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1.) We’re very happy to be speaking today with acclaimed musician Katorzi who is bringing some serious and fun Funk in his latest offering; greetings and salutations, Guille! Before we begin klicking the proverbial Q&A pumpkin down the Autumn pathway, how has the last gasps of 2022 been treating you?
Hey, happy to be doing this. Thanks for the invitation!
All good right now, working hard to promote the EP and very happy with the support it has received so far.
2.) Congratulations are in order for your new EP, ‘The Funk Is Real’. What was the genesis of this gem of an EP, how did it come into being?
It came into being after a few good months in relative isolation on the mountains outside Bogotá, that was in late 2021. During that time not only did I have plenty of space to create, but also to meditate and reflect on the kind of artist I wanted to be. The biggest step in that process was not to be afraid to have my voice and personality very present in the music I was making, not to separate the artist from the art. With that artistic intention, I wrote and recorded the three tracks of ‘The Funk Is Real’.
3.) So by all accounts you played all the instruments yourself on the EP, are you classically trained and what instruments and software did you use?
Yes, I did go to music school when I was very young. But right now I don’t think I’m very well ‘trained’. I make most of my music by ear, recording live jams, then editing the good bits onto a song arrangement. On The Funk Is Real EP, I recorded all the electric basses and guitars first, that’s how the songs were born. The beats were programmed on Ableton Live. And the synths were done using Arturia’s Minimoog plugin. I did all the vocal layers myself, and manipulated them quite a lot, to the point that they don’t actually sound a lot like my voice – which I think is really cool.
4.) How is The Funk Is Real different from any other piece of music on the 2022 music landscape?
Oh, this is very hard to say. There’s so much music out there, and I don’t know a fraction of it. However, I could say that for example by looking at Nu-disco music (where this EP is filed under), on websites like Traxsource, Beatport etc; most of it are either Edits or arranged around samples. This is totally fine, but in this regard, The Funk Is Real is a bit different for being fully original. I think it’s got a lot of positive feedback for this reason, because it sounds fresh; but also I’m sure a lot of people don’t give it a chance because it doesn’t sound too familiar.
5.) What do you hope listeners walk away with after giving The Funk Is Real EP a few dozen spins on their turntables?
That they walk away with a smile… and feeling a bit funkier than usua.l 🙂
6.) On the heels of the release of the new EP, can fans look forward to an LP release from you in 2023?
I don’t think so. It’s extremely hard to put out an LP nowadays. Mostly due to the increasing change of how people consume music. It’s all on shuffle on streaming platforms, this basically killed the concept of an Album… at least for upcoming independent artists like me, and especially in dance music where most of what is released have a very short shelf life. As a result, very few people get to listen to tracks 5 or 6 of an album, their attention span and the internet’s algorithms won’t get this far. So, I’ll keep on releasing singles and EPs for now, the next one coming out around March/April.
7.) What does your touring dance card look like in the coming weeks and months? Do you have a lot of venues booked?
I’ve been DJing almost every weekend in Bogotá. Anyone reading this who’s around can always check my instagram (@guillekatorzi) to see where I’m at. Usually doing funk & disco sets at Paradisco, Espacio KB and ODEM. These are the most musically diverse and open-minded small venues for really digging into the local scene. So for now, that’s what I’ve got, but I’m planning a European tour for next summer, so hit me up!
8.) PuzzleProjectsMusic is the record label releasing The Funk Is Real. What makes PuzzleProjectsMusic the perfect home for you and your music?
First and foremost they believe in me as an artist, and are interested in a long-term partnership. With that in mind they look really well after my music, my aspirations, and put in an insane amount of work so that the artists are fully happy when the releases come out. It’s a lot better for me to have a long-term plan with a label that supports me every single day, has opened a lot of doors for me, and has a strategy for what I want to achieve.
9.) How is the release of The Funk Is Real similar to some of your past work? How does it differ?
It’s similar in that I’m still on a mission to keep the funk alive. It’s different in that before I’d mostly sample vocals and try to fit into some standards, and now I have less insecurities when the music comes out a bit off-the-wall. I’ve been a musician for about 15 years, but I’m very new to electronic dance music, so as a producer I’m learning every day, and it’s natural that my music will evolve and change. I hope I will always have something different to show.
10.) We’re tremendous fans of the second track on The Funk Is Real EP, Funk Machine. What’s the story behind this snappy tune?
That’s nice to hear, it’s also my favourite track. Like I said before, this was a reflective moment for me, pondering over the meaning of making music and of going to a club to experience music. And in general, understanding how music helps us connect with ourselves and with others. So my answer to that was, ‘trust the beat’ ‘trust the bass’ ‘believe in the funk machine’ – meaning give any music a chance to touch you, step onto the dancefloor without preconceptions and let the music do its job.
11.) Any final thoughts on The Funk Is Real?
Yes – to everyone reading this – get down on it! And if you dig it, please share it. Every little support to new and independent artists count – a lot!
12.) Final – SILLY! – Question: Favorite movie about the music scene – This Is Spinal Tap, Almost Famous or American Hot Wax?
Almost Famous, for one reason, I absolutely love Elton John’s ‘Tiny Dancer’. And when it’s played on the bus scene (cliché and cheesy? yes), it shows the power of music in a very beautiful way.
Katorzi ‘The Funk Is Real’ EP is out now on PuzzleProjectsMusic.
