Mack Márquezz is a multidisciplinary artist, DJ, music producer and designer born in Caracas Venezuela, living in Margarita Island, Electronic music lover and synthesizer enthusiast.
Tell us about your passion for music
Since I was a child, my first instrument was a CasioTone synthesizer keyboard and from then on my love for music was constant, I studied music in a conservatory, but then I understood that the academy was not my thing, so I took several instruments and I was learning to play them one by one in a self-taught way, During my adolescence in Venezuela, I was a member of several recognized bands of the Caracas music scene, I collected a few hundred vinyl records since I was a child, I learned to mix music with cassettes and vinyl, then I became interested in electronic music, synthesizers and music made with the computer; Everything was happening spontaneously, I lived a childhood and adolescence very close to music always, in Caracas there were always many concerts of bands that I liked, I lived a time where there was a lot of culture, listening to Nine Inch Nails live, or Mad Professor, going to the talks that dictated in the British Council of Caracas, where suddenly you would find Carl Cox giving a Master Class on music production, or being surrounded by friends who were studying in the Sound Art workshop with Elmar Leal, were definitely experiences that I always had at hand and I am so grateful for the musical education that my parents gave me, I feel that it was also decisive in my early appreciation of music.
How do you describe yourself as an artist?
I am a chameleon in the good sense, I feel that I am a blender of styles in both music and design, I like to read the moment, and try to bring something new always within the trends that I like, musically I have gone through many important stages, I have explored many styles, which have also varied depending on the cities where I have lived, music and art have led me to go through many different spaces to which somehow or other I have managed to adapt without losing my essence.
My main characteristic as a DJ is to know how to read the mood of the dancefloor and adapt myself in a versatile way but always managing my main focus, which is Electronic Dance music, maybe that’s why I committed myself after much “Musical Promiscuity”, with genres like HOUSE and Techno, because they are very universal and timeless languages, they allow me to be changeable, to adapt to the weather, the spaces and the type of ceremony or celebration that I musicalize, I think that versatility is my forte, I am not a “purist”, in fact it bores me and I feel that I am not sincere when I stick to a single line, I like to be versatile on the dancefloor.
What sets you apart from other DJs?
I always look for authenticity, I don’t try to play the music that is in “fashion”, on the contrary I try to play the music that I like, if something that I play is already a trend, it’s just a coincidence, because first of all I have to like it.
It usually happens to me that when I post topics that few know about, they end up being much later, topics that are in “fashion” and it is logical and normal that it happens, I do not think it is a special ability or a gift of mine, it is simply the result of much research, continuous study will always lead you to be coincident with the trends or anticipate the “fashion”.
What musical genres inspire you?
I like all music, that is well done, well executed and has soul, I am inspired by many genres I like the “Psychedelic” music, that invites you not only to dance but also to reflect I love jazz, Funky, Afrobeat, Soul, R&B, Lo-Fi or Disco music, Dub, Afro-Venezuelan music, all these genres, I think they serve me as inspiration, at this time of my life I’m listening to a lot of electronic music primarily.
How do you describe your musical style?
My presentations are intended to be a journey through electronic dance music, I like to walk through different styles and subgenres; I am truly committed to show the cultural mix through electronic music, for me it is always important that people dance, but not necessarily be complacent, I also like to leave the audience in shock with something that is memorable, that people have to turn on the Shazam to know what is playing, or have to get home to investigate, give them a little homework to those neurons as well.
I also consider my style as timeless, it is at the same time a trip to different times and different moments of music; I am Latin and therefore my roots are always inside what I show, I put everything in a blender, all that allows me to “Harmony” within the genres that I mix that mainly walk through the Deep House, Afro House, Tech House, Minimal, Melodic, Organic and Techno.
I like to party, I like ceremonies, I love RAVE” I consider my style to be emotional, joyful but also has moments of darkness and intensity, whenever the dance floor requires it; I am also versatile in environments that need a more ‘Down Tempo’ and more ‘Chill Out’ musicalization. I focus a lot on that audience that wants to experience a journey through sounds.
What tools and software do you use to create your music?
I fell in love with Ableton Live after having used other software to work with my laptop, I like to design my own sounds, with analog synthesizers, or FM synthesis, or use replicas of synthesizers through plugins that I manage through MIDI controllers, always adding an electric bass or an acoustic instrument is a plus; I love vocals, recording vocals or extracting them from sound banks, sampling vinyl records, digging into almost any resource, as long as the result is also minimalistic. Lately, I’ve been getting familiar with Artificial Intelligence tools to create music and I’ve really found some fascinating plugins.
What were your first musical projects and how did they help you grow as an artist?
My first truly serious musical project was Circo Vulkano, a project that gave me a great experience regarding the stage, staging and how to produce my own events and parties, besides having given me the opportunity to travel a lot and open for international artists, have a presence in festivals, and live many adventures and misadventures too haha, after that my brand and my only project has always been Mack Marquezz and my epicenter Margarita Island which is one of the most important places for the exposure of electronic music in Venezuela so developing myself there as a resident of the main clubs makes me in a way more “Disc Jockey” than music producer honestly speaking and that has been my main project for more than 10 years.
Who are some of your favorite artists and how have they influenced your creations?
I grew up in the 80s and 90s so I lived the origins of electronic music in full. I was very influenced by projects like Crystal Castles, Sade, Orbital, Chemical Brothers, Massive Attack, Daft Punk, Dimitri From Paris, Carl Cox, Air, Underworld, I always loved listening to those radio shows with long sessions of House music DJs and what we called in Venezuela “La Changa”. It is very difficult for a Latin artist to define what exactly are the influences he has in his music, in Venezuela you listen to practically everything and it is inevitable to be influenced by so much miscegenation, also there were projects in Venezuela that perhaps did not have much impact on global music but were key for me, such as; Vytas Brenner, La Muy Bestia Pop, KP900, Nuuro, Los Andes Electrónicos, Masetatti2 Lts, Trujillo, Chulius, etc, and I consider all of them a kind of not so anonymous heroes ahead of their time, pioneers without a doubt; besides every day I get something new from which I certainly acquire some influence, the music in the world is so mestizo nowadays, as we Latinos have always been.
Have you had the opportunity to collaborate with other artists?
In the field of production, not as many as I would like but I have collaborated with artists from my country and also internationally, such as Vampire Sex, Hotbox, Woof, Freak The Disco, Magia Music, Larez, Cesar Cede among others.
As a Dj I have shared the Booth with many friends, some of them well known: Dj Trujillo, David Rondón, Alberto Dimeo, Marco Gonzáles, Roxy Delgado, Sebastián Rivero, Monserrat, Mario Romero, Diego Thot, Homer Tonos, Ana Saenz, Andrés Avellaneda, Tony Flores, among many others that surely escape my mind.
Are there any artists you would like to collaborate with in the future?
I love the talent of Latin women and the impact they have had in the last decade, I would love to collaborate with most of them the truth, with Miluhska who has made incredible Featurings of House music, with Irepelusa without a doubt that is a Star of my country with magic, with the Colombian Li Saumet, with Dru Flecha and her incredible voice, with Andrea Ten Seconds who is taking over the good parties in Miami, with Arca who is already like a hero of Venezuela, with Abril Love who I think is one of the best DJs, with my friend Roxy Delgado, with Mabe, with Le Chu, with Khaata, gosh there are too many that I admire and with whom I would love to work.
How do you think you can contribute to the development of the electronic music scene in Venezuela?
Spreading the music made at home, without a doubt I feel that I have always contributed, simply by doing and generating good events and including a lot of music from Venezuelan producers in my sets; as a DJ I think that is one of the missions, always, extolling what is made at home, and also support the guild, we are never alone, we are always a combo, a team that every day is more solid.
What do you think about the future of electronic music in Venezuela?
More than the future I can talk about the present, we are sounding all over the world, Venezuelan electronic music is already Global, and it is a phenomenon that has been happening in the last two decades, increasingly stronger, both in the Beatport Charts is evident, as in festivals, and also in very MAINSTREAM scenes.
Artists like Sebastián Rivero, Freddy Bello, Lou Flores, Miguelle & Tons, Destro, Band&Dos, Alberto Dimeo, CardoPusher, Baba, Zardonic, Arca and many others are putting the name of Venezuela very high right now and that is paving the way for the new generations.
What do you like most about being a DJ?
The music always comes first and foremost, then without a doubt, the parties, the trips, and the fact that my office can always be anywhere in the world, having the freedom to do what I like and being able to do it outdoors or wherever, is something I value and appreciate very much, as well as the fact of being in contact with people and making their moments of celebration unforgettable is without a doubt one of the most gratifying things of my job.
What upcoming projects would you like to share with us?
I am always active playing, you only need to follow my social networks to find out, in June I will start my tour in Europe starting with Spain, where I am also scheduled to release my second EP, during this year I have a couple of single releases signed with the labels “Tres14” from Colombia and “Habitat” from Mexico, so if you follow me on my Instagram @mackmarquezz you can always be aware of my schedule.
When and where is Mack’s next party?
The most upcoming! Well the party “Electro Rush” party that will have its fourth edition in the city of Caracas on April 29th and where I will be accompanied by a line up of incredible and talented women of the Caracas scene, such as Ana Saenz, Quin and Blav Morgana, is in “Anabella Disco” in El Hatillo and is intended to be one of my last presentations this year in Venezuela, followed by others also in Caracas, at the Rooftop of “360”, and in the beautiful space “Dos Puntos”, dates that I will surely be announcing soon as well. Hope to see you there.
Many thanks to Mack for taking the time to talk to him, I recommend you to follow him on his social networks and digital platforms.
Special thanks to Kelliens Subotic, music producer, who connected us with this wonderful artist.
Instagram: @mackmarquezz
Youtube: @MrStevenmarquezz
Soundcloud: Mack Marquezz