Satellite Voices

Santiago

Diego Morales is Diegors

November 21, 2011

The Chilean club king DJ and producer on music, inspirations and his future plans

• Text by Nico Castro

If you ever come to Santiago and you feel like having fun, Diego Morales is one of the guys that you need to find. Under his moniker Diegors, he DJs at some of the city's hottest parties (including a recent performance at the local festivals Creamfields and Primavera Fauna) with a style that mixes disco, house and techno.

An important part of the Cómeme label, Morales also came to prominence in Santiago's underground scene with his band Fredi Michel, one of those hard-to-label bands. He recently came back from a long tour in Europe and now, he's ready to focus on some of his unfinished songs. We spoke about music inspirations and preparing for his exclusive On Air mix for Satellite Voices, that will be released in December.

Satellite Voices: How did you get involved in electronic music and DJing?
Diegors: Since I was very little, I used to imitate my favourite artists with toy guitars or drums that I made with cushions. I also sang folk songs with my Dad. After that, as a teenager, I played guitar and drums in indie punk bands, always self-taught. I started with electronic music when I got my first keyboard and effect pedal, and I recorded cassettes. Then I got a computer and I got into software. My DJ career started basically as a game, but slowly I started taking it more seriously when I got more invitations from parties and bars.

SV: How did you get into Cómeme label?
Diegors: I met Matías Aguayo and Gary Pimiento (the label founders) in Chile and Argentina, respectively. We hit it off right away and then we became friends. After that I realised that they were also friends and they were working together in their BumBumBox street parties, where I participated when they got to Chile. Cómeme was born after these experiences and collaborations between friends all around the world. So it was kind of a natural process between friends.

SV: Lately we've seen you more as a DJ. How are your own productions?
Diegors: This year I released my first 12'' via Cómeme called "Sacándose Uno" and also the "Chilean Pop" compilation, in which I participated in almost every track, in my own band Fredi Michel or remixing other Chilean artists. Besides, I'm always working in music - I have a lot of songs waiting to be done. When that happens, they will probably be new releases.

SV: How can you evaluate the present of electronic music in Chile?
Diegors: I think that little by little there's more movement, besides the typical scenes. I believe that there's this small circuit of people that is willing to hear and dance music that's far from the stereotypes, which improves the environment and motivates the DJs to be more creative. We're still lacking good infrastructure and sound in clubs, as well as a music culture in general that can be later reflected in the respect of the artists' work.

SV: Can you name us five songs that you cannot stop playing in your sets at the moment?
Diegors: Bobby Konders "Nervous Acid"; Lucio Battisti "Ancora Tu"; Johnny Dangerous "King of Clubs"; Rebolledo "Canibalón"; and Phillipp Gorvachev "Montana Blues".

SV: What are your future plans?
Diegors: Just keep making music and trying to give people momentos of joy, craziness, relief, tolerance and respect through my DJ sets.

SV: What other local artists would you like to recommend?
Diegors: Fredi Michel, Javiera Mena, Mostro, DJ Xtralarge, Midiset, Sanfuentes, Román, Mamacita, MKRNI, Nawitón, Andrea Paz, Vale Montalvo, Sofía Oportot, Dany Dorado and many others. And Chileans based abroad Matías Aguayo, Gary Rock, Alejandro Paz and C.A. Ramírez.