Barcelona-based DJ and producer Izan Cramer adds Combine Audio to his catalogue next month, following up on previous releases for techno-focused imprints like Induxtriall Records and Xelima Records.
The release comes in the form of his 11-track ‘Barcelona Metropolitan Sound’ LP, which merges five original productions from Izan with remix work from names like Paula Cazenave and Michel Lauriola.
We had a brief chat with the Spanish artist to talk about how the album came together, what else we might expect to hear from him in the near future, and his thoughts on the Barcelona club scene.
How are things in the life of Izan Cramer right now?
Good, very good, thank you. I’ve put in a lot of work and have a great desire to take things to the dance floor. Soon we will start touring my new ‘Barcelona Metropolitan Sound’ LP, and I’m very happy with what I have ahead of me in the coming months.
You’re about to debut on Combine Audio with your ‘Barcelona Metropolitan Sound’ LP – talk us through the five originals on this one?
The album was conceived as a kind of two-part package, perfect for elevating you and it was also a prime chance to gather an awesome combination of artists together. The five original tracks are very clean and danceable to purposely counteract the nonsense of high BPMs and rawness that we live with today.
And it also includes six different remixes, how did the project come to include so many edits?
Initially the LP was going to be ten original songs but as I showed my work to different artist’s they wanted to do their bit, so the concept naturally changed along the way. We decided to make it a package of five originals and five remixes, but the boss Paula Cazenave was so happy with her remix that she decided to make two amazing versions, and that just seemed to work really well.
Which other labels might we see you release on in the near future?
I appreciate this question, but I don’t like to talk about things that should still be in the shadows. I would advise that if you like my music, please follow my feeds because this year I’m going to release a lot of music and I’m going to be in different places across Europe.
You’ve also released music with Induxtriall Records and Xelima Records in the past, what kind of things do you look for in a potential label partnership?
The reason I decided to release music through these labels is the intimate relationship I have with the label owners. Xelima is a label that releases a lot of music that’s varied and of high quality, which I really appreciated. Where Induxtriall for example, gave me the unique opportunity to release my craziest, darkest, and most broken ideas, so I couldn’t say no.
What’s something you absolutely love about the Barcelona club scene?
I think what I like most is that the great parties are hidden in the small clubs. The city is a never-ending labyrinth of alleys where you can find corners of sound for no more than 200 people, and for me, that is the secret of Barcelona.
And something you don’t like?
The scene is also sectarian due to these smaller clubs and they rarely value the city’s DJs and producers or people who don’t have much experience, but spaces seem to be occupied by those who are popular in the nightlife scene, because they are rarely at home for example.
Is there anything else you want to mention before we go?
I want to send a message to people who are starting out as it can be very difficult to break through and have the impact you hope for, or even gain substantial traction. There are no impossible dreams, keep fighting for your goals and stay studious, you will get where you want to go in the end.
Thanks for inviting me for a chat and I can’t wait for everyone to check out ‘Barcelona Metropolitan Sound’, which also features remixes from Paula Cazenave, Michel Lauriola, Fran LF, Israel Toledo, and Finalversion3.
Izan Cramer – Barcelona Metropolitan Sound LP is out May 10th on Combine Audio.