Hernan Cerbello has made a significant impact on the international music scene with his meticulously crafted sets and robust productions. His style is built on the foundations of deep, tech, and progressive house.
Photo credit: Hernan Cerbello – Official
Throughout his career, Cerbello has performed at major festivals and events, sharing the stage with prominent DJs such as Luke Fair, Greg Vickers, Joshua Collins, Add2Basket, and Rachel Star, among others. He has headlined at well-known Argentinian clubs like Pacha, Mint, and SuperClub, as well as Warung, Pacha, and Vive la Vie in Brazil. His performances have also spanned key venues across Latin America and the United States.
As a producer, Cerbello has released original tracks and remixes on reputable labels including Anjunadeep, Anjunabeats, Baroque, Soulman Music, Vapourise, and Nascent. Since 2008, he has co-managed Low Pressings Records with Chas Burns, establishing it as a respected label with a global reputation.
In 2009, Cerbello teamed up with DJ Leo Donato to form the duo Dee Keepers. Additionally, since 2011, he has been co-running Mood You Records with the young and talented producer Juan Lombardo, focusing mainly on Deep House.
EG had the privilege of engaging in an in-depth conversation with Cerbello, delving into the intricacies of his creative process and various projects.
EG: Hi Hernan, welcome back to EG! Where are you right now?
Hernan Cerbello: Hi! I’m in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
EG: Hernan, you’ve had an impressive career spanning over two decades. What inspired you to start offering music production coaching?
Hernan Cerbello: I think it was a consequence. In addition to my music career, I was and still am teaching music production at the School of Music of Buenos Aires. I have been there for about 15 years now. I’m also an enthusiast of neuroscience, learning by reading and taking courses.
EG: Your coaching program covers various aspects, such as style redefinition and mixing support. How do you tailor your coaching to meet the individual needs of each artist?
Hernan Cerbello: In the first place, I try to identify what the producer is looking for during a couple of virtual meets. After that, I start listening to his music, trying to figure out areas of potential improvement. Every producer has different skills, backgrounds, and experience, so there’s no magic formula here. The areas covered could be sound design, pre-production, generation of ideas, harmonization, mixing, etc.
EG: What are some common challenges that new producers face, and how does your coaching address these issues?
Hernan Cerbello: The most common challenge seems to be to sound like a renowned producer. We deconstruct a few references of a specific genre to realize what’s the number of elements, rhythm, timbre, and common scales. You see when I make music for advertisement, usually, the client wants to hear a copy as close as possible to a reference track, that’s what we call soundalike—this kind of work forces you to be as objective as possible to recreate a piece of music. Of course, when I’m coaching a producer, the challenge is to approach the genre without losing the producer’s own identity.
“When I’m coaching a producer, the challenge is to approach the genre without losing the producer’s own identity”
EG: Can you share a success story from your coaching program where an artist significantly improved their production skills?
Hernan Cerbello: I always try to plan a year in advance so the producer and I know what to do month by month. Once we’re reaching the end of the year we listen to the music from the past months and detect what areas have improved and what to still work on. Besides that, we look for metrics to realize how the impact of the release, what label was the best on communication, relationships, and more. Some of the music the producers composed has been played by the likes of Hawtin, Burridge, and Cattaneo, to name a few. As soon as their music grows, they usually get better gigs and expand their DJ career.
EG: With technological advancements, how do you incorporate new tools and software into your coaching sessions?
Hernan Cerbello: I try to stay up to date with plugins, software, and techniques. As a teacher at the School of Music, I’m connected with the future generation of producers, who keep me updated on new trends and help me never stop learning.
EG: Your coaching involves strategic analysis of labels and demo submissions. How important is it for an artist to understand the business side of music production?
Hernan Cerbello: I want to always be realistic and objective with the music the producer is making and potential labels that will probably accept his music. As soon as the production grows, we start to tackle different contacts.
EG: As someone deeply involved in the electronic music scene, how do you stay current with evolving trends and incorporate them into your coaching?
Hernan Cerbello: The producers I’m coaching usually show me the trends. But of course, I also spend time digging for music.
EG: The music industry thrives on diverse voices and perspectives. How do you ensure that your coaching supports and encourages a wide range of artists?
Hernan Cerbello: I try to help the producers make the best possible versions of themselves and their music. I must stay away from the creative process unless they need some help, no matter what genre they’re making.
“I try to help the producers make the best possible versions of themselves and their music”
EG: Beyond technical skills, what personal qualities do you believe are essential for a successful music producer?
Hernan Cerbello: In my opinion, constancy is all that matters. I’m a fan of that word and what it implies: technical skills, composition, mixing, mastering. All the improvement comes from sitting in front of your DAW on a daily basis.
EG: Finally, can you share something about your own music production journey that most people don’t know?
Hernan Cerbello: A lot of years have passed, and I am still motivated and connected to the music. I started making beats in 2004, and my first vinyl releases on Vapour recs, DK recs, and Baroque still form part of the music I’m in love with. At the same time, I have been DJing mostly in Latin America for 12 years and releasing music at Anjunadeep, Armada, and a few more while taking care of Low Pressings, the label created by Peace Division. Still releasing music from time to time now. Also, in a couple of months, I’m starting a new label. So yes, I’m still in the music.
EG: Thanks for the time, and all the best!
Hernan Cerbello: Thank you! My Pleasure!
Hernan Cerbello’s ‘The Only One / Outsider’ is now available. Stream and download here.
