Alexi Delano dwells in the perfect balance between shiny minimalism and dark vivacious techno. With more than two decades on stage he has been able to combine different roots and facets of the contemporary music scale.
Born in Chile, raised in Sweden, and later adopted by New York, Alexi became part of the Swedish wave of electronic music producers of the mid 90’s, alongside fellow Swedes such as Adam Beyer, Cari Lekebusch, and Jesper Dahlback. Moving from Scandinavia to New York influenced him to combine the heavy compressed local sound with the vibrancy of the creative music scene of Brooklyn.
As Parties4Peace gets ready for its Patagonica 2022, Emilie McGlone founder and organizer spoke with Alexi Delano about the project and his involvement.
Parties4Peace: Hi Alexi, glad to have you here today. Being from Chile, you have a great connection to South America and the music culture. What excites you about returning to Chile and traveling to Patagonia for the first time with Parties4Peace?
Alexi Delano: Hello, thanks for the invite! Having my parents and my younger brother living in Chile, it always makes returning there extra special. Through the many years of going back, I never had the time to travel beyond the capital, Santiago, and the city that I am from, Valparaiso. I have always heard so much about the beauty beyond these two cities, so when the opportunity arose to go to Patagonia I instantly jumped on it, not solely for the experience but also for the wonderful cause of Parties4Peace.
Parties4Peace: Exciting days ahead. What do you hope to share through your music on this tour?
Alexi Delano: My music has always been influenced by visuals and personal life experiences. The way I prepare myself for exceptional trips like this is to be 100% receptive so that I later can transcend the experience to my music. I’m not sure now what is to come but, I am ready to take it all in. I look forward to meeting the local artists and conversing about how Patagonia influences them in their life and art.
Find more info about the Patagonica Tour Vol.13 here.
Parties4Peace: Piknic Electronik is known as one of the best festivals in Chile and also the world, why do you look forward to playing for them this year?
Alexi Delano: As I’ve been returning to Chile for decades now I have seen and followed closely its musical development. The fact that this highly respected festival arrived there is a sign that the electronic music scene is heading in the right direction and that makes me very proud and also humbled to be invited to play the festival there a second time.
Parties4Peace: The pristine nature in Patagonia is important to conserve, and we are using music and art as a tool to raise awareness for the ‘Patagonica Vol.13’ campaign, collaborating with local environmental organizations to declare Patagonia a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. How do you think artists can contribute to helping to support projects like this and why is it important?
Alexi Delano: I’m surprised and disappointed that UNESCO still hasn’t declared Patagonia a W.H.S., I’m sure that politics are part of this fact. I think that artists in my scene should lend their voices to projects they find meaningful, a lot more than what I see happening. I find it extremely invigorating to be able to help with my art, I feel that it gives my music more meaning. It is not just important for the project that one decides to support but also to oneself and the personal connection to one’s art.
Parties4Peace: Do you have any message for artists who are interested to travel to Chile and sharing their music?
Alexi Delano: There are an incredible amount of talented artists in Chile, so bring your best!
“I think that artists in my scene should lend their voices to projects they find meaningful, a lot more than what I see happening”
Parties4Peace: What does the word “sustainability” mean to you?
Alexi Delano: Responsibility.
Parties4Peace: We hope to create an album with original music focused on the nature of Patagonia with remixes by Chilean producers in the electronic music scene including Francisco Allendes, Dandy Jack, Pier Bucci, and many international artists who have participated in the Patagonica tour. What do you think will be special about working with Chilean artists to create music for Patagonia?
Alexi Delano: Collaboration is one of the fundamentals of my musical development, so collaborating with Chilean artists for a cause like this is “lo maximo” as they say in Chile.
Parties4Peace: Anything else you want to share about your upcoming projects, promos, music, etc?
Alexi Delano: I am almost done with my next solo album – Requiem, In Twelve Textures. It’s a dedication to friends that I’ve lost to mental depression.
Parties4Peace: Thank you very much for the chat today.
Alexi Delano: Thanks to you, see you soon.
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