Introducing: DJ PP

Introducing: DJ PP

8 September, 2010 | 2.00AM

• Written by: Beatportal
• Filed under: Music News: dj pp, introducing

Long known to European and North American clubbers as a preferred place to catch-big name DJs while escaping the northern winter, South America is rapidly coming into its own as an exporter of new musical talent. Uruguay’s DJ PP is indicative of the shift, riding the increased exposure brought by the internet all the way to #2 on Beatport’s Top 100 with his track ‘Miami Vice’.

We caught up with the Montevideo-based músico to take the temperature of the local scene.

Where do you live?

For four years now, I have been living in Canelones, Uruguay, very near Montevideo, the capital. But I had lived all my life in Punta del Este. It’s a small city, but very internationally known. There’s lots of tourism during the summer season—December, January, and February—and during the rest of the year, very little movement.

What is it like being a producer from there?

Producing here has two points of view. One is the environment—where I live it’s very inspiring because it’s so quiet.

The bad side is that as Uruguay is a small country, if you want to play, there aren’t many place to do it. So you have to play outside the country, but for that you have to be known and requested. Producing is one way to get there.

How is the club scene in Uruguay and Punta Del Este?

Punta del Este is an amazing and unique place. Once you arrive, you will fall in love forever with the magic of the place. Many people say that it’s the Ibiza of South America. I could agree, in some ways.

The club scene in Punta del Este is the best in the country. In summer, a lot of beautiful people come from all over the world. Since 1990 lots of amazing DJs have been playing in different clubs there—Sasha, John Digweed, Paul Oakenfold, Deep Dish, Darren Emerson, just to name a few. I know Richie Hawtin spent a lot of time here in our summer. Also, the best DJs from Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay are always here in the summer season.

Punta helped a lot in the development of the electronic scene in Uruguay, especially in Montevideo, which has been into electronic music since 1990, when the first 100% electronic-music club opened, with a capacity of around 2000 people—Kool Kat.

What is a typical weekend like?

Well, until last year, I worked every weekend as a resident DJ, preparing the music for the night and working on my productions. Now I work more in my studio and I’m playing more outside the country and of course enjoying my family.

When did you first begin producing?

I have started as a light jockey at the age of 12 years old, but I knew from the very beginning that my goal was to be a DJ.
I got my first job as a DJ doing some private parties when I was 15 but soon got my first DJ residency at a club. After a few years, I realized that my next logical step was production.
Moving myself from Punta del Este to the capital, Montevideo, and starting to work at one of the best clubs there helped me a lot as I knew a lot of new people. At the very beginning I started with Cool Edit and later on with Ableton Live. It took me some time to learn 
but with a lot of work and effort I think I have finally found my own style.

What labels did you begin working with?

I began releasing all my tracks exclusively on Marcelo Castelli’s labels Soulman Music and Muzik Xpress, and I still do after three years. They were a great platform to get my name known and I am very happy with the support I’ve received. Marcelo’s labels have been a very important launching pad for many DJ/producers such as Hector Couto, Loko, DJ Wady, Ministry of Funk, Milton Channels, and me, to name a few, but many more to come as well.

How would you define your productions?


All my tracks are dance-oriented with Latin grooves, funky bass and lots of South American sounds.

What current artists and sounds influence your productions and why?


I think the artists that I’m influenced by are Masters At Work, Barbara Tucker, Louie Vega, Deep Dish… to name a few.


Who is your favorite DJ to play alongside?


I have enjoyed playing with every DJ, that I had the opportunity to. I don’t have a favorite really.
The connection with each DJis different and always enjoyable, at least in my experience.

What are your musical goals?

My goal is to improve the quality of my sound to sound better and be inspired to create something new every time.
 Also I would like to work with musicians to give my tracks a live, instrumental feeling.


What did the exposure of your ‘Miami Vice’ track do for you?


‘Miami Vice’ was released on Muzik Xpress and reached #2 one Beatport’s main chart and it’s the #4 bestseller so far in 2010. As everybody is paying attention to Beatport, you get big exposure from all the best DJs in the world. That meant a lot of remixing work. Big producers such as Mark Knight, Funkagenda, Chris Lake, Chus & Ceballos,
Jerry Ropero, Rhythm Masters, and MYNC, all asked me to do remixes. 
Also I have been requested to play in many other countries around the world.

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