With his next release set to land tomorrow on Riythmica, we caught up with Moraze to learn more about the story behind this empowering track ‘Cobo’ & more.
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HMWL – Can you tell us a bit about your journey as an artist so far? What first drew you to producing and DJing?
Moraze – Nothing went as planned (laughs). The shock I felt at 16 when I came face to face with a DJ at a private party, and the fascination that took hold of me and never let go.
Discovering clubs in Spain at the end of the 90s, my first gigs under a first pseudonym while training as a sound engineer. Creating a second alias led me to spend over ten years in Ibiza as a resident at a famous beach club, or on a float at the Street Parade in Zurich. Finally, the desire for a more accomplished and personal project led to the birth of Moraze.
All of this was interspersed with productions under various pseudonyms, the creation of my studio (Echolanes) for mixing/mastering during the COVID-19 pandemic, and my “Phantasm Radio Show” on Ibiza Sonica Radio for four years. Everything went by so quickly. Today, I realize how lucky I am to have been living my passion for 25 years.
HMWL – Who have been your biggest influences in music, and how have they shaped your sound?
Moraze – In production, I have been mostly influenced by film music composers. Éric Serra and Hans Zimmer are artists who have profoundly changed my understanding of harmonies.
In the electronic and clubbing scene, Dixon is one of the people who has undeniably influenced my way of building a story throughout the night. I am also very admiring of Rodriguez JR; he has a way of getting to the essence in his production work with rare elegance (French style? laughs).
Every artist who inspires me is a piece of the puzzle I inevitably incorporate into my music.
HMWL – What is your musical background? Do you play any instruments or have formal training?
Moraze – When I was young, my parents imposed musician training on me at the Maurice Ravel Conservatory. There, I studied solfeggio, piano, and cello. Although it would be a lie to say that I still master these instruments perfectly today, all this education allowed me to develop a sense of harmony vital to my work today.
On the other side of the story, my mother has been running a dance school for nearly 50 years, and it was natural for me to join her there after school before heading home. Unintentionally, by listening to her count from 1 to 8 for her students a thousand times, I discovered the binary musical structures essential to electronic music.
HMWL – How did the track “Cobo” come about? What was the inspiration behind it?
Moraze – I wanted to produce a track wilder than usual, more impactful, and uncompromising.
In the same way that I dig for tracks to mix, envisioning when to play them, ‘Cobo’ was crafted for the peak time of my DJ sets, that precise moment when the dancefloor is meant to be captivated and eagerly awaits a strong signal from the DJ booth.
HMWL – Are there any particular plugins or pieces of hardware that you find yourself reaching for more often when producing?
Moraze – I am completely in love with my Novation Peak. It’s a truly formidable companion in the studio and on stage. As for plugins, of course, not a single channel on the console lacks an equalizer (Fabfilter Pro-Q3) and a small collection of distortions tailored to different uses. Shaping, sculpting, and coloring the sound is truly an exciting job.
HMWL – How do you approach sound design and arrangement in your tracks?
Moraze – As soon as I start producing a new track, I focus immediately on the final sound. So, to quickly get an overview of the final impact, I spend a lot of time searching for and shaping the main ideas. As for the arrangement, I always imagine the audience’s reaction as I construct it. It seems necessary to test the first version in real-time to adjust the arrangement back in the studio. The dance floor always chooses the final version…
HMWL – How did you come to release your EP on Riythmica? What has the experience been like working with the label?
Moraze – I had the chance to meet Francesco because we live in the same city. I immediately liked his character. For me, music is above all about human connection. One day, he came to my studio and I took the opportunity to let him listen to this track that had been sitting on a hard drive for a few years. He couldn’t understand why this project had never been released, and I decided to take the plunge with him. I can call Francesco at any time, any day to talk to him about my projects, and he always responds with the good humor and kindness that characterize him.
HMWL – What do you think sets Riythmica apart from other labels in the electronic music scene?
Moraze – His Boss! Francesco’s sincere approach and musical curiosity will quickly bear fruit. Our scene is too often driven by things that don’t make sense, and the arrival of structures like Riythmica can only benefit the industry. He carries a sincere and healthy project, which is ultimately what most artists are looking for. I am very proud of this collaboration with him and happy to have found in him a friend whom I always enjoy seeing.
HMWL – Francesco Mursia has remixed one of the tracks on your EP. What are your thoughts on his remix?
Moraze – He brought an even wilder aspect to my version when I couldn’t envision it. Proof that he was right, his edit also received strong promotional success !! Respect !!
HMWL – How do you feel about other artists interpreting and remixing your work?
Moraze – It is always interesting to discover one’s work from another angle, to grasp what the other has grasped. I am always excited to listen to another person’s interpretation of my work. Sometimes an element that was rather secondary in my vision becomes predominant in another; this reveals the complexity of the human brain and its way of translating an emotion. It is always a great lesson to understand the audience during a set.
HMWL – What are your plans for the summer? Any upcoming gigs or festivals we should know about?
Moraze – I am organizing 4 ‘Phantasm’ Nights in Biarritz at the iconic electronic music venue Carré Coast where I will host some guests and emerging DJs from the electronic scene (Ary Sya, Avtel…), and also Ibiza in September, with a date and lineup to be confirmed. For the rest, things will happen in my studio (Echo Lanes) to work on the numerous projects I receive every week.
HMWL – Are you working on any new music or projects that you can share with us?
Moraze – I’m preparing my new live setup in the studio and will present it in 2025. The project is called ‘Carbon 14’ and I hope it will be the best version of myself in music (laughs)
HMWL – How do you see your sound evolving in the future? Are there any new styles or genres you’re interested in exploring?
Moraze – I have promised myself to continue being creative without ever becoming a caricature. At my age (42 years old), we know what we want, especially what we don’t. Cobo is the perfect example of what I aspire to do in the future: produce music that feels calibrated to serve the audience. The musical currents that touch me can influence my creative process, but I like the idea of making music that cannot necessarily be precisely dated
HMWL – Looking back, what have been some of the most significant moments in your career so far?
Moraze – I could give you many examples, but I’ll stick to two:
The day when I had the chance to play for the first time on a float at the Street Parade in Zurich, I felt like playing a classic: “Café Del Mar – Energy 52.” I didn’t know the route through the center of Zurich, so no calculations were possible on my part, but at the legendary break, the bus arrived and parked in the central square of the route, and I saw tens of thousands of arms rise at that moment… Incredible!
The second significant anecdote is when my father came on stage for the first time while I played in front of thousands of people. He hadn’t tried to understand the ins and outs of this profession until then, and that day I saw him become someone else, fascinated by the energy emanating from the crowd, and for the first time that day, I saw him dance for hours
HMWL – What advice would you give to aspiring producers and DJs looking to make their mark in the industry?
Moraze – To be themselves, always and forever. If we take a step back, it’s not hard to see that all the artists today who inspire have managed to stand out at some point through a new way of producing and sound designing. Being a copy doesn’t build a career. If I could give another piece of advice, it would be to be consistent in one’s work and, finally, to respect the audience. Without them, we do not exist !!
HMWL – How do you stay motivated and inspired to create new music?
Moraze – I wake up every morning realizing the incredible fortune of being in music for 25 years. The motivation comes naturally without even trying to provoke it. The most challenging thing for me today is finding time to produce alongside my work as a sound engineer for various artists in the electronic music scene. So I am constantly searching for a gap in my schedule to lay down my ideas on my sequencer.
Cobo arrives tomorrow, pre-order your copy here.
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