 25 years of hard work and experience in this DJ world, he developed an incredibly fine technique and a very large musical culture.
Together with your partner and friend, Rad Damon, you form Kodiak. Who brings what in this Dj duo? What are your principal virtues as selectors and mixers, while turning tables for your public?
The best element we have is that we’ve known each other for 15 years and we’ve spoken for thousands of hours together, so now only one look to each other is enough to know what to do, what sound to dig deeper, which tunes to pick during our back II back sessions.
I love the Kodiak name, where does it come from?
The origin of the name Kodiak is a secret between Rad Damon and me, I could explain it to you but then I would have to kill you afterwards. (haha)
Tell us about your radio phonic adventures at LocaFM, what has it added to your artistic career other then popularity.
Well it has helped us to analyze and understand the musical scene from another point of view.
Your most direct musical influences are the forever masters of house such as Frankie Knuckles, Todd Terry, Tony Humphries, Miguel Migs, Mark Farina, David Morales etc. In your opinion, would house be The style per excellence of electronic music? Do you think it will always stay that way or that it will eventually vanish into other styles including techno?
House music is the origin and I find it hard to believe that it will disappear completely. Fusion has and will always exist but we should never forget nor lose those roots of house music from Chicago.
Concerning the Spanish electronic scene you prefer artists like Hector Couto, Jairo Catelo, Uner, Coyu, Edu Imbernon…In a couple of adjectives, could you name the characteristic you most like of each.
Hectors tenacity, Jairo’s genius, Uner’s capacity of reinventing himself and amaze me, Edu, the quality of his productions, I met him last summer in the Space Ibiza, and he’s really funny! haha
Digging deeper into this subject. In your opinion, how is the health of the Spanish electronic scene nowadays?
I find that crisis periods have always had a positive effect on all the artistic. If you leave out the details we would now be in the Baroque period waiting for our Renaissance, so to speak.
Most probably Iban Reus hopes, one of these days, to create his own sound with the elegance of Denis Ferrer’s, the pulse of Joris Voorn’s techno and having the funky soul of Maceo Plex? Is that more or less where you’re heading?
Those are quite some examples you’re giving me Fernando! The day I achieve that, I retire! Hahah, For real, it would be very difficult but definitely something to aim for!
If you’d have to pick between Cadenza or Desolat to edit your song, what would you chose?Only one right?, hahaha I would have to think about that, can I answer tomorrow, haha
Lets talk about Iban Reus the producer, you’ve just published a tech house hit, under the name Kodiak on Insert Coin Records, but we know that there’s more new music boiling in your laptop… what are you preparing us for the following months?
Well, I work an average of 4 hours a day I even thought of sleeping in the studio, just in case I get inspired in the middle of my dreams. The following months will be determinant, good times are approaching and I have to be prepared to face my future gigs with a lot of quality, its always best to be carrying along with you a production or edit that you are particularly happy with. As for the releases, in the coming months I will bring out some productions with important collaborations with great producers such as Stefano Noferini, DJ PP, Mario Ochoa, Negru, Luca M, Tony Dee. …Above all there will be a very special collaboration with Daniel Trim, together we are creating a spectacular sound, that for sure will fit in one of those mythical labels you’ve mentioned above heheh.
Space, Space, Space! ... What does it sound like for you?
Well, Space Expedition is one of my favourite tracks and its been created especially as a tribute to that great venue where we have had such great moments!
How has this E.P Space Expedition (Insert Coin Records) been received?
Will it be one of the hits of this summer in Ibiza (It has all the ingredients for it)?
Its been very well received, the feedback of the top DJ’s has been very positive and its selling well. Having been edited by such an important label like Insert Coin has definitely helped. It’s been a great pleasure to work with the label of Sergio Fernandez, probably the most internationally known Spanish artist. I don’t even want to imagine the moment we put on our track in the Space during the next opening!
Last question Iban, what are you aiming for in this stormy world of electronic music?
Its something I don’t obsess about, I just keep on working hard with the aim of enjoying myself and above all that the public enjoys my work.
gamechangershow
stormborns
theartofmadeline
blakekathryn
pixelskylines
gracieabrams