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For the feature My First Gig in 2015 I had a chat with two of my personal heroes, the Spanish DJs/producers Chus and Ceballos: "We are positive people."
“Our first gig playing together was in Porto, Portugal, at a club called Sound Planet. We were 25 and 21 years old. Of course we were pretty nervous for that gig. And we are still always nervous, it keeps us young!”
Educated crowd
“Portugal has always been known for having a very educated crowd. The Portugese are true lovers of house music. We did not prepare the set at home. In those days Chus had much more DJ-experience than Ceballos, so we just started playing our own productions and went along the vibe. It was indeed a really good experience.”
Thirteen-year old daughter
Chus: “Sure we had support at that first gig. A few friends were present. These days I’m happily married and have a thirteen-year old daughter. My wife and my child are my biggest supporters.” Ceballos: “Family and friends are very important to me as well.” Chus laughs: “And I’m sure that one of Pablo’s girlfriends were present, that first time.”
Danny Tenaglia
“Did we have a mentor? Yes, we did: the one and only Danny Tenaglia. In 2003 Danny invited us to play at his club in New York. And while we’re on the subject: that was our official debut in the United States.”
Easy
“That first gig went very easy, because we had so much stuff of our own, plenty of test pressings and promos from our label Stereo Productions. In the end we just had fun playing the music we love! We didn’t make big mistakes, nothing crazy, I guess. In retrospective we were super happy – we are very positive people!”
“That first night playing together we learned that there are two essential moments in your DJ-set: the way you start, so the first track you play, and how you end, so the very last track you chose! If you select them well, everybody will remember your set!”
This interview with Chus and Ceballos was originally published on DJMag.nl on July 23d 2015.
Who are Chus and Ceballos?
Undoubtedly, Chus and Ceballos are the most solid, professional pair of Djs/producers from Spain. Hailed worldwide for their excellent production works, including official remixes for world-renowned artists like Madonna, they display a remarkable versatility enabling Chus and Ceballos to play in small clubs to life-size festivals. Their marathon DJ sets capture their genuine Iberican character, while their blend of styles between House and Techno lie in perfect harmony, accentuating the unmistakable beat of the percussions.
Throughout the past decade, Chus and Ceballos have been the pioneers and creators of the underground movement known as ‘Iberican Sound’. This resulted in the prologue to an important saga for artists and producers, who have chosen Tribal as their way of life. Their evolution throughout the past years has led them to the pinnacle of the global music scene.
All these years of hard work, absolute dedication, undisputed professionalism and a constant evolution in sounds have led this infallible duo to the summit of success, bringing Chus and Ceballos to securing residencies at the best clubs around the globe; Pacha New York, Space Miami, Stereo Montreal, Ageha Tokyo, and many others. Chus and Ceballos represent an invaluable legacy of sound, where their blend of styles is their dogma and the quality their message.