Peruvian musician Marco Tegui has gained a reputation for his hypnotic sounds, melodic journeys around the world, and dark yet bouncy harmonies.
Photo Credit: Marco Tegui – Official
He started his electronic music career in 2009 and quickly made a mark on the South American scene. By 2014, his unique sounds had reached Europe, where he established his residency in Berlin. Since then, he has performed at some of the most prestigious clubs in the city and released tracks on some of the most renowned labels, cementing his place in the global underground techno scene. With over 14 years of experience, Marco has served as the Label a&r for the iconic Bar 25, been the Label Manager of its sub-imprint Sirin Music, and founded his own venture, DowntempoLove.
EG caught up with Marco Tegui to learn more about his new release, ‘Kindisch Stories’, as well as their future projects, and more.
EG: Hi Marco, glad to have you back at EG. Where are you located right now?
Marco Tegui: Hey guys, thanks for having me. I’m currently located in Ibiza, Spain where I moved two years ago from cold, but cozy, Berlin.
EG: What can you tell us about your upcoming release on Kindisch and the inspiration behind it?
Marco Tegui: This album brings together folkloric sounds from South America that I grew up with, mixed with some soul-blue guitars, that melt my heart, and topped with techno beats coming from Berlin, all these elements have been key for creating the personality behind my music.
EG: ‘Clarao de Lua’ and ‘Wild West’ are described as standout singles on the Kindisch Stories compilation. Could you share the creative process behind these tracks and what sets them apart?
Marco Tegui: ‘Clarao de Lua’ is a heartwarming song containing a folkloric vocal chant hailing from Brazil. It is a classic in this country and it is an honor to bring forward in this album. The creative process behind this song is more to find the perfect accompaniment to the vocal and complement it. ‘Wild West’ is a more dance floor approaching track that has elements transporting you to a cowboy abandoned town setting, with horses, taverns, and rolling hey. This song is more intuitive. I was looking for sounds and compasses in the track that give you this horseback riding feeling through the Wild West.
EG: What can listeners expect from the much-anticipated Kindisch Stories compilation, and how do your tracks fit into the overall narrative?
Marco Tegui: The beginning song and the ending song are reworks of old tracks released previously on Kindisch, but I chose to add them since they give the overall character of what is to come in the whole album. You can find a taste of all the cultures involved in South America and some middle eastern touch added by my brothers Solar Kings in 2 songs we did together abroad but really much connected.
“This album brings together folkloric sounds from South America that I grew up with, mixed with some soul-blue guitars, that melt my heart”
EG: Your music is known for its rich harmonies and lush melodies. How do you approach crafting your signature sound, especially in a genre like deep house?
Marco Tegui: I don’t have any specific approach because I do music more by feeling than looking for a sound, that’s why I mainly do downtempo but often you will hear all kinds of genres or alter projects coming from my side.
EG: You have an extensive experience as a Label A&R, Label manager, and founder of DowntempoLove. How has your role in the music industry influenced your creative process as an artist?
Marco Tegui: I started being A&R and label manager in Bar 25 Music and Sounds of Sirin in 2018, this last one I helped to create. This combined with my previous contacts with international artists I used to play with around the globe when I was still living in Peru helped me to develop myself on the knowledge of how to develop my own label DowntempoLove in the future, which I am the A&R and Kathrin (my wife) is the label manager. This approach in the music scene made me realize that there is a business side to it but also a heart side to it, and both when complemented, allow you to live from your passion. My creative process was not so much influenced by this since what I seek as an artist has always been to fulfill what I was hearing in my head on a finished made song.
EG: How do you balance your live performances and studio work? Do you find one aspect more creatively fulfilling than the other?
Marco Tegui: It’s more of a flowing thing, I do plenty of work on my live performances at the moment because I have been playing more often than before and I have been obsessed with the idea of always adding what I thought was missing that night on my live set. It has become more fulfilling to work on the live set because the new tracks I am envisioning now are going to be fragments I play from my set, so I think it is a double workflow situation working on the live set by default you are working on new songs.
EG: Your musical journey has taken you from Peru to Europe and now to Ibiza. How has each location impacted your artistic growth and musical exploration?
Marco Tegui: I had the chance to travel a lot thanks to music and in every place I shared more time than normal, my music has had a big impact on what was happening around me. This I always loved because I could hear how always my music has been evolving but at the same time maintaining that characteristic sound.
EG: Could you share your thoughts on the current state of the downtempo scene and how you see it evolving in the future?
Marco Tegui: I think the Downtempo scene at the moment has to be more showcased because it gives the impression many people would love to have proper Downtempo Parties happening near them but not so much opportunity to go to one. All the artists involved in this genre should showcase more their sound because it is an uplifting genre.
EG: Are there any upcoming projects or collaborations that you are excited about beyond this release? What’s next for Marco Tegui?
Marco Tegui: At the moment I am focusing on my next album, which I would extract from my different live sessions I developed to play this year. It will consist of 2 sides and will be one side Downbeat and the other more dance floor Organic Tech oriented. But also I am working on new collaborations with Solar Kings, Seba Campos, and other artists.
“This approach in the music scene made me realize that there is a business side to it but also a heart side to it”
EG: What are your thoughts on social media and its impact on dance music?
Marco Tegui: I think that social media has been a big impact on dance music because it defines many aspects of the decision making process on the event managing business that at the end is what makes the electronic music scene.
EG: Can you share with us something that few people know about yourself?
Marco Tegui: I have a Pink Floyd ‘Dark Side of The Moon’ tattoo on my leg for a long time 🙂
EG: Tanks for the time and all the best
Marco Tegui: It was a pleasure to share this time for answering your questions, I send you love and light.
Marco Tegui’s ‘Kindisch Stories’ EP is now available. Stream and download here.
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