Inside the mind of Gui Boratto

Inside the mind of Gui Boratto

18 February, 2010 | 5.29AM

• Written by: Zack Rico
• Filed under: Music News: gui boratto

Few have wrung as much raw emotion and radiant euphoria out of techno as Brazil’s Gui Boratto.

The shy yet affable producer from São Paulo catapulted to the top of the melodic techno tree in 2007 with his debut album ‘Chromophobia’, a position he continues to hold like a bright shining star.

Boratto’s contemporaries - particularly Cologne’s Robert Babicz and Stockholm’s Axel Willner aka The Field - have at times, come close to stealing his limelight, but the Brazilian’s 2009 sophomore album ‘Take My Breath Away’ did just enough to cement his status as a master of the micro genre that revolves around bliss.

Whilst the album’s mass appeal came from its safest moments (’No Turning Back’ was no doubt Boratto’s attempt to recreate his most popular single ‘Beautiful Life’), it was the record’s more experimental numbers like ‘Godet’ and ‘Besides’ that remained long after the album’s sunset.

However, it is perhaps Renaissance’s invitation to Gui Boratto to compile and mix the latest edition of their prestigious ‘The Mix Collection’ album which confirms Boratto’s place among the greats of dance music.

Not only is it Gui Boratto’s first mix album, but quite unusually, it is the first time the British label has given the reins of the compilation to a man known principally for his productions, not his DJing.

Boratto’s mix might well be the best edition to the series since Sasha & Digweed’s magnum opus in 1994.

But what is Gui Boratto really like? We posed a series of quickfire personal questions to him, in the hopes of finding out more about the producer behind the melodies.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Working in my home studio, with my wife Luciana and my daughter Valentina around.


What is your greatest fear?
To became sick for some reason and not be able to work.


What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
I’m too much of a perfectionist. Sometimes too much. I can easily be boring.


What is the trait you most deplore in others?
To lie. In all senses.


Which living person do you most admire?
My father.


What is your greatest extravagance?
To spend a lot of money with my wife at L’Arpege, an amazing restaurant in Paris. Alain Passard is the chef - Michelin three stars I think. It’s amazing! I don’t regret it though, I’m a foodie.


What is your current state of mind?
I’m very calm now. Peace!


What is the quality you most like in a man?
Those who have the courage to face life, and to take risks.


What is the quality you most like in a woman?
The same. Fidelity too.


Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“Well”, “kind of like” or “sort of like”.


When and where were you happiest?
When I was getting married. When my daughter was born. And nowadays.


What is your favourite cuisine?
Italian, French, Japanese, Brazilian.



Which talent would you most like to have?
To cook. I only know a few dishes but I’m learning and improving.


Who is your favourite fictional hero?
Darth Vader.


Who are your heroes in real life?
Leonardo Da Vinci.


What do you consider your greatest achievement?
That I studied architecture and music - piano and guitar in this case.


Where would you like to live?
Here in São Paulo, Brazil.


What is your most treasured possession?
My old 1971 white Beetle. It only has 50,000km on the clock and it has a black plate, which makes it a collector’s item.


What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
I really don’t know. To have no knowledge.


What do you most value in your friends?
Friendship. Faith.


What are your favourite names?
Luciana, Valentina, Sofia, Whillemina.


What is it that you most dislike?
Drunk people when I’m sober.


What is your greatest regret?
I have no regrets.


How would you like to die?
In my sleep, with a heart attack.


What is your motto?
Work, work, work.

Gui Boratto: DJ Chart

Gui Boratto recently uploaded a DJ chart to Beatport which reveals the kind of music the producer likes. Check the player below to listen to his selection.

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• Get Gui Boratto's 'The Mix Collection' (Renaissance)