All My Friends interviews Never Dull
Hi Alberto (aka Never Dull), thanks for taking the time to chat with me. You hail from San Diego. How has the city helped shape your music and are there any artists or venues in the city that you might cite as inspirations?
I was born in San Diego, California, being in a border town with Mexico it is very common to split your time in both countries, especially coming from a Mexican family like myself, I actually have dual citizenship.
As a teenager I was mostly influenced by the electronic dance music scene in Tijuana, Mexico, going to clubs like Wherehouse and Deck 22 and later going to parties in Los Angeles, which confirmed my love for House and Disco specifically.
San Diego did play a role later on, specially attending festivals like CRSSD FEST. But the most inspiring city for me, as it relates to Never Dull music has been London. I had the chance to visit the UK for the first time in 2010, and there was something about the city that I found really inspiring. It’s a feeling that is really hard to describe but I always try to infuse that in Never Dull tracks.
Let’s get technical for a minute and talk about your musical setup. You’re a multi-instrumentalist and play quite a few instruments in your tracks. What does your studio setup look like, and, generally speaking, how do you approach making music? What’s your creative process?
Yes, I play Keyboard/Piano, Guitar, Bass, and I also sing, I don’t play live drums but I have enough understanding to produce my own beats on the computer.
For my studio set-up I like to keep it very basic. In the beginning I didn’t have much gear to work with, so that forced me to be very creative with whatever I had around at the moment. But I’ve been slowly building my studio up over time. This is what I have in my home studio at the moment:
– Ableton Live (DAW)
– Apple MacBook (Laptop)
– Apogee Duet USB Audio Interface
– Yamaha HS7 Powered Studio Monitors
– Novation Ultranova Synth
– Yamaha CP-30 Electric Piano
– Novation Launchkey (Midi/Pads Controller)
I always try to incorporate live instruments in my productions so I also have several instruments in my home studio, including an electric bass and guitar.
As far as the creative process is concerned, it always starts from an idea. I could be playing a live instrument or listening to a pre-recorded sample/loop and that can be the spark. From there I take that initial idea to Ableton Live and start building a track around it, if it feels right, I keep going until it doesn’t or is finished.
Sometimes a track is finished in a couple of hours, others can take several days/weeks, and a few may never get finished.
You’ve had a whirlwind 3-years with labels all over the world releasing your music as well as getting your first European tour under your belt. Could you tell us a few of the high points from that journey? Have there been any big milestones for you that you’ve been really pleased to achieve?
Yes, back in August 2017 when I had my first tracks, I reached out to a few labels but did not get a positive response so I decided to release my first two tracks independently (“Really Think About It” and “What Is Jazz?”). From there a couple of YouTube channels picked up the tracks and they started to generate interest from a few labels. So that lead to my first EP ‘Ruff Soul’, released by Lebanon’s Feedasoul Records in January 2018.
The first milestone came in June 2018 with the release of ‘United EP’ with Chicago’s Large Music. This was a really significant moment in my career as it elevated me to a new position within the industry. All of the sudden I was getting recognition from international DJs like Demuja, Folamour, Mark Farina, The Magician, Art of Tones, Sam Devine and many others. The lead single “United, Under One Roof” was later included as one of the ‘Top 200 Deep House Tracks of 2018’ and I was also recognized one of the ‘Top 100 Deep House Artists of 2018’ by Traxsource. I was also just made aware that my tracks have surpassed 1 million streams on Spotify. I still can’t wrap my head around this one.
Another milestone, was my first DJ tour in Europe back in July 2019. Going across the world and seeing people connect with my music and actually meeting people in person and hearing their thoughts or reactions to my music was really impactful to me, not that I didn’t know that I had fans over there, but seeing it in person was very special. Knowing that my music has a positive impact on others makes everything worth it.
While I was on tour, I also had another milestone, and that was the release of ‘Discollection EP’ with Night Shift (Spain). The 4-track EP was first release on vinyl and soon sold-out becoming the #1 Disco release on Juno Records. That got the attention of MixMag who reviewed the lead single “Love Sauce”, giving it a 9/10 and calling it a “modern banger” (2019 September Issue).
As mentioned in the article’s introduction you’ve had labels globally release your music. That must be an amazing feeling to have your music recognized so far away from home. How do you go about building them partnerships and do you attribute a portion of your success to the power of the internet?
Yes, I do, the internet has been extremely important. When I started labels didn’t want my music, so it was independent YouTube Channels like Houseum, OOUKFunkyOO, Gazz696, and Slav Sllav that really helped me get to a point where labels started to approach me to release music.
So, the power of the internet was crucial to get me where I am right now. This includes all the self-released material I was able to put out and promote using resources available on the internet. Over time I have been able to build great relationships with labels and people in the industry, which has given me amazing opportunities to continue releasing my music.,
Your latest release is with British label Midnight Riot. Could you tell me a bit about the release and tell us what to expect from the EP?
‘Inner Rhythm’ was a direct result of the success of the ‘Discollection EP’. Midnight Riot reached out and I happened to have a few disco-edits ready and they made an offer to release them and that was that. It all happened very fast.
Since the EP came out the response has been amazing, it has received support from international DJs around the world, and even a month after it was released all 3 tracks were still in the Top 100 Soul/Funk/Disco charts in Traxsource. I usually don’t expect much from my releases, but I hope the tracks from this EP find their way to many dance floors around the world.
Your upcoming self-release 'Secret Stash Vol. 3' will be out on December 6th. Could you tell a bit more about it?
Yes, this is a continuation of my ‘Secret Stash’ series, where “Got Me Good” and “Saxyness” came from (two of my more popular tracks). Initially I released the Secret Stash EPs because labels didn’t want them, but I now I try to find a balance between self-releases and labels, so this third volume is part of that strategy.
With ‘Secret Stash Vol. 3’ I am doing a different approach from ‘Discollection’ and ‘Inner Rhythm’, which were more Disco/Soul oriented. On this one I emphasize more on Soulful House Music, with more synthesized sounds, especially in the bass lines, but still having a little bit of a jazz influence.
I am also using my singing voice for the first time in my productions, especially in ‘Between Lovers’ and ‘The Breakup Song’, this is something that I will continue to do in future releases.
What’s on the horizon for Never Dull? Any more releases in the pipeline or tours planned?
2020 is shaping up to be a very productive year. I am in talks with several labels at the moment, I already have 3 EPs finished so it’s just a matter of sorting out how they come out and when. For sure there will be new music coming out in the first 3 months of the year, and I am always working on new tracks.
I am also working on booking more DJ performances, a return to Europe in the Spring/Summer is already in the works and I also have interest from promoters in Canada, USA, Mexico and South America, so definitely more touring for sure.
I feel very fortunate to be where I am right now so I’ll be working really hard to solidify my position and hopefully have a positive impact on a wider audience with my music.
Find out more about Never Dull over on his website and social media profiles.
neverdullmusic.com
instagram.com/iamneverdull
facebook.com/neverdullmusic
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