We lately sat down with one of many Progressive artists with essentially the most momentum round.
As we wave 2025 goodbye, we now have one final interview for you all. And it comes from my favorite place on the earth: Argentina. For a lot of, the Land of Tango is the most well liked nation in your complete world in terms of Progressive Home. The icon himself Hernan Cattaneo comes from Argentina, and so do many unbelievable artists following swimsuit, corresponding to Ezequiel Arias, Mariano Mellino, Nathan Katz (one of our interviewees this year), and the one and solely Emi Galvan.
Emi has been part of the musical aspect of Life for a few years, initially directing his expertise at being the guitarist of a Rock band, however issues took a flip round 2017. I gained’t spoil it for you since we’ll discuss this in a while — I need you to listen to it from Emi himself. His intensive discography is backed by high-profile releases on labels like SUDBEAT and Stability, in addition to turned-viral reworks of Large Assault and Underworld (God this remix is good).
Galvan’s output usually dominates the charts, with singles like ‘Frequency Shift’ and ‘Supernova’ securing consecutive #1 spots on Beatport, and likewise reaching a really decently sized listening base that soars previous the million-user mark throughout platforms. Not unhealthy in any respect. And so, we ached for an interview with him. And Emi certain delivered.
Within the following paragraphs we dive deep into the beginnings, tales, factors of view, and a lot extra, of one of the vital promising artists of the Progressive scene in your complete world. Girls and gents, sit tight, and skim on, as we unveil the final EDMTunes interview of 2025: Emi Galvan.
The Interview
(Please word, the bolded textual content represents a query, whereas the paragraph(s) following it signify Emi’s solutions.)
Welcome, Emi, and thanks a lot for becoming a member of us. We’ve caught you at a really busy time of 12 months as you conclude an intensive South American tour that kicked off in October, possibly even earlier.
Sure, I’ve been enjoying all throughout the size and breadth of Argentina. Now, for December and January, I’ve simply come from Santiago, Chile, and I’ve a mini-tour of three exhibits in Brazil arising: December thirty first at Surreal for New Yr’s Eve, January third at a pool celebration in Camboriú, and Sunday the 4th at Supra Competition in Florianópolis. From there, we head again to Argentina for dates in Córdoba, Mar del Plata, and several other different cities.
After all, it’s important to benefit from the summer time season in Argentina; it’s peak time.
Precisely. And I additionally need to reap the benefits of the excessive season in Brazil, which is when numerous weekday exhibits pop up. I’ll go there for every week, come again to Argentina, after which head again to Brazil for an additional week. It’s nice as a result of it’s near residence and the Brazilian scene is rising a lot. Final 12 months was large for me—I had the prospect to play on the iconic Warung Membership in Itajaí. After releasing an EP on Warung Data with Albuquerque, the chance arose to do the Warung Tour throughout cities like Búzios, Cascavel, and Joaçaba.
That’s nice information concerning the Warung Tour. I had the impression that after the unique membership closed, that was it, however I see the model remains to be going sturdy.
Sure, it’s nonetheless going. From what I’ve gathered, the bodily membership closed, however the model will proceed internet hosting touring occasions all through Brazil.
Out of the crowds you’ve performed for lately, who would you say are essentially the most “hyped” or reply greatest to your sound?
I all the time say that Argentina is essentially the most enthusiastic crowd; they bring about essentially the most vitality to this style. I bear in mind once I used to hearken to Rock, worldwide bands all the time stated Argentina was among the finest international locations as a result of the group gave it their all. One thing very comparable is occurring with digital music, largely due to Hernán Cattaneo. He gave the scene an unbelievable push, creating occasions for 20,000 individuals the place many “debut” within the digital world and finally uncover different artists, maybe ending up at one among my exhibits.
Argentina is primary, certainly. However quantity two for me is Sri Lanka. It’s an island south of India, on the opposite aspect of the world, and it’s loopy as a result of the fanatical love they’ve for Progressive Home is absolute. I’ve been there a number of instances and I’m all the time stunned by the scale of the crowds and the way they dance. They’ve a very completely different tradition to Argentina, however musically, we’re on the very same wavelength.
I’ve seen movies of Sri Lanka, and sure, the vitality appears lots just like the Argentine one.
Completely. The primary time I performed within the capital, Colombo, it felt like a rock live performance. Through the first monitor—which you often play to start out issues off chill—everybody was already leaping and singing alongside as in the event that they’d recognized me perpetually. That’s once I knew I had to return. I’ve additionally constructed an important friendship with Noiyse Mission, who’s the primary DJ over there, and we’ve launched music collectively. I attempt to return yearly.
What’s tour life like for you? How do you keep away from the well-known “burnout”?
The fact is that I don’t do four-month excursions with out going residence like Rock bands do. My excursions are shorter. Through the week, I produce, obtain music, and deal with administration duties with my supervisor. If I’m enjoying in Argentina, I journey on Friday and I’ll be again residence working by Monday. This upcoming week in Brazil can be intense—possibly sleeping or consuming poorly for a number of days—however it’s quick.
That stated, for subsequent 12 months, I plan to spend all of August in Europe as a result of I’m enjoying Stability Competition in Croatia. I’ll have a full month-long tour there. In these circumstances, I attempt to do numerous sightseeing between the weekend exhibits. I really like studying concerning the native tradition and meals. It doesn’t drain me as a result of I get pleasure from it a lot.
The “vacationer” side have to be one of the vital lovely issues in a musical profession.
It was one among my goals once I determined I needed to stay off music. I began enjoying guitar in bands and ended up as a DJ, and in some methods, it labored out higher this fashion. I’m so grateful to see locations I by no means imagined, meet spectacular individuals, and receives a commission to play music on prime of that. It’s genius.
What’s on the horizon for Emi Galván in 2026?
I’ve a number of necessary releases arising. On January twenty ninth, an EP drops on Mango Alley with two originals and two remixes. And on February twentieth, a collaboration with Durante can be launched on Anjunadeep. It is going to first seem on the James Grant & Jody Wisternoff compilation and later as a part of its personal EP.
Anjuna—that’s very fascinating.
It’s a label I really like. I have a look at myself as a musician with completely different “coloration palettes” or recipes, like a chef. One path led to this monitor with Durante for Anjuna, whereas one other palette comes out via Mango Alley. It’s good to indicate completely different ideas with out shedding your id. Through the years, you handle to develop a signature sound. For example, when Hernán Cattaneo performs one among your unreleased tracks—which is without doubt one of the largest validations of high quality you will get—individuals already acknowledge sure particulars and are available as much as me asking if that ID is mine. That’s an incredible feeling.
Talking with Paul Thomas from UV, he informed me precisely that: “Emi has a really specific sound.” How would you outline your sound? What does a monitor have to “sound like Emi Galván”?
Like I discussed, earlier than digital music, I performed the guitar. I used to be closely influenced by the guitarist from the band 311, who has a really particular riff type. That affect stayed with me; my digital melodies often begin in my head as in the event that they had been guitar riffs.
On the percussive aspect, I search for a very good groove that makes you dance—possibly that’s my Latin American affect. However the primary factor is that the music should evoke an emotion: pleasure, unhappiness, nostalgia. To me, instrumental music has to take you someplace; in any other case, it has no that means.
What’s your inventive course of like? Do you want a strong concept earlier than getting into the studio, or do you sit in entrance of the gear with a clean thoughts?
In 95% of circumstances, it’s a melody that involves me whereas I’m strolling down the road, for instance. I document myself buzzing it into my cellphone’s voice notes. When it’s time to provide, I evaluate these notes; those I nonetheless like, I begin producing, and those that don’t persuade me anymore, I delete.
Is there a monitor of yours that you just maintain particularly pricey?
I believe the remix I did for Nick Warren’s ‘Freebird’ marked a brand new chapter for me. It was such a praise as a result of Nick personally reached out to ask for the remix, however it was additionally a problem. The unique was much less “membership” and extra atmospheric/breakbeat with no steady kick. Remodeling that right into a membership model that Nick would love was a feat. What got here out was a sound stuffed with melody and vitality that labored completely. It was a turning level in my profession.
Do you could have a “workhorse” monitor that’s by no means lacking out of your present units?
I’d say ‘Don’t Kill the Messenger’. It has a loopy historical past as a result of, at first, I wasn’t actually satisfied by it, however individuals began asking for it. They’d ask me why I by no means performed that monitor at my exhibits. Once I lastly performed it and noticed the response it bought stay, I confirmed the monitor was good. I realized a beneficial lesson there: the dancefloor is the final word litmus take a look at. One thing may sound nice within the studio however not work stay—and vice versa.
Completely. The opposite day at Park Dwell in Santiago, Kamilo [Sanclemente] and also you performed your remix of Underworld’s ‘Darkish & Lengthy’. To me, that monitor is a killer—the vitality is unbelievable.
That one was launched as a free obtain. Folks liked it, and it bought assist from the highest DJs within the scene. Sébastien Léger performed it at Loveland, and Man J has been enjoying it lots, too.
You talked about your time in a Rock band. At what level did you determine to depart the guitarist gig behind and commit totally to being a producer and DJ?
The turning level was when Hernán Cattaneo began enjoying my tracks. I used to be doing it as a interest whereas nonetheless in my band, however once I noticed his assist, I began producing critically. Hernán is a large window for brand spanking new artists; having a DJ of his caliber play your music is the push you want.
In 2017, one thing very loopy occurred. Not lengthy after the assist occurred, Hernán requested me for music for Sudbeat. The truth is, he needed to signal that monitor he had spun, however I had already signed it elsewhere, so he informed me to ship him extra. On the time, I used to be working full-time as a multimedia designer, sleeping little or no between the job, band rehearsals, and manufacturing. Proper as Hernán signed my monitor ‘Human’ to Sudbeat, I bought laid off from my job. It was each sign I wanted to dedicate myself 100% to this.
These are some fairly blunt alerts! Nevertheless it’s wonderful the way it all aligned.
Sure, the universe opened the trail in a little bit of a tough manner, however it was efficient. All indicators pointed towards this, however I merely didn’t have the time. I’d get up at 4:00 AM, work ten hours, spend three hours a day commuting, plus the band thrice every week… once I had a tiny little bit of time left, that’s when the digital music occurred. I virtually didn’t sleep. I wanted time, and nicely, after asking for it a lot, the universe cleared the best way.
That’s unbelievable. Now, do you’re feeling that dwelling removed from Europe or North America—”the place every part occurs”—was an impediment in your profession?
Quite the opposite. The biggest marketplace for the music I make is true right here in Argentina. If I lived in Europe and made Progressive, I’d nonetheless need to journey right here for the large exhibits. Exterior of festivals like Stability, Europe tends to have smaller Progressive occasions. Additionally, having a determine like Hernán in the identical nation is a large affect. If he produced Tech Home, for instance, Argentina can be a sea of Tech Home producers as an alternative of Progressive. It’s like soccer: we had Maradona, now we now have Messi, and that’s fixed inspiration. That’s why Argentina is the cradle of so many nice footballers as nicely.
Out of every part music has given you, what’s one thing you didn’t count on that stunned you in a great way?
What an important query. I’d say the love from the individuals. You produce since you find it irresistible, however to search out your self at a present with individuals who sincerely thanks for the second you gave them… It’s loopy. It’s not simply fandom, it’s a phenomenal vitality, a very good karma. Seeing individuals’s faces when the present ends, noticing they don’t need it to be over—that they’d have you ever play till the day after tomorrow—and so they thanks from the underside of their hearts… that stunned me and is without doubt one of the most lovely issues there may be.
Wonderful. Now, relating to the “cellphone debate”—are you for, in opposition to, or within the center? What’s your tackle cellphone use in golf equipment?
I really like the vibe of respect in digital music: asking permission, saying “thanks,” saying “sorry.” Concerning telephones, I really feel they do reduce that reference to the music and with others a bit, but when individuals are completely satisfied filming, allow them to do it. There’s a little bit of every part: the one who movies the entire present and the one who dances with out taking their cellphone out for a single second.
Thanks. And at last, for those who may journey again in time—10, 15 years, no matter you’re feeling—and meet your previous self, what would you say to that Emi?
I’d inform him to loosen up, that every part goes to be high-quality, and that every part arrives in its personal time.
Thanks a lot, Emi. It’s been a pleasure.
Thanks!
Last Phrases
Thanks so a lot Emi for the nice and cozy chat. This specific interview holds a little bit of a deep that means to me: Slightly over two years in the past, I used to be searching for music to play at a gig my buddy NEØRN and I had in Merlo, Argentina, and I bear in mind stumbling upon a loopy, CRAZY video on Instagram. There was this one man enjoying this one extremely highly effective Prog music in Sri Lanka, and the group went completely loopy. That monitor can be ‘Crabo’, and that was my introduction to Emi Galvan. Some odd 800 days later, and we’re guiding an interview collectively. Life surprises you within the best of how.
Under is the video, I scoured the web and located it. Wishing you all a contented and profitable New Yr. We’ll be again very quickly with extra interviews. Stay tuned to our page for the newest information and views from our beloved Dance nook of the world.
