Velvet 8 is an exciting musical duo composed of talented artists Gabriel Montufar and Chris Naranjo. New to the music scene, the duo has made a significant impact with their unique focus on melodic techno and progressive house. Their music is characterized by a fusion of electronic elements and captivating melodies, energetic rhythms, and emotive harmonies, creating an unforgettable auditory experience. From the start, Velvet 8 has impressed listeners worldwide with their productions and live performances. Their dedication to artistic excellence promises a bright future within the global scene.
Best of 2023
1-a) Best track(s) from other fellow artists of 2023. Why you choose this particular track, please share with us the reasons?production techniques & crowd reactions on it.
Velvet 8: DJ Leandro - Time Will Tell: Really great melody, and great crowd reaction always. We love how this track is great to start a set, but it is also great to lift up the crowd up!
Avis Vox - Run From Me: Played it recently and it just sounded amazing. Crowd was really into it. Really great sounds, gets you stuck in the vibe. Voices are really sweet and captivating.
1-b) Best of 2023 personal productions and for what you reasons you choose these particular tracks, is it because of technical challenges, crowd reaction in the club or was it your most successful single/album?
Velvet 8: Velvet 8 - Keep of Falling feat. Rafa Leroux: This was our debut track. Worked really hard to get the melodic techno vibe, but at the same time add vocals to lighten it up a bit. It was a challenge to get the two elements to work well together, but they fit in great! The drop really hits hard on this one...
Velvet 8 - Hypnotized: We got a powerful track on this one. Dark, pushing, and a mean drop. Crowd reacts euphorically to Hypnotized!
2) Best Artist of 2023(DJ & producer). Tell us why you believe he/she is the best, the factors that have influence you to choose this particular artist. What you appreciate the most from that artist.
Velvet 8: Nora en Pure: Nora en Pure has something that makes a chiller vibe work with a darker sound and feel. It is impossible not to get captivated by the music.
3) Best Remixer(s) of 2023 with short comment, for what reason u believe he/she is the best remixer? Technical professionalism and technological proficiency? the elements that stand out in it.
Velvet 8: Paraframe: All remixes by Paraframe have amazing production sounds. The mix is incredible, and the result let's you know its Paraframe. Looove the synths...
4) Best New Talent of 2023 (DJ or producer), for what reasons you choose this particular artist? Do you know him/her personally?
Velvet 8: We really like all the stuff from Vanto & Mancuso. They release in Sirup like us, we don't know them, but all of their tracks are so great!
5-a) Best electronic dance music album of 2023. Tell us the criteria behind the choice of this particular album and maybe highlight for the readers the best tracks from the album :
Velvet 8: Growth by Yotto. From the "song" composition, sound design, mix, and overall feel, it's an amazing record. The track Encounters with Booka Shade is just amazing.
5-b) Best electronic dance music compilation of 2023. Please explain the criteria behind this choice? is the quality and proficiency of the mixing process, imagination/creativity in the choice of the track listing :
Velvet 8: Siamese Anthology VI is great. Track choices are really good, all follow a really tight, dark, spacey sound. There's a bunch of good stuff in there.
5-c) Best artwork about single / album/compilation or promotional campaign of 2023. The criteria you applied to do this particular choice?
Velvet 8: More in general, but we always like the Sirup and all their sub-label art. Each has it's unique look that is very identifying of the label and music, and all of them look good.
6) Best electronic dance music label of 2023. Please explain the reason behind your choice? what you particularly like or appreciate about this particular label?quality of tracks, great rooster of artists, personal connection?:
Velvet 8: Pinkstar Black - The cohesion between releases, the progressive vibe, they just all fit nicely. You can't find a track that's not good!
7) Best music composition software and hardware of 2023 with short comment. Why you believe this particular software/hardware deserves to be named as the best? great new features, easy to navigate, compose & produce? The advantages of this particular software & hardware that makes it to stand out.
Velvet 8: All software is great! However, we go with Logic Pro X and Ableton Live. They simply make ideas flow in the best possible way.
8-a) Your Best personal DJ Gig & DJ performance of 2023. Where and when did you perform there? any funny incidents happened during particular performance; great crowd reactions. If there is video or sound recording please provide the link.
Velvet 8: We did a video performance for Antena (linktr.ee/Antena) aired on Dance TV in September which was awesome. We got to see and meet other great artists for the video. It wasn't a public performance, but all the team members working on the production were grooving to it and when we stopped it was funny, everyone was like "...now where does the party continue...!
8-b) Best DJ set from other fellow DJ (actual or online) of 2023. Why you believe is the strongest and best DJ set? great mixing/track selection/development of the mix:
Velvet 8: Camelphat is amazing. We've seen them twice, and they just captivate you. Every track is meant to be there. There are no "fillers," you just can't stop listening / dancing.
9) Best technical tips/production skills that you learnt in 2023 in relation to your DJing or music productions:
Velvet 8: Among the most important is trying to find the perfect balance between instruments and what the music we create aims to convey. Every sound in our music is well though out, and has a place and reason to be there. Working as a duo also has it's challenges. In the production side it's being able to appreciate what each of us produce for a track, and then modify if needed but not taking away the essence.
10) Best piece of personal or music business' advice you got in relation to your career in 2023 and has helped you to progress even further and can help others who will read this interview:
Velvet 8: Forming an organic community on social media is a great place to start, you have to get appreciated by the local crowd. Nevertheless, it's really important to go places. There's nothing like meeting people in person. We were at ADE last year, and it got our tracks picked up by SIRUP Music. Amazing label, always on top of everything and always trying to further our musical success!
Dimitris: Do you have any concrete plans for 2024 regarding future releases, tracks, albums, collaborations, DJ gigs? Please provide us the juicy details.
Velvet 8: Of course, we have several projects! The most important undoubtedly is making more music. We have a few new tracks in the works that we are carefully crafting! Can't wait to get them to dance music fans!
Dimitris: Your message & wishes for 2024.
Velvet 8: Cheers to a year full of new dance music! There is so much good stuff out there, try to get to listen to the most you can!
Thanks to Velvet 8 for their great answers.
Thanks to Sirup Music for organizing this interview.
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