Sines and Panchitron, the two DJs/producers that make up Santa Muerte, are both veterans of Houston, Texas’ underground club scene. Sines has been running the Freshmore label for a few years now, releasing forward-thinking, bass-heavy dance tracks, and after a chance meeting with Panchitron at a party the two formed Santa Muerte to as an outlet for their dembow, grime, ballroom, and club music abstractions.

Having built a reputation around their fiery bootlegs, which have been belted at parties from NYC’s GHE20G0TH1K to London’s Bala Club, Santa Muerte are now readying their first EP of original material. Released via their own label Majía, the Oraciónes EP features collaborations with NYC’s El Blanco Nino, French producer Douster (as King Doudou), and New Jersey’s DJ Kala, backed by a remix from IMAABS of South American collective NAAFI.

Santa Muerte describe their Dazed Mix as a preview of their new label. “This mix is a lot of the music and the artists we are feeling at the moment,” Santa Muerte explain over email, speaking as a collective rather than individually. “The sound and aesthetic is the framework for what we will bringing with Majía. You’ll even get to hear some new stuff from us as well.”

Take a listen to below and read on to get to know Santa Muerte.

How did you guys meet?

Santa Muerte: We met briefly at a party in Houston, and we been cool ever since. When we decided to begin Santa Muerte we had our individual projects going on – we had talked about working on music, but we just got pulled in different directions. One day we said we needed to create something new and leave our individual projects aside. We worked on music for a weekend, locked in a room, just bouncing ideas off each other and applying them to music. Part of why we been able to accomplish is the respect we have for each other: we don’t agree with everything, but we have the trust to be able to talk and present our views and apply them to this project.

Why ‘Santa Muerte’?

Santa Muerte: It has different meanings. We choose it because we identify with La Santísima, how much misunderstanding it goes through. We are misfits in our own city, just how she is in the Christian realm. We also choose the name because it’s a strong female identity – we have both been shaped by strong, independent and spiritual women just like Santa Muerte. Third, we wanted a name that would impact and bring all sorts of emotions and sensations before we even pressed play in a performance. We want to bring theatrics to the dancefloor, and we do it by presenting music from all around the world that will make you have a roller coaster of emotions.

“We want to bring theatrics to the dancefloor” — Santa Muerte

What would we expect to hear in a typical Santa Muerte set?

Santa Muerte: Well, that’s is a bit hard to explain. It really is how we feel before we get on stage. We’ve been in situations where we arrive to the show excited and full of joy, and it shows in our sets. Or we’ve been in shows where we don’t feel connected with the audience and we just play angry and loud music. We want people to feel what we project! We play dembow, grime, country, rap tunes, club music. We are those genres, so we plan on placing them in our sets no matter what.

Tell us about some of your biggest inspirations.

Santa Muerte: We have several, but we can say that we are the children of Wisin & Yandel and UGK. We take from those supergroups. We see how they are successful on their own and as a group. Wisin & Yandel have been strong in the game; it’s an emotional attachment to them because they work extremely hard and have opened doors for Latin artists. UGK are our hometown heroes! Bun B and Pimp C have paved the way for Houston artists and producers. Most people don’t know that Pimp C was a producer and played instruments. UGK has put us in a hustle state of mind; we’re constantly working and collaborating with artist from around the globe. We also look up to peers who are constantly working hard in pushing the boundaries in music such as N.A.A.F.I., NON, and GHE20GOTH1K.

“Houston also has oil money, so you see that in the lifestyle” — Santa Muerte

What’s the relationship between Houston and your music?

Santa Muerte: We are in a weird space with Houston. In Houston it’s hard to find a great spot to listen to new music and not be in a room full of bros or assholes. The best places breaking new music are strip clubs, so that’s the avenue to be engaged with new sounds. Houston also has oil money, so you see that in the lifestyle – most clubs in the city are driven by pretentious attire and bottle service crowds. Houston will program you to go out and hustle outside of the city. We do have great artists, such as Dice Soho and Trill Sammy, Sauce Twinz, and Beatking on rap; Rabit is a good friend who is constantly putting out great music. We just stay in our own realm.

Why did you decide to launch a label?

Santa Muerte: The label idea came about while hanging out with Tomas and Lao from NAAFI in Mexico City. We were brainstorming the path the Santa Muerte release should take and we came to the conclusion to begin a micro-label. We began this label thinking on the end product: we decided to have a life expectancy of 12 releases. Making this a micro-label with a limited amount of releases makes you focus on the quality of the release. We don’t want to be a machine and regurgitate music; we’re looking to present a true and honest statement of the artist. We want to give the voice to each artist. We take a lot from our brothers at NAAFI and NON; they’ve been extremely successful staying true to the format they have chosen and helped each artist they’re involved in.

“Making this a micro-label with a limited amount of releases makes you focus on the quality of the release. We don’t want to be a machine and regurgitate music” — Santa Muerte

What’s the meaning behind ‘Majía’?

Santa Muerte: ‘Majía’ is Magic – we are heavily influenced in by Tarot. The name is an ode to the Tarot and its mysticism and rich history. We want to identify each release with a Tarot card; not a theme, but more a synergy of the music and the powers it may attract. We are firm believers in energy and the constant battle of good and evil, and that will be presented in our releases.

TRACKLIST:

01. Rules & Endgame – “Longing Riddim”
02. Wildlife! – “N° 007”
03. Celestial Trax – “Secrets”
04. GIL – “Scream”
05. GAIKA – “PVMD” (feat. Mista Silva)
06. Rizzla – “Airlock” (SHALT edit)
07. Santa Muerte x CREEPSIDE – “Y-Riddim”
08. Famous Eno – “Jaws Riddim”
09. NKC – “BTD150”
10. NA x Young Thug – “Definite Slime Season” (Santa Muerte edit)
11. MM – “Quick Bubbling Tool”
12. Toxe x Plan B – “Anim/Frikitona” (Trendy Decay blend)
13. Santa Muerte & Kala – “TAK” (Imaabs remix)
14. RESLA – “CUCURRUCUCU”
15. Loyalty XIX – “Synobazz”
16. Beyoncé – “Sorry” (Fantasy Thrilla Far Away edit)

Majía release Santa Muerte’s Oraciónes EP on June 20