Techno may have been born in late-'80s Detroit, but its seeds sprouted all over the planet. In Spain, techno took hold of a young Paco Osuna, who would go on to become one of his country's foremost ambassadors.
It helps that by his early 20s, Osuna was already a resident DJ at Amnesia, the legendary Ibiza nightclub, and ground zero for Balearic beat and the island's techno tourism explosion. But Osuna would also come back full-circle to meet his original Detroit techno inspirations, joining the elite artist roster on Richie Hawtin's seminal Motor City-based Plus 8 and Minus imprints.
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Fast-forward to 2013 and Paco Osuna is one of the biggest techno DJs on the global scene -- big enough to get main-stage prime time in front of thousands at Barcelona's annual Sonar Music Festival last week.
Fresh off his Sonar week gigs, and ahead of a headlining performance at Story on Saturday, Crossfade caught up with Mr. Osuna himself to chat about the festival, the scene in Barcelona, and his Mindshake label.
Crossfade: What's been going on with you this year? How do you feel your sound has evolved since you first started making music?
Paco Osuna: My calendar is superbusy and I don't have much time to work in the studio, so this year I am mostly focusing on my DJ sets. I have developed a much clearer and defined sound since I first started DJing. And right now, I really love sharing music with the crowd. I feel much more secure, comfortable, and able to play in different places and countries than I ever have before. And I am enjoying taking some risks.
Does the dance music scene in Barcelona have its own unique flavor and vibe? Or is it miming the action over in Ibiza and the Balearic islands? What are your favorite things about being a DJ in Barcelona?
The scene in Barcelona is always unique and different, at least from the rest of the cities in Spain. The sound there is more underground, and has its own personality. I cannot compare it to any other city. The thing I like most about DJing in Barcelona is that I feel free to play what I want -- anything from deep to mainstream.
