Kike Pravda: 20 years of dedication to underground techno

We are glad to introduce you, for our first interview on Palpebrae, the Spanish DJ and producer Kike Pravda.His career started 20 years ago and, thanks to his hard work and his great talent, he became an solid exponent of the underground techno scene. Beside his important releases on Token, Warm Up, Semantica and Mord, he founded his own imprint Senoid Records where he released great EPs containing remixes from legendary artists. Since a while he gave birth to a new project, S.E.R.E.S., a more personal interpretation where he shows his darkest and complex sides. Kike is an artist we deeply respect for his personality and his position in the music scene! We’ve talked about his beginnings, the old and real underground music scene, his label and much more.

 

☉ How and when did your career begin?

 

“I was always surrounded by instruments since I was a child, so I began really early to look out for music and play around, in the early 2000s I started to produce my first sounds.”

☉ How did you approach techno for the first time?

 

“In my home there was some electronic gear for electronic music owned by my father, so that was my first contact with techno music, programming some machines and synths.”

 

☉ What do you think has changed in the music industry from the early 2000s till today? Do you think there have been improvements or worsenings?

“Many things changed: nowadays the connection between labels and artists is faster, then there is a big improvement. In the early 2000s music and talented artists were on top of everything. Now is not the most important thing: there are other things that take control: like social media, false numbers or trending sounds. The early 2000s era was the real underground vibe in my honest opinion. You can still find some underground movement of course, but not as before.”

☉ Who are the producers which influenced your artistic path?

 

“Basic Channel, Surgeon, Regis, Robert Hood, Jeff Mills, James Ruskin, Steve Stoll, all those great artists that I always played in all of my sets.”

 

☉ You have been and always will be one of the most talented producers of Warm Up and Polegroup roster. How does it feel to be part of this awesome music expression?

Warm Up Recordings gave me much visibility (Thanks dear Oscar!) with 2 vinyls and one album recently. With Polegroup I released 2 tracks as well, so the feeling is always great to be part of the best labels, and is always a result and proof of hard work during years.

☉ After several releases on big labels you decided to open Senoid Records, where did you take inspiration for this name and what is the purpose of the imprint?

 

“The purpose was to release my own stuff and do not depend on any demo or waiting time to release my own music. Senoid comes from Senoidal (Sinewave) a sound wave that exists in any sound.”

 

☉ Many of your releases are forceful tracks filled with dark textures and sharp grooves, not an easy style or something that you can find in any techno producer. What is your approach to music production and what is the best way for you to finish a track?

 

“You described it well: not easy , because I don’t like easy things. I always try to find a balance between darkness and the dance floor, then I use dark textures and clear rhythms to create my own sound. My best way to finish a track is listening carefully to it to see what it needs.”

 

 

☉ In the latest time an album with your moniker S.E.R.E.S. just came out and released on your own Senoid Records, can you tell more about it? Do you already have some gigs with this alias?

 

“S.E.R.E.S. is a more personal sound, more hypnotic, more modulated and complex. I made it in several months because it is a work of experimentation with sound design and I am giving it a new concept and vision. At the moment no performances ahead with S.E.R.E.S.”

 

☉ Spanish techno scene it’s always been a source of inspiration for many artists around the world and it’s still growing year by year. Where do you think this big growth will lead the Spanish dance floors? Maybe it could be the new Germany or Holland? What are your thoughts about your country scene?

 

“There are many new interesting projects / artists and music here, but unfortunately it is difficult to show their talent in our clubbing scene. Only a few clubs are organizing underground techno parties and this kind of sound, that is one of the reasons why I play more often in foreign countries than in Spain.”

 

☉ We’ve noticed that you love pictures and photos. How did this passion arise? How is your equipment made of? What is your inspiration during shooting?”

 

“Yes, I always loved the photography, cameras and everything related to visual things. Overall futuristic and cinematic photography. Cinematic look and light effects are my inspirations when I shoot the button. I just use my iPhone for shooting and.. my eye!”

 

We thank a lot Kike for sharing with us and with you all his perspectives, his ideals and his own passion. We wish the best to you Kike, for your next projects, your label and your music. Full respect!

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