Beats4Life catches up with DJ /Producer Alix Alvarez, deeply rooted in the House scene for over a decade, Alix has worked and remixed just about everyone, he has appeared on every label in the House scene from Defected,Vega Records, Nervous, Real, Tone, Sole Channel and King Street to name a few . Born and raised in the Bronx, NYC where his love of Urban R & B and Hip Hop took him to graduate from the Institute Of Audio Research In Manhattan NY to study Sound Engineering. In 1999, Alix become assistant sound engineer at MAW (Masters at Work) studios NYC where he learned his craft from the Masters Reinventing house music by blending it with hip hop sounds. It was at MAW studio’s where he met future partner to be Mr.V .
It was not long after they formed one of the most successful monthly nights Sole Channel then going on to launch record label Sole Channel Music and to become one of the 5 Beats. Alix has gone on to release tracks such as Fayall supported by Luciano, Not To Mention feat.Nate James on MN2S, "Move" with Mr.V and "Take Care Of Me" along with Franck Roger feat.Arnold Jarvis, he has remix an array of talent such as Amy Winehouse's "Tears Dry On Their Own" Miguel Migs, Tortured Soul, James Ingram to name a few. He has produced and co wrote along Arnold Jarvis "Rising Into Joy" in 2002 and the smash hit "Da Bump" with Mr.V and Miss Patty signed to Defected in 2007. His recent work includes Shlomi Aber "Ny Dreamer" Ovum Recordings and Sasha Dive "The Jam" Deep Vibes Recordings.
Q1: Hi Alix thanks for taking your time to do the interview for beats4life, what have you been up to?
>>Busy focused on my next moves since my departure from SOLE channel music. Have a label in the pipeline. Throwing my own events in LA and Bay Area called BODYROCK. And of course working on remixes, productions for various labels, gigs etc..
Q2: Where in the world are you based?
>>Formerly based out of NYC but based currently in Los Scandalous USA (LA for those who don't know)
Q3: Can you give us an insight into your life? What is a normal day for Alix Alvarez?
>>Wake up. Wash up. Cook. Emails. Make beats. Cook some more. Make some more beats. Brainstorm. Make some beats. Sleep (if that). Repeat. I release probably less than 1/4 of the shit I actually do. People have this misperception that I don't make music unless Im releasing it which is not the case. I make music everyday. Some of it I think is cool some of it I don't. Im always my worse critique. Ive got probably 2 albums worth of unreleased material sitting on my drives.No lie. if you know me well enough you know me to be very picky with what gets released.
Q4: When did you first get into DJing and producing?
>>Ive been djing since 12 and producing professionally since 22.
Q5: What’s been your biggest achievement professionally and personally to date?
>>Cant call it. Im always trying to out do myself. Ive done and achieved more than Ive even expected on the production tip. I will say starting SOLE channel music and watching its base grow and attract real fans dedicated heads world wide was a great feat. That shit aint easy!
Q6: What should a record contain to get a Alix Alvarez seal of approval?
>>I like songs that are arranged and take you on a journey. And then I like tracks that do nothing but loop over and over for 10 minutes. It varies. But that grooves gotta be in the pocket.
Q7: : You’ve played at some of the best parties inc. Shelter what would you say is the best club you have played at?
>>Ive played at some great clubs around the world but prob the one I have most fun at with the best vibe is Moxa in Italy. Not the biggest club. But they do it the best with sound & lighting & decor. ALOT of love goes into that spot. You gotta appreciate that as a DJ. Shout out to Simone, Alex and the rest of the staff at Moxa.
Q8: What is your perception of the current situation of the music scene and the things which need to evolve:
>>I think the diversity is great. Love what Im hearing from most of the producers that are coming out. By no means am I a musical snob (well sorta) I don't care what it is as long as its good. I listen to music with an open mind. My only gripe is this hipster house going on. They're classifying it as deep house but it just aint deep house. Just a boring generic sound track for heads on K. And it really all just sounds all the same and lame. Same baselines same script. But this is a truly a disposable market we are in. Most of the music is here today gone today. Yep that fast. I think the scene is evolving at a very fast pace. Theres new producers popping up all the time. But what I do think is missing is good songwritting. Wether its writing a track or a vocal people need to step their game up in that dept. Thats part of the reason the music is so disposable. Most of it has no purpose or meaning behind it and isn't really well thought out or well put together. Like lil louis said "and copy machines spit out song after song.." He knew something was coming ;)
Q9: Besides being a renowned producer and remixer, you are also a DJ and have played all over the globe. How important is this for you?
>>Very important. You need this kind of exposure to reach potential fans and grow your base. Djing in America was never as important to me as playing overseas. I've always got more love abroad than in my own back yard to be honest.
Q10: Name your three biggest tracks of the year so far?
Burnski & Manik "You know what its like"
Lilith "Freak you" Filsonik Remix
Secret Society "Our Society"
Q11: How would you best describe/characterize the Alix Alvarez sound, how did it evolve over time?
>>I would describe my sound as both a hybrid of many styles and a progression. I cant just ever say its one thing. Because I don't just like one type of music or sound. I pretty much can stretch across the board when it comes to production. Like I have multiple personalities. I don't like to ever pigeon hole myself. I can do a bit of everything. Look at my discography and you'll clearly see that. Im a music head first and foremost. I just love making music in general. But I can guarantee you it is always moving forward and trying to find the next thing ahead. And rightfully so. You should never stay stuck doing the same thing you were doing last year or the year before. Thats how you stay stagnant and get boring and burn yourself out. I don't mind when people say my sound has changed because my goal was never to stay in the same place doing the same repetitive shit anyway. Maybe their ears just haven't caught up to my mindset.
Q12:Where do you find ideas and inspiration for your projects/productions?
>>Movies, short audio clips, speeches, noises, records, TV shows I watched growing up as a kid. It can come at anytime at any moment. Just a sound can trigger a whole audio visual spectrum for me and ill try and paint off of that.
Q13:Most Memorable moment in a crowd?
>>Franks lounge in Brooklyn NYC. E man was doing his bang that party there and invited me to play after an open turntable thing I met him at. I was so nervous that even the needle was shaking AFTER I put it on the record LOL. I was about 20 yrs old. But I got thru the set and rocked it. That was the first time Id ever play for more than 2 people (the two people being me and my mom before that lol)
Q14:Who are some of the house/producers that you are feeling right now?
>>Burnski, Huxley, Luca Bachetti, &ME, Secret Society, Delano Smith, Filsonik and myself of course ;) haha. Too many to name really but theses dudes stuff stay in my rotation of good music. I like what they're doing and always check for them.
Q15:The 5 Beat party’s are renowned to be held in Paris, London and New York how often do you all get together to hold a night?
>>Franck Roger Mr.V and myself don't get together at all to do this event anymore.
Q16:Where can we see you playing around the world in the upcoming months?
>>Barcelona Ibiza London New York Los Angeles San Francisco Costa Rica
Q17: What can we expect from Alix Alvarez in the future?
>>The Unexpected. (How cliche of me. haha)
Q18: If you could send a message to all of your fans, what would that be?
>>Thank you all for the love and support through out the years! I look forward to taking you on future journeys.
Thanks Alix all the best for the future!!!
www.facebook.com/alixalvarezmusic