SAMC organizer Mariano Trocca

SAMC organizer Mariano Trocca

12 March, 2008 | 12.31PM

• Written by: Christen Reutens
• Filed under: Music News: mariano trocca, samc

With the South American Music Conference well and truly wrapped up there was just one person left that we needed to speak to.

We bagged a ride with Mariano Trocca, the organizer of SAMC, to Buenos Aires airport to catch our flight back to the Northern hemisphere.

He’s in good spirits, laughing excitedly at our attempts to speak in Spanish.

“You know, the SAM-ker was very good,” he says.

That’s the way locals say ‘S-A-M-C’.

“It was mainly industry people that came to the educational and networking events, and it was really constructive,” says Mariano.

“I was so happy to see DJs and promoters who are our competitors at the networking events and panels.

“One of the aims of SAMC was to make the conference something for the whole of the Buenos Aires electronic music scene.

“People came to the events, and for a few days at least, they forgot about the competition.

“At the end of the day, we are all just DJs trying to play music.”

Whilst the industry events were aimed at a small select group of aspiring producers, DJs, record label owners and international movers, they had 17,000 enthusiastic clubbers attend the main SAMC party, with capacity at a sweaty maximum.

With five different arenas housing everything from Dutch trance superstars like Ferry Corsten, to underground local techno artists such as Jonas Kopp, there was something for everyone.

“This year I think we really had the right mix and people were very happy about the artists who played,” says Mariano.

“The trance arena was great, on the techno stage I think we had the most exciting techno artists in the world, and it was a much better reflection of the music than we had last year.

“Last year we had Richie Hawtin and all the Minus crew, which was great, but this year we wanted it to be more rounded.”

Matthew Dear, Adam Beyer and Paco Osuna were the main headliners on the techno stage and they all rocked it.

The main trance arena – which seemed to have a capacity of about 7,0000 – was rammed all night .

Trance it seems, is getting more popular in Argentina, which traditionally has been a house and progressive house stronghold.

“It’s crazy how big trance is becoming here,” says Mariano.

“A few years ago trance was not so popular, but DJ Tiësto played a concert here on his own to 25,000 people.

“We had 40 international DJs at SAMC and got 17,000 people, so that gives you some idea of the pull of trance.”

How important is SAMC to the Buenos Aires electronic music scene?

“Buenos Aires is already established as one of the capitals of electronic music, every weekend there’s parties and top DJs visiting, with or without SAMC,” comments Mariano.

“But it’s definitely good for local producers and DJs to network and meet each other.”

Tickets to the SAMC main event were $25 US.

And surprisingly all the profits from the party went to a local charity that looks after homeless kids. It’s a commendable effort that should be recognized.

Beatportal asks whether the local council or government gives SAMC monetary or moral support for its international conference, but the locals in the car burst into laughter like it is a preposterous question.

Beatportal is like the dumb American asking ignorant questions.

“No way man, here electronic music has a bad name, and we have to fight quite hard to get licenses for events,” says Mariano.

“Any time the mainstream media pays attention to SAMC or big festivals here the first question they ask is always about drugs.

“People here think that the electronic music scene is only about drugs.”

That’s a shame, considering that all profits from the SAMC go to charity and the event is aimed at highlighting South American music talent.

There are many positives that should be promoted, and the drugs tag is simply unfair.

As the car pulls up to Buenos Aires International Airport, Beatportal asks Mariano one last question.

What’s the plan for next year?

“We’re thinking about doing less arenas and bigger and better stages,” he says grinning like a scientist who is happy with the way the experiment went but at the same time wants to tweak the formula until it is perfect.

We bid our farewells by shaking hands and embracing Argentinean style with a kiss on the cheek, Beatportal secretly hoping that we’ll find another excuse to be back in Buenos Aires before long.

• (1) Comments
• (1246) Views