Names: Diego Cortez Salas aka DC Salas
Nationality: Belgian
Occupations: Producer, DJ
Current release: DC Salas has a trio of new releases out. First off, there's his Pressure EP on R.A.N.D Muzik x Echocentric. Then, his Tio EP on A Lifetime on the Hips, the title track of which, as he explains in this interview, is a particularly personal piece. Most recently, "Necessary Evil" is out via Aeon.
Recomendations: A song: Joy Wellboy - “We Need A Plane (Ghosts on Rafts & Erge Stormen Remix)”. Watch it on Youtube here.
A book: Avant que j’oublie, Anne Pauly
If you enjoyed this DC Salas interview and would like to stay up to date with his music, visit him on Instagram, Facebook, and Soundcloud.
When I listen to music, I see shapes, objects and colours. What happens in your body when you're listening? Do you listen with your eyes open or closed?
I often listen to music with my eyes closed and my heart wide open.
Music is all about feelings and emotions for me. Nothing can impact my body and mind more than music. It’s like a vital shot of life.
What were your very first steps in music like – and how do you rate gains made through experience versus the naiveté of those first steps?
My first steps in music were instinctive and natural, capturing the 'beauty of the moment.'
As music is a vital form of expression for me, experience has taught me how to be more structured and consistent in my work. I've learned to make my expression more 'readable.'
These days, I find myself thinking more when I start creating something compared to how I used to. However, I've also learned that it's crucial to preserve that “early days” approach and mindset.
According to scientific studies, we make our deepest and most incisive musical experiences between the ages of 13-16. What did music meant to you at that age and what’s changed since then?
Music has been everything to me since I was born. And in my teenage years it has defined the world as I would know it.
I discovered electronic music in those years, I started djing, I started clubbing, I started buying records. Music was like a new world to be discovered and I was (and still am) so excited by the ideas of discovering new gems everyday till the rest of my life.
In 20 years (I’m 35 now), I think that the therapeutical / healing aspect of music is what has changed the most for me. The importance of energy and details also. I’m more and more focused on those aspects.
Over the course of your development, what have been your most important instruments and tools and how have they shaped your perspective on music?
My first computer connected to the Internet shaped everything I know about music until now.
It was the bloghouse era and I discovered so much music through those amazing platforms (and also through eMule / Soulseek of course). That’s how I started digging, that’s where I understood that discovering music would be something important in my everyday life.
What, would you say, are the key ideas behind your approach to music and what motivates you to create?
I feel the need to express something meaningful. As a producer, I don’t want to release anything functional / generic.
Over the years, the perspective of making people dance and/or feel something through my productions has become a priority, while, in my early days, there were no plans at all.
Paul Simon said “the way that I listen to my own records is not for the chords or the lyrics - my first impression is of the overall sound.” What's your own take on that and how would you define your personal sound?
It’s always tricky to define my own sound but in some keywords:
Energy – Personal – Evolution – 80s & 90s
Sound, song, and rhythm are all around us, from animal noises to the waves of the ocean. What, if any, are some of the most moving experiences you've had with these non-human-made sounds? In how far would you describe them as “musical”?
Being deeply involved in the world of music, I've always been fascinated by the way sound exists naturally in the world around us.
I've always been captivated by the sound of rain against different surfaces—each droplet acting like a note in a complex percussive arrangement. The randomness yet uniformity of raindrops create a rhythm that's both chaotic and harmonious: scary and reassuring.
From very deep/high/loud/quiet sounds to very long/short/simple/complex compositions - are there extremes in music you feel drawn to and what response do they elicit?
I've always found extremes in music inspiring because they push the boundaries of what we consider to be 'musical,' challenging both our emotional and sensory perceptions. They show me how far we can go.
I find beauty and inspiration in all types of extremes: from super slow-paced music to heavy, deep bass-induced compositions, and even tracks that last for 30 minutes.
From symphonies and traditional verse/chorus-songs to linear techno tracks and free jazz, there are myriads ways to structure a piece of music. Which approaches work best for you – and why?
For me, the more instinctive the process, the better the outcome.
I need freedom in my workflow because that's where the main ideas come to life. My creative process usually kicks off with a long jam session and wraps up with hours of editing and arrangement.
Could you describe your creative process on the basis of one of your pieces, live performances or albums that's particularly dear to you, please?
I have a very personal track coming out called 'Tio,' which will be part of my next EP, set to be released via Semi Delicious. The creative process for this track has a special backstory. A few months ago, I unexpectedly lost my godfather, who was also my dad's uncle (but was more like a brother to him).
A couple of days after his passing, we found some footage of him from his birthday. He usually avoided being filmed, so this footage was incredibly precious to us. In it, he gave a wonderful speech about family and friends, as if he somehow knew what was going to happen in the months that followed.
This speech was so impactful and personal that I felt the urge to incorporate it into my music. I looped his voice, added some effects, and began building a track around it. This is different from my usual workflow, where I typically start with a beat and a bassline. In this case, the entire track was led by his voice, complemented by a deep bassline and some melancholic yet positive melodies.
Sometimes, science and art converge in unexpected ways. Do you conduct “experiments” or make use of scientific insights when you're making music?
No, this is not how I see my creative process. I want my workflow to be as human as possible.
How does the way you make music reflect the way you live your life? Can we learn lessons about life by understanding music on a deeper level?
Patience & Dedication: Music teaches us that nothing comes easy. There are no shortcuts to success. You have to invest time and effort to create something meaningful, just like in life. Both journeys have their ups and downs, but the important thing is to trust the process and stay committed to what you're passionate about. Believe in what you love, and it will pay off.
Acceptance: Music is subjective, and everyone will have their own opinion on what sounds good or bad. Learning to accept this variability in taste can teach us to be more accepting of perspectives in life.
When it comes to making music, I'm all ears for what people have to say. Good or bad, feedback is essential. Critics point out stuff I might have missed and give me a chance to evolve.
This isn't just a studio thing; it's a life thing. Being open to what others think helps me make better choices and keeps me growing.
Do you feel as though writing or performing a piece of music is inherently different from something like making a great cup of coffee? What do you express through music that you couldn't or wouldn't in more 'mundane' tasks?
Writing music is my most personal “task”. Music is the only way I have to express some emotions. Grief, love, hope, sadness: these are dimensions that are hard to capture in more 'mundane' tasks like making coffee, which, even if enjoyable, don't offer the same platform for emotional exploration.
Music provide me a broader canvas for expression and connection. It’s a journey through so many states of mind, a therapy.
Every time I listen to "Albedo 0.39" by Vangelis, I choke up. But the lyrics are made up of nothing but numbers and values. Do you, too, have a song or piece of music that affects you in a way that you can't explain?
Ony Ayhun's 'OAR003-B' is an instrumental electronic track that resonates deeply with me, hitting me right in the feels. The track is just massively beautiful and leaves a lasting impact.
If you could make a wish for the future – what are developments in music you would like to see and hear?
Fewer trends, more meaningful music.
