Redefining success, rejecting trends: BOHEM unveils his debut album "Si alguna vez fue ARTE"

With his debut album Si alguna vez fue ARTE, BOHEM invites us into a world shaped by emotion, analog warmth, and philosophical reflection.

Blending his South American roots with global textures and poetic depth, he’s crafted a body of work that transcends the dancefloor.

Ahead of the album’s release on Sounds Of Sirin, we spoke with BOHEM about transformation, the music industry, and his personal mission as an artist.

Your debut album Si alguna vez fue ARTE feels deeply personal and concept-driven. What was the initial spark that led you to create this body of work?

I was born listening to rock bands and concept albums… Every album cover came with stories that accompanied the sonic journey. And when I started producing, creating an album with content that goes beyond frequencies was a dream—it was like my spark.

You describe the album as being centered on transformation. What does transformation mean to you, both sonically and personally?

Absolutely. We’re living in times of great transformation—not just personal, but global. There’s a push to create sound based on labels, to try to fit in or belong, when I think it should be the other way around.

We shouldn’t try to fit into the world—we should create new ones. That’s where this thing we call transformation happens. We have to seek authenticity in every aspect of life.

The title itself—Si alguna vez fue ARTE (“If it ever was ART”)—is quite evocative. What are you questioning or inviting the listener to reflect on with that phrase?

The album invites us to return to that root moment. In the Versalogo I wrote for the album, with poetic strokes from my friend Tochi Ricenbög, I invite you to express yourself without conditions—from your intimacy, from the present, which in the end is all that matters.

Art is uncontrollable, and you have to leave the destiny of your music, of your creation, to chance—and don’t worry, just enjoy it, because that’s the best thing you can do.

You mention stepping away from traditional methods of sharing and presenting art. What motivated you to take that risk, and how do you think it changes the listener's experience?

Actually, it's the opposite… haha. Some traditional methods give what we do a sense of history. I love that the world makes music or other forms of art—that people express themselves is great—but I feel like nowadays music is released like french fries…

We live in the age of immediacy, and that has a big impact. We're at a point where quantity seems more important than quality.

So yes, creating an album gives you that creative space, from song to song—why each one exists, how they relate in their own world… or that long, immersive listening that helps shape a concept. I think that’s where it’s at.

Do you see this album as a statement about the state of the music industry—or more as a personal evolution?

The state of the music industry is directly affected by our personal evolution—and not the other way around.

We could talk for a while about the industry, but let's save that for the next time. This is a personal growth situation, completely. It’s about bringing a vision to the tangible—a thought, an idea, an album—something that can become real, if you want.

You advocate for rejecting what’s conventionally seen as “successful.” Was there a specific moment or realization that pushed you in this direction?

It just happens that today “success” seems measurable in numbers.

Before, you’d use a ruler—now it’s Instagram and other platforms.

We live in a world where our dreams can be silenced, disturbed, or even destroyed by comparison. So it’s a vital mission nowadays to define what success means to you.

For me, success is living well, being mentally and spiritually at peace, having time to laugh—and everything else is welcome.

Sound-wise, how did you approach building this album? Were there key elements, textures, or instruments that guided the overall atmosphere?

In this album, I think analog bass is the most recurring element. In dance music, a solid low end is key—and it’s one of my favorite parts.

Then the album's atmosphere is guided by moments lived in different parts of the world, in different environments, in hidden corners.

The creative process has been the journey of life itself, which has taken me across the globe.

What role does experimentation play in your creative process—and how do you know when a piece is finished?

As I said before, your experimentation can reach very elevated, wild levels—so long as you don’t feel trapped by the conditions of today’s dance music world. Creativity can be deeply affected.

I think it’s hard to say when a piece is “finished”… we ourselves are not finished.

We grow and change along with what happens around us—so nothing is ever really finished.

I believe more in the concept of a cycle being complete rather than finished. “Finished” feels like the end of something, and I see it more as a new starting point.

As a debut album, this is a major milestone. How do you feel now that it's complete and ready to be shared with the world?

I feel naked sharing this album with the world.

I feel responsible, in a way—responsible for what happens to me, for how I interact outwardly.

But mostly, I feel joyful and melancholic at the same time.

Sharing a vision with the world is a total mission!

What do you hope listeners take away from Si alguna vez fue ARTE—on an emotional or philosophical level?

NOTHING! I don’t expect them to take anything from the album—I actually hope they bring something… haha.

I hope they bring creativity, new ideas, authenticity, love, and care into the world. That way, we’ll all be better off—because there are many of us here, at least on this side—the side of goodness, of music as a companion in healthy adventures.

Looking back, who have been some of your most important musical or artistic influences—people who shaped the way you hear or express music?

Fito Páez and Gustavo Cerati.

Those two are at the top of my musical and artistic list.

I love hearing them speak, think… I love their music, their way of being. They are my biggest influences.

Do you find inspiration in spaces outside of music—like literature, architecture, or nature? How do these elements feed your creativity?

Exactly like you mention them—just in a different order!

Nature, literature, and architecture are my main sources of inspiration.

I’m a fanatic of living in the tranquility of nature—put me in a city and it crushes my soul.

Exploring the world and discovering architecture is another of my main joys—it’s a personal experience, a reminder of when things were done with intention. There’s a lot of soul out there!

And of course, literature accompanies the journey. Sometimes I forget about it, and when I feel nervous I realize I’ve been neglecting it—then I return to its worlds.

What’s your relationship with live performance? Do you see your sets as an extension of your studio work, or as a different type of expression?

Both, I think!

Expressing yourself in the DJ booth has a whole behind-the-scenes story that, in my case, includes production. Understanding composition and the structure of dance music helps make better mixes.

Still, they’re different paths—I’ve heard DJs who aren’t music producers, and they’ve been amazing!

The experience inside the DJ booth also plays a huge role… your personality, your senses kicking in, reading what’s happening in that moment when you go up to play… it’s a full neural universe.

You need to know what’s happening, have plan B, plan C, and be capable of shifting energy if needed.

The dancefloor is a garden of flowers—it’s up to you whether it blooms and fills with color or not.

You have a very introspective approach to sound. How do you stay connected to your intuition in a music scene that often rewards trends over depth?

Staying connected to my introspective side is a daily mission—from the moment I wake up until the moment I… wake up again.

I don’t make music to be rewarded by someone or something.

Of course, besides being my passion, it’s also my job—and there’s an energetic and monetary exchange that you could call a “reward.”

But behind that is the real reward: the life experience, the places music takes you, and the new souls you meet at every show…

That is truly a gift.

Honestly, I’m proud of what I do.

I don’t need to be part of any trend.

In fact, maybe one day a trend will come knocking on my door—who knows? haha.

Finally, what’s next for BOHEM? Are there any upcoming projects or ideas you’re excited to explore?

Next for BOHEM is study.

I’m in a personal life project of understanding musical language beyond what I do today.

That’s where my evolution will be—along with the travels that are always part of the nomadic heart that pushed me to become who I am today.