In conversation with: Lumière
We go over the background, Style choices and favourite picks of the Barcelona Underground rising star
I always thought Lumière’s mixes have something quite indescribable and special to them. The Argentinian DJ is not afraid to push into unexplored territory, while at the same time keeping a strong sense of her style and building on a solid groove flow rather than freely jumping from one style to the other. The records she plays are often very raw, hitting the in-betweens of underground house realms with rawer electro and techno. As I was just listening to her new ‘Fuoriorario’ mix as I was wrapping up this interview to publish, I got one more piece of proof of how special is the way the records are picked and lined up in her work.
Recent, post-covid times saw the start of her new event series in Barcelona, Cymatix, together with Portuguese selector Anah. With this project, introduced as a forward-thinking music platform, the two have been planning events in Barcelona that are inviting international guests as well as spotlighting local talent. We are very happy to share this interview with Lumière with Guerrilla Bizarre, exploring her musical roots in Argentina, the evolution of her selection style, and the overall music journey which is bringing her selections to the next level in the worldwide underground.
Lumière
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Lumière 〰️
This year finally saw you touring intensively after all the hardships of the past years. What are some of your gig highlights from 2022?
Undoubtedly, the start of Cymatix was one of the most important aspects of this year. Although we started to develop it during 2021, it had more significance in this one. It is a series of events with residency in Les Enfants where my partner Anah and I show our passion and taste for music by inviting other artists and also highlighting new local talents. Another epic moment was the weekend of the off-sonar, every party I played at.
Fabric was also a great experience and the most recent of Loud Contact with Detroit in Effect because I let myself be carried away by other styles that I usually don't put on but I love them. Actually, this whole year at a professional level was very good and full of rewarding experiences with music. I feel very lucky.
What can you tell us about the Barcelona scene specifically at this moment? What's exciting in the city and how did it change in recent years?
The scene in Barcelona at the moment is very varied. There are many interesting groups with new proposals, we also premiered Les Enfants Brillants, a club in the downtown area, where we have a residence with Cymatix. Not to mention that there are excellent record stores, making the scene grow even more. Barcelona is overflowing with music, although it is not such a big city but it must be acknowledged that it is full of very good artists.
“I don't consider myself just a style, in short, I like good music no matter what style it is... I will always find the time to put it on.”
Could you tell us a bit more about your upbringing in Argentina? Which genres did you use to listen to growing up and how do you think they influenced you as a DJ?
Since I can remember, all my memories are with music. I remember being a little girl putting on and listening to my father's collection of cassettes. It was my favorite game, I grew up listening to Argentine rock artists such as my idol Charly Garcia, Spinetta, Sumo, Virus to name a few, which I still put on again and again. I also liked Queen a lot. Then when I started going to school I started with musical activities such as choir, singing classes, instruments, I even formed my own band with some schoolmates, we made covers and some of our own songs. Even older, I traveled through other styles and genres until I got to electronic club music. Perhaps this influenced me through a particular instrument that I am now looking for in the music that I like as dry drums, prominent and electric basses, now I am putting a lot of electro techno from 2000/2007 precisely because it sounds like rock.
I don't consider myself just a style, in short, I like good music no matter what style it is... I will always find the time to put it on.
When did you start to DJ and why?
I’ve become a DJ in Barcelona. I started collecting vinyl in 2014, when I saw all my friends mixing with turntables I saw something beautiful! In 2015 I started learning to mix alone because I was very shy and I didn't want anyone to see me until I met Isabella and she pushed me to really do it. I started playing with Isa in Mistress that was done at Macarena Club and from there everything evolved naturally until nowadays .
You have a DJ career spanning from the time you were in Argentina to over a decade now in Barcelona and intense touring worldwide. How do you feel your selection and DJing style changed?
I started with house and breaks… Then I became more oriented to electro and techno. I don't know if my selection has changed much more than that, I would say more that I was adapting through time and needs, finding other sounds to be able to cover different moments of a set. A warm-up is not the same as a central or closing slot, as it is not the same playing during the day or night for me. Maybe now I understand more what music to play according to the moment.
“A warm-up is not the same as a central or closing slot, as it is not the same playing during the day or night for me”
How do you currently dig for new music? Could you tell us about one or more special labels you discovered recently?
Since 2020, I have been buying music only in stores in Barcelona, both new and second-hand. It's amazing how much good music there is in this city, I'm fascinated. My favorites are Vinilarium, Crokan Mutant Store, Discos Paradiso, Lost Tracks to name a few. I very rarely buy records on the internet. I’m more than satisfied with what's here.
There is a new label called 22 based in Barcelona and Mallorca that has just released the first Various and is very good! And another one that I discovered very recently in one of these stores, it's called Dancefloor Killers and that's how its name suggests absolute bomb.
