Born in Lima, Peru and based in Brooklyn, NY–Kike Mayor is one of the representative names of the South American underground music scene, playing a pivotal role in Peru’s electronic music development for over a decade. His recent projects have been released on Drumma, Tzinah, Little Helpers, Inmotion Music, Baile Musik and Bondage Music. His music is supported & played by artists like Richie Hawtin, Damian Lazarus, Paco Osuna, Marco Carola, Felipe Venegas, Faster, Adrianho, Alexis Cabrera, Francisco Allendes, Someone Else & Butane, just to name a few. In 2014 Kike joined forces with rising peruvian artist “He Did” forming Saint & Don’t Music. This Vinyl & Digital record label has had a successful start with multiple releases from Sepp, Nina Soul, Jessica Diaz, Chad Andrew, Adrianho, Octave & Primarie, charting on Beatport’s Minimal Top 100 and supported by artists like: Raresh, Felipe Valenzuela, Rhadoo, Baraso & Tini.
Kike Mayor on Facebook
Tzinah Records: To start with, please, recommend us something to listen to while we go through this interview. It can be anything.
1. Thundercat – Golden Age of Apocalypse
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46jVKGGDPa0
Tzinah Records: Could you remember when and where have you felt it for the first time that you were to become a music artist?
Kike Mayor: I was very little in school when i started jamming with friends playing drums for fun, having a band, you know, the classic stuff you do when you’re into music at early age, I started recording my first tapes with music from the 90’s when i was 12 years old.
Tzinah Records: Why did you choose to create and play this particular type of music? Are there any artists that touched you deeply while developing your own style?
Kike Mayor: Is just the love for music, I feel like you never stop developing your own sound, always shaping it and improving it, i’ve been influenced by many many artists from Jazz like Herbie Hancock, Frank Zappa to House and Techno, but back in the day i’d say that Danny Tenaglia and Danny Howells were kind of my own mentors.
Tzinah Records: Please, briefly, describe for us, the current state of the underground music scene in the place you come from. Is it any good?
Kike Mayor: I’m from Lima, Peru, but i moved to Brooklyn, New York in 2013. When I left Peru the scene was already big for a South American country, I’m glad that i helped it grow pretty much since its beginnings. Here in New York, the underground scene is amazing, parties like Resolute in different venues every single weekend, Clubs like Verboten and Output included in the top 10 clubs in the world, and also, the enthusiasm brings a vibe that i’d say is unique.
Tzinah Records: Without giving out too much about your secret weapons, please tell us how does the magic work in your production routine. Software? Analog? What does your DJ set-up imply?
Kike Mayor: I wish i could articulate exactly how this happens, because honestly i’m not so sure myself. For me, I find myself sitting down in the studio at 9am and before i know it’s 7pm and i have made something that i really love and i don’t even know how i got there, like you just said, it’s magic. My dj set up: 2 turntables, 2 Cdjs & Xone 92.
Tzinah Records: What are the aspects of your daily life that are influencing the shape and sound of the music that you currently make?
Kike Mayor: Just my passion for music, creating and leaving my mark in the industry. I found in New York, inspiration that i’ve never had, my wife, my surroundings, the city, the atmosphere here is just amazing and i let all that influence me when I’m making music.
Tzinah Records: Which underground house DJ or producer would you love to take out for a summer picnic? With which artist (from any music genre) would you spend 24 hours stuck in an elevator?
Kike Mayor: I would definitely take Ion Ludwig for a Picnic! I’d spend 24 hours in an Elevator with Chino Moreno (Deftones Vocalist)
Tzinah Records: Have you already played in your most-dreamed about venue? Which one is that?
Kike Mayor: I’ve been lucky enough to have played in the places i’ve been striving to play in New york like Verboten & Output, but there’s also another places worldwide that I’m still dreaming of, Berlin & London are definitely on my bucket list!
Tzinah Records: What motivates you to be an active part of the underground movement?
Kike Mayor: I like that most of the people that goes to underground parties are people that know about music, they have music culture. My entire life i’ve been drawn towards the underground scene, that’s the kind of dj & producer that I am and that i’ll always be.
Tzinah Records: What’s your favorite type of breakfast?
Kike Mayor: Nutella belgian wafffle !
Tzinah Records: What do you do when the music is not playing?
Kike Mayor: I go to Sleep!
Tzinah Records: What’s the story behind your Tzinah Family Podcast? How did you record it and are there released or unreleased tracks?
Kike Mayor: I tried to do it very naturally, just grabbed my record bag and started playing, i made sure to include tracks that i really love and create an atmosphere with them, new stuff, old stuff from my favorite record labels.
Tzinah Records: Are there any of your plans/upcoming projects that you would like to share with us? Where can we see you play next?
Kike Mayor: Right Now I’m very focused on my record label, Saint & Don’t Music, that i run with Ricardo “He Did” and our first vinyl release. I’ll be playing Output on March for an underground party called “Strange People” alongside Jessica Diaz, then the first Saint & don’t Showcase in Brooklyn with Felipe Valenzuela, and then I’m going to Peru for a 2 week tour until April.