Figu Ds is part of the new generation of Chilean DJs. I first came into contact with Figu when he was still in Chile, in about 2008, when he featured an interview and exclusive guest mix of mine (then under the name Khemlab) on his radio show for Santiago Radio. Since then, Figu has made some serious moves in the dance music scene. Re-locating to Italy, and spending a lot of time in Berlin, Figu has put out original tracks and remixes as part of 16 different releases since 2011, working primarily with 7Stars Music out of Amsterdam; this has meant remixing up-and-coming techno names such as Alexander Fog and Mickey Destro. I caught up with him briefly as he prepares for the launch of his latest project – EUN Records, part of The EUN Project, his means to making major changes in the dance music world.
JN: First, to introduce yourself to our readers, tell us a bit about yourself; how did you get to be in Italy, launching your own record label
Figu Ds: Well I’m Cristhian Ferrufino best known on the scene as Figu Ds. I’m a Chilean DJ Producer, Tech Geek, Entrepreneur and Internet Visionary as some people defines me. But I’d rather consider myself a very passioned and eclectic guy. In August of 2009, I left South America in order to follow the person that till these days is always right by my side, As you can suppose she’s Italian, so that’s why we’re now living in Italy – specifically in Verona, but moving back and forward to Berlin too. The dream of the label came out as a part of a more complex project that we’re working out, “Entertainment United Network Project” which I’ll try to explain more in detail later. I’ve been working on the concept of EUN since the winter 2010 and today I’m happy to see that a big part of the project is moving forward with the lunch of EUN Records, which is a vital element on all the system.
JN: May 1st this project, EUN Records launches. Tell us a little bit about your plans with the label. What drove you to start the EUN Project and EUN Records?
Figu Ds: Indeed as I tell you before EUN Records is embedded on what is aimed to be EUN Project, which if everything goes well will be an independent platform for artistic projects related with the electronic music.
Since is a little bit complex let me explain you a process of a record or release which is where EUN Records takes active part. For a well programed release you need some certain elements: a very important material “the tracks”, a really creative cover art (which on these days is very important), some other promotional material such as high quality promo videos, graphics, eventually a full video of each track of the release and so on. Each part of the creative process of a release needs some very talented artists.
Then you have all this areas to deal with as you go in detail you need a great producer which is the one to create the release; maybe some remixers too, then the work goes on and on to finish in this huge pack of talents put all together. Then you upload all the material on the internet and you expect to sell it and reach the top chart.
But what if you involve a whole community on the creative process? What if you let the new talented artist of today reflect their art on something real that gives the right value and appreciation on what they have done? Then you start to realize that an ecosystem like this is not quite common to find all together. The creative process goes further on to the development of parties with very interesting concepts and you see that the perfect pivot to manage all these could be a Record Label, that is sort of the engine of all these process and sub systems and makes sense on all these. Then you have EUN Project that supports all these creative process now on an experimental face but soon thanks to all the technologies that we have under disposition will let people be part of the whole.
EUN RECORDS is that – it is an engine of a creative process in that we where planning for months the structure and concept of the label, analyzing and taking care of each part of these process which we finally see these coming to life May 1st.
JN: How is EUN different from other labels? What is its niche? What kind of sound can we expect?
Figu Ds: EUN I’m not so sure if is different, I’d rather let the people decide that, but we most sure indeed that take care and put high quality on every detail. We’re expecting to reach the same people further in the future. We expect to work with the young talents out there, so in that matter we decided to focus on some styles, which are Techno, Minimal and Tech House. So far the artists that we decided to work with are the best on their styles – and by the best I’m not telling that they’re always on the top ten or such a thing, but we considered that their sound to have the power and innovation that we are looking for on each release; A mix of something different, with something classic. On the first release you will find a short description of what is coming later on the label. Not just a release, but a history within from each artist to our fans.
JN: Tell us a bit about the artists and remixes on your first release, Paranaue.
Figu Ds: Paranaue is a project that starts last summer. I created it after I saw some videos and documentaries about the history of capoeira in Brazil, from the beginning to the worldwide influence that it has now. What I was trying to tell on these EP is that history to the people – as each one of my releases are part of my life and experience itself these one is no exception, and by that I was trying to find the perfect combination of talents to work with on the remixes. Karan Luthra, Point Zero, Mickey Destro, John Norman and Phan Persie, all coming from different parts of the globe all telling that history as their point of view, couldn’t make of this EP any better that it is. I’m really happy that we find the perfect balance with all the tracks, which now I can tell that really drive you on a trip of exotic sound and deep emotions.
JN: Where do you see the EUN Project in 5 years? What is your perfect scenario?
Figu Ds: I’m most sure can’t really tell you where I see these EUN Project but what I can most definitely can tell you is that we will move people and we will try to wake up their emotions and inspire them to create something worth to remain in time, and by that also doing all our social activism promoting good causes and fair Partyvism as I like to call it.
JN: Thanks for doing this interview. Any final words for our readers?
Figu Ds: Prepare to join us and be an active Partyvist
LINKS:
Paranaue Promo Video:
Figu Ds Links:
website: http://www.figuds.com
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Official.FiguDs
twitter: http://www.twitter.com/figuds
soundcloud: http://www.soundcloud.com/figuds
vimeo: http://www.vimeo.com/figuds
EUN Records Links
Website: http://www.eunrecords.com
Beatport: http://www.beatport.com/label/eun-records/25699
Soundcloud: http://www.soundcloud.com/eun
RA: http://www.residentadvisor.net/record-label.aspx?id=6097
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/EunRecords
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EunRecords