El Paso-born, Miami-based DJ & producer Tian is a usual suspect at the best underground parties in Miami such as Unmute, Sports, Odd Pleasures and Sarah Tonin. A pure-bred all-vinyl player with an outstanding collection and selection, Tian is now looking forward to the drop of his first releases, coming in vinyl, with big local artists, and his series of shows that will see him spreading the joy across Punta Cana, Colombia, Costa Rica, NYC, and Nashville, in the run-up to his first-ever European tour.
EG caught up with Tian to learn more about his origins as a DJ, his upcoming releases, future shows, his Miami crew, and much more.
EG: Hello Christian! It’s a true pleasure to have you here with us today. How have you been? Where are you right now?
Tian: Hi, thanks for having me today. I just got back home in Miami after playing in Nashville for NHS Records. Currently working on new music and enjoying the weather!
EG: You were born in El Paso, and then raised in Juarez, Mexico, right? And now you’ve made a new home in Miami. Why did you decide to make the move to Miami particularly?
Tian: That’s right. Fun fact, I’m a triplet and we were raised in both countries. Miami has always been in my heart since I also have Cuban roots. I saw a lot of potential for my project, so it was an easy choice.
EG: Do you remember your first contact with music? Did you grow up in a ‘musical’ household?
Tian: Yes, of course. My older cousins used to have a post-punk band, so I started engaging with that environment at a very young age. Later on, I had the opportunity to go to my first rave and that’s when my tastebuds started to expand, taking me to explore a wide variety of underground sounds.
EG: Sounds great. And you’ve been playing vinyl your whole life? Who first taught you to mix?
Tian: Actually, my beginnings were in a digital landscape, however, I quickly realized the beauty and the romanticism of digging crates and working on a more intimate approach to the crowd. Regarding who taught me to mix, it started as a trial/error experience that kept consolidating with practice. I also used some help from close friends and other artists whom I have a lot of respect and admiration for.
“When I find a record, the most important thing is to visualize myself playing it and make sure it will represent the sound and feel of my current state of mind”
EG: Of course, there’s a huge cost gap between purchasing a track you like and having to buy the whole record just to get that track…How do you go about adding new music to your collection? What questions go through your head before buying new music?
Tian: Definitely! When I find a record, the most important thing is to visualize myself playing it and make sure it will represent the sound and feel of my current state of mind. I try to keep myself busy digging for new records, in between local shops and some distributors from Europe and Latin America that align with my understanding of underground music.
EG: And now you’re looking forward to your first releases on vinyl! Congratulations, you must be very excited. What can you tell us about these incoming drops?
Tian: Yes. We’ve created a very engaging community of incredibly talented Miami-based artists that has developed into many studio collaborations. I’m very happy seeing the results and how everything is working out at the moment. All I can say is, stay in the loop!
EG: What does your studio look like at the moment? Have you picked up any new gear or software in these past few months that has caught your attention?
Tian: This little community I mentioned before has allowed me to record out of amazing machines such as the Prophet-6 or the Vermona DRM1. My home setup is mostly focused on collecting and playing records.
EG: You’ve got new shows in the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, and NYC & up to your first European tour next year. How excited are you? Do you have to pace yourself, or just try to make the most out of it? What are you expecting?
Tian: Excited and grateful. Luckily, this is an industry where friendships and connections allow you to travel and experience many different cultures. I’m expecting to use these travels to keep growing as an artist and share my love for music wherever I go.
“I also recently started a couple of residencies for Sports Records and Sarah Tonin, which brought a lot of reasons to celebrate!”
EG: What’s next for Tian in the next few months? What new milestones are you looking to celebrate?
Tian: Right now, I’m just riding the wave and enjoying every moment, always open to experiencing new opportunities. My manager, Jaime Bolin, is helping me organize my career path and ideas so I can stay focused on the creative process. I also recently started a couple of residencies for Sports Records and Sarah Tonin, which brought a lot of reasons to celebrate!
EG: Thank you for your time, Christian! We wish you all the best for the future!
TIAN: Thank you guys for the invite. Nos vemos pronto!
Follow TIAN: Instagram | SoundCloud
