Dedicating his all to House Music while being active in basically all fields the scene has to over, it’s Madrilenian artist Rafa Santos, who has become a mainstay as well as a constant in the ever-changing (local) electronic music domain. Turning the great plan into reality Rafa founded a label, MATE Records, to serve House Music demands as well as to contribute classy as well as classic music at the same time. However, since Rafa not only runs a label, works as a producer or as a DJ he also teaches at SAE what he’s learnt about music and as well as values to others. So basically Rafa Santos is the ambassador of the scene at so many levels and probably pushing the boundaries to a more positive side. Shortly before the release of MATE’s 5th anniversary, a compilation mixed and compiled by the label boss himself, Rafa speaks about his routines, teaching and of course music. Additionally the artist comes up with a new and 150th edition of the art:cast series.
Rafa Santos: Well, I get up, go boxing and when I come back I usually listen to music, answer emails, do mixing or mastering work and if I don’t have class, I open an old project of mine. At the moment though I don’t have much time to work on new music.
Torture the Artist: You successfully run the label MATE, actually your second label after Great Plan Records, which you did co-run alongside David Villegas with whom you also formed the duo The Crooners. In the end did you save the great plan you had had in mind for MATE Records?
Rafa Santos: Yes, the Great Plan actually helped me learn not to do the same mistakes in the future again. <laughs> I remember the beginnings fondly. <smiles>
Torture the Artist: There has always been House or Deep House music coming out of Spain in the one way or the other. However, a classy sound, which you manage to put out with MATE, is a unique feature. Where does your preference for this kind of of sound come from?
Rafa Santos: The deep sound has always attracted me. When DJing or making music I try to have different nuances. There are people who seek to generate a groove through repetitions or very similar records, while I try to excite with other resources. and it is what I want to transmit with Mate.
Torture the Artist: Where do you musically come from?
Rafa Santos: I come from English Punk and Ska with groups like Partisans, Buzzcocks, Peter and the Test Tube Babies, Motown Soul and 80s HipHop, so something different than I do now.
Torture the Artist: If numbers are correct, you’ve been involved with electronic music since 1997. How did that come about and what was the track you can recall that made you decide to dedicate yourself to the music?
Rafa Santos: In 1997 I started selecting records and bought my first turntables, years before I had played the guitar in a group where we covered classics, but we were terrible… In 2003 I started to play in clubs in my city something I have been doing until now.
It takes me a long time to finish a track as I’m always making last-minute changes.
Torture the Artist: So far you’ve released – only – two split EPs and one full EP on MATE with the last EP from you out in 2020. What’s holding you back from releasing more music? Are you simply too busy or rather a perfectionist?
Rafa Santos: At the moment it is a time thing, although I must admit that I’m also quite a perfectionist. To get into the studio in the first place I have to have at least 4 hours ahead of me and it takes me a long time to finish a track as I’m always making last-minute changes. <laughs>
I like to transmit values of respect and how to take care of music.
Torture the Artist: Besides DJing, producing music and running a label you also teach at the SAE Institute in Madrid. How important for you as a person as well as an artist and your works is it to directly work and be connected to younger people? Is it a relationship in which you cross-fertilize each other, and how so?
Rafa Santos: It is gratifying to be able to teach what one has learned over the years. Aside from production techniques and tools, I like to transmit values of respect and how to take care of music.
Torture the Artist: As initially mentioned musically you focus on House music with Detroit and Chicago influences, some would say the real deal, and also the releases on MATE are vinyl only. So let’s say you’ve adopted to a kind of non-commercial way with what you do musically in this field. On the other side you’ve worked with big brands as well as compiled soundtracks for hotels. Does the latter pay for what you actually want to do or are both sides not mutually exclusive?
Rafa Santos: Currently the MATE catalogue can also be purchased digitally via Bandcamp as we all know that today the vinyl consumer is not like 20 years ago and a label that is not treated with love and dedication can generate losses from the first reference. It’s been a while since I compiled music for hotels, my main source of income is teaching and mixing and mastering work in the studio.
Torture the Artist: With an experience of more than two decades in the business and being a luminous figure in the Madrid-scene, what’s one experience you’ve made, that has made a huge impact on what you do and possibly furthered your career?
Rafa Santos: When they ask me, what’s up?, I usually say that in my best moment, I think I’ve been answering the same thing for 20 years: Dedication, positivity and believing in what one does keeps me active. I think the best is yet to come. Apart from this I am also a realist and I know that Deep House and House are in a difficult situation compared to other genres at the moment.
Playing music in clubs and feeling that you connect with people is one of the best sensations in the world, comparable to surfing a wave or an orgasm.
Torture the Artist: What do you still want to achieve as an artist, that keeps you doing what you do?
Rafa Santos: Playing music in clubs and feeling that you connect with people is one of the best sensations in the world, comparable to surfing a wave or an orgasm. Without a doubt it would be playing at some European clubs and festivals.
Torture the Artist: It’s said we learn most from our mistakes. What did you have to learn the hard way and how has this helped you become the person you are?
Rafa Santos: That nobody gives you anything, and that shortcuts are not the good paths to follow since you skip a huge part of the process. Currently there are many DJs who are there for their physical appearance or their followers on social networks without having made merits for it.
Torture the Artist: It’s said that you are, surprise surprise as a vinyl-only label head, a collector of the the art. What’s the most precious record you own (not necessarily in terms of it financial worth)?
Rafa Santos: Any record that doesn’t come out of my bag in 6 months has a special place for me. Those ones are Shuya Okino ft. Navasha Daya – Still In Love or Earl Jeffers – Joonya, Galaxy to Galaxy – Hi-Tech Jazz.
Torture the Artist: How do you dig for new music and where do you do it? Do you follow a certain routine?
Rafa Santos: Yes, I do. I usually go on Deejay.de and Juno and listen to everything that’s coming out in the next week and do pre-orders. I also usually check Bandcamp and all the news emails with all the new promos I am sent.
Torture the Artist: What are your last top three discoveries, and why?
Rafa Santos: The Endangered Musique label is releasing very interesting re-issues and Homo-Centric run by Gideon comes to my head.
Torture the Artist: What was the first record you ever bought and what do you connect with it?
Rafa Santos: I think it was Interfront – 2 Destination, when I started to get into electronic music, the Valencian scene was very present.
Torture the Artist: So far you’ve had releases by DFRA, Garrett David, Javonntte and more on MATE. What’s an artist you’d love to sign an EP or tracks from for the label, and why?
Rafa Santos: Kai Alice, without a doubt, is a very special producer. I have played his music a lot and I love what he transmits with it.
Torture the Artist: We all have our favorites for several reasons, be it a story that goes with it or certain moment or a personal relationship etc. What’s the release on Mate that hits closest to you, and why?
Rafa Santos: The MATE008 from Garrett David called Live, Live is the album that has cost me the most to get. I noticed Garrett as a producer a few years ago when he was barely known, we talked and agreed to prepare for MATE004, it took me several months to select the tracks. At that moment he showed me the tracks from MATE008, but he didn’t want to give them to me at first, years later and a lot of persisting they came out on my label.
Torture the Artist: You are responsible for the latest edition of the art:cast series. Where and how is your mix best listened to?
Rafa Santos: At home, I have the DJ booth set up in the living room and I always try to record before eating, with a cold beer. So maybe that’s how it can be best listened to.
Torture the Artist: What’s a dance move of yours nobody should see?
Rafa Santos: I have a shoulder movement that was famous a few years ago, unfortunately I have lost my faculties. <laughs>
Words by Holger Breuer
Torture the Artist 