RICARDO CHARVEL DJ Duo Los CHARVEL (MEXICO)

You and your brother started off in school parties. Now you play in some of the best clubs in Mexico City. Both of you really committed to this job and clearly your succeeding. When was the first time you got an ¨official¨ gig? Where was it ?

The first time I got an official gig was at a club named Gravity last September.

Some might say playing at school parties is easy you have to be comercial , but you always keept a underground sound . Playing what you knew was good and not what people expected. How did you manage to not give in the presure of pleasing everyone?

At school parties putting on popular music is a must, As a DJ you can't be selfish and only put what you like to hear. Actually when you are starting I believe that is the most important thing, pleasing the crowd, putting on the music the crowd want to hear for them to have a good time. But ,as you know sometimes you have to let the crowd get to know know your style without exaggerating. I was able to manage not always putting on what people asked because although I do listen, I am well aware of how a party unwinds and what the majority of people want to hear at a certain time at a party and sometimes that underground stuff might throw people of their feet a little but that's okay sometimes. When you know that that underground music is good music and it has a good vibe to it I was able to blend it in with that comercial stuff.

Besides music what are other things that inspire you?

Besides music, my other passions are sports (especially soccer), A good restaurant and although it sounds cheeky I really like finance, I read the business section in the paper every morning as well as magazines such as The Economist, Business Insider and Bloomberg from time to time.

Who are some of your favorite musicians personally and as a DJ?

I have many musicians that I really enjoy listening to these are some: Kendrick Lamar, Air, Gorillaz, Moby, Alt-J, Hot Chip, Ratatat, The Strokes, Gustavo Cerati, The Rapture, Kanye West, Sigur Ros

As a DJ there are also lots here are some: Bob Sinclar, Claptone, Miguel Campbell, Green Velvet, Purple Disco Machine, Robosonic, Sharam Jey, Nina Kraviz, Solomon, Hot Since 82, Soul Clap, Patrick Topping, Tapesh, Kolombo, Teenage Mutants, Etienne de Crecy, Pleasurekraft, Mark Kitchen, Moullinex, The Magician, Nicolas Jaar, David August, Aeroplane, Kill Frenzy, Parov Stelar.

How much do you think marketing yourself is important ? and why?

Marketing yourself is really important, it is the next step for people to get to know you well. Although I think it is very important it is not everything. You can have great marketing and still suck yet make it quite big. Talent is the most important thing by far and having good taste in music.

Lastly , any advice to break into the clubbin scene in mexico? and what would you say to people transitioning from DJing as a hobbie to professional DJ?

To break into the clubbing scene in mexico is not hard, you just need to know someone involved. What's difficult is keeping yourself up there. My advice to DJs that are doing it as a hobby and want to do something more important with their talent is: Be open to all musical genres, that's how you learn, listen to music often and embrace a genre or a style to make it your own. Also experiment making your own music even if it's terrible at first.

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