Eddy Romero defines his world in one word: Mental. The Spanish artist started working on electronic music during the early 90s and is also involved in other musical projects like Saturnz Other Soul, Micronode, and O Rem among others.
Following the release of his own Expmental’s ‘Mental Picks Vol.39’, EG caught up with Eddy Romero to learn more about the VA, his future presentations, Expmental’s 15th anniversary, and more.
EG: Hi Eddy! Welcome to EG. It’s a pleasure to have you here with us. How have you been? Where are you based right now?
Eddy Romero: Hi guys, the pleasure is mine, all going well this 2023 and working hard from my office in the south of France.
EG: First of all, congratulations on the release of Expmental’s ‘Mental Picks Vol.39’! What’s on this one? What can Expmental’s fans find here?
Eddy Romero: This ‘Mental Picks’, like any of the series, are tracks that I carefully select, that have another kind of impact not being normally specially done for the dancefloor, and more personal work from the artists that release in them. I get normally new artists for the label that can’t release them inside and get from them those tracks that give me a good mental sensation.
EG: So, how do you go about selecting which tracks are a good fit for these ‘Mental Picks’? What’s that process like? What are you looking to showcase through these selections?
Eddy Romero: As explained a bit just now, I try to get tracks that make me trip, that make me feel that mental sensation when I listened to them, and tracks that aren’t specially oriented for the dancefloor. At the same time, I get artists that can’t be released in our normal releases as I have a very busy schedule so then I choose what I feel from their more personal work and I add it to the VA
EG: By the way, Expmental Records is on its 15-year anniversary! Congratulations! 15 years is quite a feat. Did you ever envision the label coming this far when you first started? Is that early motivation still there? Has the focus shifted over the years?
Eddy Romero: Expmental Records started as a hobby and finally become what is now after 15 years. I never thought that it would go so far actually, so I’m very happy with the result. The motivation for the label is always there, it’s like my son, my little baby, I always take care of it, and now with 15 years, even more so. Of course, I had up and downs about it, but always went back strong and forward. I created also other brands like our Affinity Lab sub-label, and Saturnz Other Soul, a more electronic project for my other alias. I run a few other labels, but Expmental is Expmental.
“Of course, I had up and downs about it, but always went back strong and forward”
EG: And what can we expect from the label this year? Any plans for a big celebration?
Eddy Romero: We’re starting with some big releases. The next one is my ‘The Reality’ EP, which features the vocals of my wife Jen Bleux, and remixes by Brizman, Pornbugs, and Nicolas Duvoisin. A new EP by Frink with a remix by Rhadow, and following up we’ve got Tony V with remixes by Cesare VS Disorder and Rhom Omit.
This is all I can tell you right now about releases, as we also have much other stuff coming up, but can’t talk about yet. Also, some nice showcases are coming in Ibiza, Sonar Week, ADE, France, and the UK, as well as many events around.
EG: Speaking about origins…what were yours like? How did you get into the music industry? Was there a show or a record that pushed you down the rabbit hole?
Eddy Romero: Well, being 45, my origins are in the 90s. I started mixing when I was 15. Later, I went to London and there I got involved with all the electronic music movement from House to Techno, Drum & Bass, the first events in the original Ministry of Sound, Candem Palace, Club UK, and The Fridge, to name a few. But when I fell in love with it was with the rave movement at that period where the music went inside from every single style in places like Kentish Town University, or the Rainbow Church, that’s where everything started.
EG: How do you feel about the role of social media in the music industry? Is it drawing us too far away from the actual music? How can we make our interactions with social media serve us better?
Eddy Romero: Well, it is not just a social media thing, it’s a people mentality thing. Fans’ mentality has changed, so what worked in the past now works in a different way. Now everything has to seem closer and more personal to be out there, and of course, the way to get fans works in another way. I run a new PR and Marketing Brand since 2021 and we help many artists and labels on this, as many are lost and don’t know how to get exposure.
Social media has helped many artists that couldn’t arrive to the public to make it, but at the same time has helped others to make…haha.
But finally, music is a business. And if we are romantic lovers of it, we must understand what it is and know what you want to sell and to who.
EG: How do you keep entertained when not in the studio? Have you checked out any good movies, series, books, or albums you’d recommend?
Eddy Romero: When I’m not in the studio, I’m doing coaching for artists, management, and much other stuff involved with my other brands, Soundvision and Top DJ.
And when I have some free time (which is not often XDD), I play video games. I’m a bit of a geek and love to play video games. ‘Deathloop’ is the one I’m finishing now, I also play a lot of ‘RB6 Siege’ with friends. Regarding series and films, the last ones that I loved were ‘Mosquito Coast’, ‘For All Mankind’, and ‘Emancipation’. ‘The Consultant’ was the last series I finished.
“Well, it is not just a social media thing, it’s a people mentality thing. Fans’ mentality has changed, so what worked in the past now works in a different way”
EG: Can you tell us something about you that very few people know about?
Eddy Romero: Next! Hahahahaha! I’m behind many things that many people don’t know, but that’s a secret.
EG: What’s next for Eddy Romero? What particular milestones are you looking forwards to this 2023? Where can your fans catch you next?
Eddy Romero: Well this 2023 my fans can catch me in Sonar week at my yearly slot, in a monthly residency in Ibiza, and some other stuff that is being closed right now. Since I’m a father of a 2-year-old son, I don’t want to move a lot in order to pass time with him, so I just get a few dates per year, as I prefer to focus on my family. But this year, being the 15th year of the label, I will move a bit more. So, if anyone sees that I’m playing in their area, and has the curiosity to see what I do, do come as it could be the only one for a while.
EG: Thank you so much for your time, Eddy! We wish you all the best for the future.
Eddy Romero: Thank you for this interview and for having me on EG!
ExpMental’s ‘Mental Picks Vol.39’ is out now. Purchase your copy here.
Follow Eddy Romero: Spotify | Instagram | Soundcloud | Facebook
