QUICKIE: Catching Up With Nico Purman

It’s been a considerable success story so far for Set In Motion. Taking up residence in the intimate confines of Saint Judes, they’ve already attracted an enthusiastic following who have helped make parties with the likes of Hot Since 82 and Franck Roger a slick, sweaty and vibrant affair. With Substanz resident Pat Gallacher warming the dancefloor and specially selected local talent retaining that crucial home-grown connection, they seem to be delivering that often difficult balance of satisfying their own tastes while appealing to Glasgow's discerning clubbers. This Saturday they introduce the next instalment in the series as Argentinean producer Nico Purman touches down for a night of deep, sexy 4x4.

Having caught the attention of Damian Lazarus in 2006, Nico's releases on Crosstown Rebels and numerous other labels such as Vakant and Curle have seen him promote a sound which has instant effect on the dancefloor. Emanating an irresistible funk underpinned by a hypnotic rolling groove, you’ll find tracks such as ‘Fade Away’ and ‘Home2Home’ organic, uplifting and completely delectable. Not just restricted to House however, Nico is someone who knows exactly when and where it’s time to notch it up a gear, so expect the energy, drive and direction of Saturday night’s party to be completely dictated by you…

Check out some of Nico's recent mixes and releases below as well as an interview with the man himself:





VA047 Nico Purman - The Bubble by vakant

Synth: Let's start by talking influences then, we've been reading up on your bio which says you started collecting records at the age of 12, how did that early passion progress to electronic music and who inspired that turning point?

Nico: I first heard Depeche Mode from a cousin who’s mother brought him back a vinyl from London, I was with my brother and we both heard this for the first time. He also had a big emulator sampler keyboard in his room as well as a drum set. I grew up listening to Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, The Cure, then Acid House and tracks like Guy Called Gerald’s 'Voodoo Ray'.

Synth: You played as a drummer in a number of indie bands as a teenager, how do you think that helped you progress into production? With everything so accessible these days do you think it's still an advantage to be able to play a musical instrument?

Nico: Its not about an advantage, its about experiencing something real, or having a relationship with an instrument. Its not necessary for everybody, but to me it helped to know about rhythm, the spaces in between the notes, the subdivision and the independence that playing drums can give. When I did the track ‘Think’ on my last Crosstown EP, I had all the drum fills in my head and then I played and reprogrammed it until it sounded a bit real.

Synth: You're from Argentina and spent a lot of time DJing in Buenos Aires, what was the scene like back then and how is it now?

Nico: I played in Buenos Aires but I’m originally from Rosario, a city 300 km north from Buenos Aires. With regards to the scene I really don’t know what’s going on right now as I moved 3 years ago. It’s not easy to do things there; the economical and political situation is not the best. But of course there’s a lot of good parties and good crowd as well, it really depends where you play, whether it’s a huge club or a small venue.


Nico Purman: illuminated

Synth: You had a release on Crosstown Rebels late last year and of course had the Lunatique EP on the label back in 2007, how did you originally hook up with Damian Lazarus and what is it about your sound that you think he homed in on?

Nico: I’ve always been following him as a DJ and I thought about sending tracks to him. I sent a demo CD in 2006, and he wrote me to sign Lunatique for an EP on Crosstown. He’s a very special music selector and A&R, very sensitive, and able to take risks.

Synth: You'll be playing a headline slot at Set In Motion this Saturday in Glasgow, what should people be expecting from your set and what sounds, rhythms and flavours would you say define the Nico experience?

Nico: I never program a set in advance, but I bring a bag full of vinyl’s and also have some new music on CD, you can check my past sets on my Soundcloud and decide for yourself. I like house, techno and old electro from Kraftwerk to Drexciya. It really depends where I play, whether it’s a big club or a small one, it could be more techno or more deep, it depends how the people get into the music.

Right now I’m loving UK bass and UKG as well as classic and new House and Techno, so its difficult for me to define my sound as I’m not a linear style DJ. Every week I check for new releases on record stores like Rotation in Berlin or Hardwax, then when I like a record I buy it. I then see which part of my set it would fit, but it could be a deep house record or techno.

Synth: Finally, what else are you looking forward to over 2012? Obviously you've got stuff going on with the Vakant label, any further releases planned and can we expect an album in the future?

Nico: The Bubble EP comes out in October on Vakant which is my 6^th on the label, and the forthcoming project I have with my girlfriend is on our own label which will be a strong relationship between music and visual art. My sister is also a very talented graphic designer, so I’m surrounded by visual artists.

About an album, do I need one? I was saving some more mellow tracks over the last few years which weren’t house or techno, and some of them have already been released. I did 2 ambient tracks for ambient compilations and the track ‘Think’ on Crosstown which is like an album track. I was also saving that for a future album but it was released as a part of an EP. I would really like to make an album that flows naturally, but I don’t want the pressure of making an album just to say “hey, I made an album”. I think it will come naturally one day.

Nico Purman plays Set In Motion this Saturday at Saint Judes. 'The Bubble EP' is out now on Vakant.

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Nico Purman on Facebook