Chico Blanco

Producer / Promoter — Granada

01Profile

A Chico Blanco Photo

03Interview

Name, where are you from?
Pablo Cobo, Granada, Andalucia, España.

What do you do? 
Music producer. Promoter when we could...

Describe your style in three words?
Urban, electronic, pop.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
50 Cent.

If you could be on the line-up with any two bands in history?
Deaton Chris Anthony and Daft Punk at their most electronic phase. Both are big influences. Daft Punk was the first thing to blow my mind within electronic music as a kid, and in my opinion, Deaton Chris Anthony is the perfect blend of classic electronic music and urban.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
Without any doubt urban and electronic music. I used to listen to a lot of rap and trap. Most of it was North American and a little bit mainstream. It felt groundbreaking and sincere to me. Nowadays, everything looks the same and I only see egos everywhere. For quite a long time dance music has become what I like the most. I like to dance and I really appreciate a DJ who surprises me with new music that I never listened to before, that is the magic of clubbing for me.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Rick Rubin. He is one of the most important album producers in music history. He is able to produce a lot of different styles and his results are always top-notch. A chat with him would be interesting to know his vision about the music industry and some insights about his creative process. Also, he was the executive producer of 'Yeezus' by Kanye West.

Of all the independent venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
Industrial Copera without a doubt. I’ve been there lots of times listening to electronic music and having a good time with my people. Singing and playing there is one of the best things I've done. I choose 'Blue Monday' by New Order because it was played in the middle of a techno set and it sounded fresh. I didn’t expect it, and it drove me crazy hahaha.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Yung Lean. He was the first European to gain a strong presence in the international urban scene. He showed up with a total new aesthetic and he has evolved in an incredible way as an artist. He always surprises and does new things. Doing what he wants when he wants it. He has always been pure avant-garde yet casual, without looking pretentious, and I think that is not easy.

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?
I will choose two because I don’t remember which one was the first but both hit me hard. 'Alone Again (Naturally)' by Gilbert O’Sullivan and 'Drop It Like It’s Hot' by Snoop Dogg, Pharrell Williams.

A song that defines the teenage you?
'Opernsanger' by Yung Hurn. When I was seventeen I got obsessed with this track. To me it represents the sad boy mood and playing it slowed down feels nostalgic in a perfect way, hahaha. I don’t like Yung Hurn that much but it was the first thought that came to my mind and I guess that means something.

One record you would keep forever?
'What's Going On' by Marvin Gaye. For me, it's an album that feels like one really long track, with the same vibe across all the tracks. The message also represents me, it’s just like wondering "what’s going on?" saying that things aren’t going well and in the '70s speaking about ecology and caring about the planet, seems truly visionary at the time. I like it a lot because when I discovered it, I knew the fact that Marvin Gaye also was a producer and I admire self-produced artists a lot.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
'Vertices' by Dellafuente, Etre Supreme, Vizio, Maka. The song is not on Spotify. I did it when I was starting to produce. Dellafuente says “They believe that I'm happy but it's a nervous laugh” and that was the starting point for 'Lost Like Wally' the first house track that I ever wrote.

A song you wished you had written?
'Agony' by Yung Lean.

Best song to turn up loud?
'What You Say About My Momma' by Jesse Perez.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'Como Han Pasado los Años' by Rocio Durcal.

The song that would get you straight on the dance floor?
'Eu Se Quero Ser Feliz' by MC Marcinho.

Best song to end an all-nighter?
'It's A Fine Day' by Opus III.

Any new bands you are into at the moment?
Ghouljaboy and Cyan85.

03Interview

Name, where are you from?
Pablo Cobo, Granada, Andalucia, España.

What do you do? 
Music producer. Promoter when we could...

Describe your style in three words?
Urban, electronic, pop.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
50 Cent.

If you could be on the line-up with any two bands in history?
Deaton Chris Anthony and Daft Punk at their most electronic phase. Both are big influences. Daft Punk was the first thing to blow my mind within electronic music as a kid, and in my opinion, Deaton Chris Anthony is the perfect blend of classic electronic music and urban.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
Without any doubt urban and electronic music. I used to listen to a lot of rap and trap. Most of it was North American and a little bit mainstream. It felt groundbreaking and sincere to me. Nowadays, everything looks the same and I only see egos everywhere. For quite a long time dance music has become what I like the most. I like to dance and I really appreciate a DJ who surprises me with new music that I never listened to before, that is the magic of clubbing for me.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Rick Rubin. He is one of the most important album producers in music history. He is able to produce a lot of different styles and his results are always top-notch. A chat with him would be interesting to know his vision about the music industry and some insights about his creative process. Also, he was the executive producer of 'Yeezus' by Kanye West.

Of all the independent venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
Industrial Copera without a doubt. I’ve been there lots of times listening to electronic music and having a good time with my people. Singing and playing there is one of the best things I've done. I choose 'Blue Monday' by New Order because it was played in the middle of a techno set and it sounded fresh. I didn’t expect it, and it drove me crazy hahaha.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Yung Lean. He was the first European to gain a strong presence in the international urban scene. He showed up with a total new aesthetic and he has evolved in an incredible way as an artist. He always surprises and does new things. Doing what he wants when he wants it. He has always been pure avant-garde yet casual, without looking pretentious, and I think that is not easy.

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?
I will choose two because I don’t remember which one was the first but both hit me hard. 'Alone Again (Naturally)' by Gilbert O’Sullivan and 'Drop It Like It’s Hot' by Snoop Dogg, Pharrell Williams.

A song that defines the teenage you?
'Opernsanger' by Yung Hurn. When I was seventeen I got obsessed with this track. To me it represents the sad boy mood and playing it slowed down feels nostalgic in a perfect way, hahaha. I don’t like Yung Hurn that much but it was the first thought that came to my mind and I guess that means something.

One record you would keep forever?
'What's Going On' by Marvin Gaye. For me, it's an album that feels like one really long track, with the same vibe across all the tracks. The message also represents me, it’s just like wondering "what’s going on?" saying that things aren’t going well and in the '70s speaking about ecology and caring about the planet, seems truly visionary at the time. I like it a lot because when I discovered it, I knew the fact that Marvin Gaye also was a producer and I admire self-produced artists a lot.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
'Vertices' by Dellafuente, Etre Supreme, Vizio, Maka. The song is not on Spotify. I did it when I was starting to produce. Dellafuente says “They believe that I'm happy but it's a nervous laugh” and that was the starting point for 'Lost Like Wally' the first house track that I ever wrote.

A song you wished you had written?
'Agony' by Yung Lean.

Best song to turn up loud?
'What You Say About My Momma' by Jesse Perez.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'Como Han Pasado los Años' by Rocio Durcal.

The song that would get you straight on the dance floor?
'Eu Se Quero Ser Feliz' by MC Marcinho.

Best song to end an all-nighter?
'It's A Fine Day' by Opus III.

Any new bands you are into at the moment?
Ghouljaboy and Cyan85.

 

05Videos

Chico Blanco | AY :P (2021)