A series where music lovers share some of their hidden gems.

Number 85 is by Marco Spalletta (Siku Series, Cabina Agency) an Argentinian selector based in Barcelona.

Find the record here

Tell me about your musical roots

Since I was a kid, I’ve always been really attached to music. From listening to my dad play the guitar, to dancing to Michael Jackson in my school musical, to going to clubs faking our IDs when we were 16 to have our first clubbing experiences.It was around when I was 16 or 17 that I started to feel a real passion for music, mostly for funk and disco. My friends and I had this group called “The Local” because we had a little space where we’d hang out before going out. That’s when I started playing music for fun with my friends, and we used to organise small backyard parties where everyone had to dress up and do SoulTrain contests.

After my disco phase, I started playing more electronic music, mostly techno. At that time, I was still discovering the roots of house and techno without a specific style. I think it was super important to explore all those different genres, discovering which sounds and rhythms I enjoyed.A big part of my musical roots is my friend and companion, Bruno Torres. We pretty much started playing at the same time and have continued to this day. It’s been crazy because, throughout our journey together, we’ve evolved both as individual artists and as a duo, motivating each other by sharing new music and pushing each other in a healthy way to always grow and improve. I think we started playing together when we were 20, using just controllers at house parties, and never stopped pushing to reach our shared goal of getting bigger and better.

What is your favourite place to dig and why?

Like many others, the infinite and never-ending Discogs platform is my favorite place to get lost for hours, going through hundreds of records until you discover that gem that makes your day. It’s an interesting place because it's a constant search for new artists, genres, sounds, and labels that take you from one place to another. You can start the day searching for a specific style and end up listening to the entire discography of a small artist from somewhere in the world who produced everything in the '90s.On the other hand, if I have to choose a physical place to dig, without a doubt I would say Nut Records. Since I started buying records, Nut has always been a special treasure in the city. It’s the kind of place with a unique sound, where whenever you buy a record, you know it will stay in your bag for a long time and remain in your collection forever. Lyo, the owner, has created such a special identity around that place. It’s not just a record store, but also a spot to exchange memories and spend time with friends, listening to music together.

What do you listen to when you want to chill?

I love to listen to all genres. I have my all-time classics like D’Angelo, Erykah Badu, Sade, a bunch of hip-hop artists like Razzmatazz and A Tribe Called Quest, and always have a special appreciation for the piano and jazz.As I was born and raised in Argentina until I was 8, I also feel a strong connection to Argentinian music, mostly rock. When I was about 18, I discovered some of my favorite Argentinian artists like Gustavo Cerati or Alberto Spinetta, thanks to this amazing website called “Radiooooo.” It’s an incredible site where you can pick any country and year on a map, and it plays music typical of that time. I did that with Argentina in the '70s and stumbled upon these amazing artists. It’s a lot of fun!

Can you share with me your favourite podcast at the moment?

I love listening to podcasts whenever I have time whether I’m walking around the city, using public transport, or doing some sports. For me, it's an amazing tool for drawing inspiration from others and hearing how they share their love for music through an incredible sound experience.I can't say I have a favourite one right now, but I can mention a few that have been with me for a long time. Micha's podcast for the 192gmbh guys was love at first listen, and for a while, I played it a lot. It’s this melancholic and super elegant mix of tech house with minimal.Another one I really enjoyed was the 4-hour podcast from Outransa for Cartulis a proper journey with ups and downs that was really well done, in my opinion. One last one I always listen to during relaxed moments is S. Moreira and the Band. What a way to enjoy your time with a beautiful band full of drums and nice sounds.

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