Adi
After having commuted between homebase Colombia and Europe for gigs on a regular basis, Adi made a more definitive move to this continent just last year. Settling in a new home can be intense, but the pieces of the puzzle are falling in place. “I put a lot of seeds in the ground the past couple of years, now I can slowly start harvesting.”
︎︎︎ Soundcloud
︎︎︎ Funke exclusive set
︎︎︎ Spotify Playlist
— From Colombia to Europe: these are two very distinct contexts. Can you pinpoint the differences?
I love Colombia - the country makes my heart sing. It’s so vibrant, raw and alive. I think this is reflected in the fact that people are very passionate in how they feel and express themselves across different dancefloors (or life itself) in the country. There are a lot of independent organizations working hard to bring an alternative to what big event production companies would offer. It is quite the task, given the fact that this side of culture is not yet part of the economic structure of our country. Europe is way more structured and organized in that sense. I guess that’s the main difference.
In Colombia it’s not that easy to pursue a career in the arts. In Europe there’s more systems in place for artists to be able to make a living off their art. Colombia is still developing in that sense.
It seems simpler to follow your passion in Europe - even in combination with a “regular” job. For example: to have a DJ-booth in your living room here, is no big deal. Whereas in Colombia this would be very much considered a luxury.
I feel lucky, being able to make this move. Of course, I have worked for it. Now I see even more possibilities to grow.
“ Colombia is so vibrant, raw and alive. Europe is way more structured and organized. I guess that’s the main difference. ”
— How does your family feel about you pursuing a career as an artist?
My parents both work in healthcare, so they’ve noticed how demanding this lifestyle can be. Little sleep, carrying around heavy bags, lots of traveling, … But I have to say that they’ve always been very supportive - in their own way.
For my mom it took a little bit more time, but she’s always been there for me. My father told me to pursue my dreams from early on. He actually attends my gigs sometimes. He dances front-row with my friends and gives me detailed feedback about my set afterwards. He’s just very open minded and loves music (laughs).
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Some would call clubbing escapism, for me it feels more like returning to sanity.
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— Did your family influence you musically?
For sure. For example, my dad’s family is from the west of Colombia, where salsa music and dancing are very big. So whenever we would have a family gathering, it would be all about salsa. In a way, when I’m mixing, I still feel like I’m salsa dancing sometimes.
Apart from that, my older siblings are also super musical. When I was younger I listened to pretty much everything I could get my hands on - pretty much all of the time. I have a hyperactive mind so music helped me to study, to relax, to sleep. Rock, R’nB, hip hop, pop music - I didn’t have a filter.
I started dancing and taking up ballet classes at a young age. The rhythm, and the perception of sound through dancing, for sure affected my approach and the feeling I have with music.
All of these different influences are still very much present in what I do today. They might be subtle, but they’re still there. The only thing that really changed, is that I have less space to listen to music that might not be functional per se. I had to become a bit pickier. Time for silence has become a basic need as well.
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I’ve been thinking a lot about the estranged relationship we have with our phones. I’m looking for a way of detoxing from this thing.
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— How does Detone (Adi’s series of events in Funke, red.) compare to other events you organize?
For Detone I invite artists who are experienced or have a very personal sound who take us on a musical journey where it’s all about enjoying, feeling oneself and connecting on the dancefloor - without any other distractions or expectations.
The first events I ever organized were all very loaded. Visuals, art installations, interventions and so on. As I progressed as an organizer, I came to realize that - for me - it’s really all about that musical journey. Of course it’s interesting to create something multidisciplinary but here I’m aiming more and more at simplicity.
I feel like in daily life we’re already trapped in a very high paced rhythm and a saturated environment full of distractions. Everyone’s rushing to make things happen. If you’re not achieving a lot, you might be considered to be unsuccessful. Slowing down, centering and focusing on one single thing can feel liberating and that’s the exact feeling I want to evoke during Detone.
— Can you elaborate on that?
We live in such a rushed world. We’re constantly connected - digitally. We are so used to being accessible all the time that it becomes very difficult, stressful even, not to be connected.
Certain clubs and festivals really make an effort, trying to make people understand that it’s all about being present in the moment. You don’t need a machine to connect to someone else as they are actually standing right next to you. Some would call clubbing "escapism", for me it feels more like returning to sanity.
— How do you prepare for a set or a night out? Do you have any rituals?
When it comes to a set, I go through what I have in the record bag, digital folders and my collection to figure out what fits the slot I am playing, how I am feeling and how to translate that to the occasion. I try to have an idea of the different moments I can build or create during this time frame and get to know the tracks, how they behave when mixing them.
On the personal side, I picked up some new habits or rituals recently because they actually help me to feel more grounded and centered. I need a moment by myself where I sit down, focus on my breathing and set an intention for the evening. During that moment, I concentrate and try to imagine what feelings I want to convey when I’m playing.
This moment of complete silence before heading out, quickly became essential. Because once you’re out there, there’s a lot happening - a lot of distractions as well. Finding stillness for a minute, makes everything go easier.
— Apart from behind the decks, where’s your habitat?
Nature.
Whether it’s an almost empty park in Berlin or the rugged mountains in Colombia - nature is my happy place. Sometimes it’s hard for me to get going, but I actually need it more than I would think.
— Can you tell us something about the playlist and set you assembled for Funke?
In the Spotify-playlist I put together some songs I recall being obsessed with. At the time I discovered them, they changed something in the way I perceived music. Next to that, I added some tracks that are relevant for me at the moment.
The set is a small extract of a live recording playing at ‘Detone Vol. 1’ at Funke back in April. It contains some of my fav tracks which I find timeless and quite connected to lately. Just to put it into context: we had been in the club since midnight. I was just stepping in at 7 am after Vera had taken us into her musical world. It was quite a lovely night from tip to toe. The vibe was deep, somehow energetic and dreamy at the same time.
Interview with Adi + words by Hans Empereur