In Fokus: Rawa Club
Rawa Club is Dj Hidrataccioni (Mexico City) and Guacha Sabelo (Uruguay).
Based in Seville, Spain they’re owning the sounds and frequencies of the Latin American diaspora now happening in Andalucia. They first graced our ears in 2021 and then we met IRL on a trip to Spain some months ago. From across the world we’ve been admiring the fun, yet ambitious ways they both deliver classic club sounds with hyper-future deconstructed fervor to what’s usually considered Sevilla’s sleepy club scene.
What we admire about these queens is they came from lands far away to a city that is at times, very formal, beautifully catholic and moves at a slow pace. They landed and built a community fueled by passion and a love for music. Basically - they came to Seville and really fucked some shit up for the kids. We’re so happy these two earthlings exist and at Fokus we’re learning so much from them.
These two work super hard to wake up a city that culturally and spiritually owns our hearts - one that is as culturally important as Madrid and Barcelona. Oh, and if they’re latest compilation doesn’t alter your brain chemistry are you really a true HEAD? - okay we’ll shut up now and let them do the talking.
Where in the world is Rawa Club and where they going?
We are in a really good place right now; before the pandemic we had a lot of plans and ideas that had to be stopped because of the situation and we are finally seeing those ideas and plans materialized and become bigger things. Rawa comes from the latinamerican diaspora in the south of Europe and our main goal is to continue exploring that cultural exchange of which we are an example.
How did you two meet?
We met almost 5 years ago here in Sevilla, through a party collective and promoter called OMC Live, we were both members of that but it was not until 2019 that Rawa was born because we got offered a monthly night at a local club. The booker of the club told us to find a concept and a name and that was the origin of our project.
What’s the inspiration behind this set? Where was your headspace here --- cuz it’s Puro electro futuro feisty AS FUCK!
We always try to combine a classic club sound palette with the sonic universes of latinamerican sounds. For this set we wanted to make something very strong and representative, focusing on hard tracks, fast BPMs, and heavy drums, trying to create an evolution within the set and avoiding monotony. We really hope FOKUS and new yorkers like it !!
Why did you decide to start a label?
We wouldn’t define ourselves as a label (yet), we believe we’re more an art-platform/collective. Our main interest is curating and promoting the music and culture we like so that’s why “Compilado Vol.1” was born. We wanted to connect andalusian and latin scenes, make exchanges between the artists/labels/projects that surround us in both places.
Tell us about the concepts behind your tracks/music projects or something that’s inspiring you to work on your own music frequencies.
What interests us most is all the notions around deconstructing typical club sound, to show all those currents that are rising globally. We think the most interesting, valuable and avant-garde scenes are born out of the global peripheries, we want to create links and communities with all those artists/labels/projects that inspire our work and give it a meaning. In my personal case (Dj Hidrataccioni) as a “producer”, the silly little tracks I make are my way to pay homage to all the sounds that are part of my life.
Where do you see the future of DJing? And where do you want it to take you into the future? The metaverse? Streams? Etc.?
We like that there’s a growing interest and respect towards DJ and club culture, that more and more people get dragged into it because this helps create more inclusive spaces that resist at the edges of hegemonic industry. Besides, the impulse of social media and digital streaming platforms during the pandemic has diversified the ways we consume music, making us more aware of the complex steps of artistic creation.
In our particular case we also like a lot making things outside night culture. We are involved in cultural and social projects in our neighborhoods; teaching music production and DJing to young kids and teenagers, something that can have a very positive impact in their lives and in their futures. It sounds cliché but we firmly think that all of this knowledge can help them expand their universes and see the world from a different perspective.
Describe a moment / club night / party / that made you want to become a DJ/Producer or devote yourself to music.
Guacha Sabelo: My approach to electronic music started a little bit late, about the time I moved to Sevilla, because in Montevideo the scene began to flourish just when I left, besides at that time I was moving through other disciplines. Being immersed in Sevilla’s club scene, I got interested in DJing because I wanted to play the genres and sounds that I was most attracted to but couldn’t find in the local electronic scene.
Dj Hidrataccioni: My case was fully the opposite, I started going out way too young in Mexico City. I had a fake ID when I was 16 and went to techno parties and clubs to hear international artists like Brodinski, Myd, Louisahhh, Gesaffelstein, Break Bot, Busy P and all of the french electro and house scene. I fell in love with electronic music and a show that definitely changed my view on it was one time NAAFI was throwing an afternoon party at Museo Jumex, it was super shocking (in the good way) seeing avowed DJ’s such as Zut Zut, Lao, Dj Blass or Dj Beckman spin that futuristic reggaeton in a contemporary arts museum. That’s when I realized that I wanted to do something like that, it definitely changed my thoughts on club and DJ culture.
Favorite tracks at the moment - or of all time?
Really hard question but lets try!
Guacha Sabelo: “Vamo a Hacerlo” by Nafftero, it was released in an amazing compilation by Argentinian netlabel Santa Sede. Also “Hasta Que Salga El Sol” by Marcos, who I have followed since he started producing and I’m so amazed of seeing his evolution and presence in the Argentinian and Latin American scene.
Dj Hidrataccioni: I’ve been really obsessed with Nick León’s & Bitter Babe’s remix of “Fuego” by Isabella Lovestory & Florentino, that trance-guaracha bassline just hits hard. Also Rapid Antics’ homonym EP goes very hard (I think they’re both in this set). As an all time classic I would say Osmosis by Imaabs and Petrolera by Tayhana, always sets the dance floor on fire.
Favorite DJ and/or producers capturing your heart RIGHT NOW?
All of our lovely artists involved in Compilado Vol. 1 <3
Some personal favorites are;
Guacha Sabelo: João Lagrima de Ouro, Dj Delish, El Plvybxy, Ojosfinos, Alptrack, Europa, DJ BA$$AN, BE3K, the list could go on forever so I’ll stop here.
Dj Hidrataccioni: Dj Fucci, INVT, Monkey Junkie Funky, Viian, Tim Karbon, El Irreal Veintiuno, TTRRAACCAA and many more!
What is the genre/scene/city/artist that you feel is underrated and needs more hype/awareness?
Thinking quickly and without knowing what’s happening in every corner of the globe we would say that the Portuguese scene is very underrated globally. In Lisbon and Porto there are labels as Principe Discos or XXIII making amazing stuff, also DJs and producers like Ecstasya, Saint Caboclo & King Kami deserve to sound more in European and international clubs. Also a lot of international festivals go to Portugal but then they just book the same American, German or British artists instead of supporting the local scene.
We also think about the Chilean scene.
We know there’s so many amazing producers, DJs and collectives in Chile but due to lack of interest of the general public or economic reasons they have to build they’re scene in other Latin American countries.
Collectives such as Martirio and artists like MALO2K, Serial Tila, Imaabs or MAGA have such amazing avant-garde crazy ideas.
What’s special about Sevilla you think the world should know about?
In Andalusia in general there’s so many fresh and interesting proposals that try at the same time to connect with their roots and heritage. We dare to say that throughout history most of the big Spanish talents (painting, film, literature, arts, music) came from Andalusia! It makes us very mad that we have to live under the shadow of Madrid or Barcelona, and that all the creative people have to leave their homes to look for opportunities in the big cities. Besides that Seville is a wonderful city to live in, it has a lot of good things to offer and its culture and people are very close to our culture as Latin Americans.
Describe your creative process and how you approach sets or tracks:
When we have to record a set we usually say: “which BPMs do we wanna start from? What tone or style do we want it to have?” We play a lot of different genres so sometimes we want to emphasize more a style than another, but at the end there’s always variety. We complement each other very well and usually don’t prepare things by the book, we just start playing and going with the flow. Then individually we both dig into Bandcamp and Soundcloud.
Dj Hidrataccioni: When I make my own tracks I really don’t know what my process is, I usually start with the rhythmic pattern, it’s easier for me to build drums than melodies so when I have the beat that I like i try to make a melody that kinda fits. Sometimes it’s hard because I consider myself really an amateur producer so most of the time I don’t know how to materialize the ideas in my head so I just build up random things until I like something.
Labels that are a go-to must-have in your DJ arsenal?
There’s always some Hiedrah, NAAFI, AGVA, Haus of Altr, WVWV, Salviatek, HTS, Hypersonics, XXIII, Subreal, Putivuelta, Trax Haven, Maloca, Majia, Soulfeeder, Sacrilejio, Classical Trax, Nyege Nyege Tapes, Her Records, Physically Sick, Principe Discos and so many more!
Name some of the tracks that consistently inspire you to do better and just...well, get you through a bad day.
Dj Hidrataccioni: I really love DJ Python and Dinamarca, they give me such calming heavenly vibes. Also Aggromance gets me every time, I love the contrast in his music, it can be so crazy and violent or super calm and loving. It’s very human and sentimental.
Guacha Sabelo: any track from Kelman Duran, he’s an artist that has been with me since my beginnings, I can enjoy his music on the dance floor or just laying on the couch. Also Byrell The Great because I really love ballroom, it’s a sound I try to incorporate in my dj sets, I’m glad it’s a genre that luckily has more and more followers around here.
If you had any superpowers it would be:
Guacha Sabelo: annihilate capitalism and to teleport to Uruguay whenever I want.
Dj Hidrataccioni: controlling time and turning into a dachshund dog whenever I want hahahah.
Your fullest expression of love is?
Wow, we weren't ready for such a philosophical question.
Dj Hidrataccioni: I would have to say spooning my little sausage dog Lilu, at the end of each day when I’m laying in bed with her it seems like all the trouble and bad things go away.
Guacha Sabelo: Wine, fainá and cumbias with my Uruguay friends. Also my mothers puchero for the day after.
What is the best piece of advice you could give to a DJ / Producer just starting out?
Well we think the most important thing is to not be a people pleaser, don’t let anyone tell you what to do. It’s important to go against the flow and play what you really like, there’s a lot of people playing the same music, if you play what you want and do it by heart this will reflect in your work. Also dedicate time and practice to what you want to do regardless of the technical means you have.
Dj Hidrataccioni: I’ve been a DJ for almost 5 years now and haven’t owned any equipment ever and I don’t think I ever will With patience and hard work you’ll see the result of your achievements.
