LPZ

Overcoming the 6,000-mile divide between members, Paraguayan production trio LPZ are making a name for themselves with releases on labels including Get Physical and Body Work. We asked them to introduce themselves and play us some of their own tracks and their biggest influences.

Who are you?

We are LPZ, a house trio from Paraguay. We’ve recently had releases and remixes on labels like Get Physical, Body Work, Loungin’, Tirk, Keep Up and Wah Wah 45s.

What do you sound like?

We are big boogie and disco fans so there is an element of that in our music. We like the musicality and the depth of tracks created in that era so we try to emulate that sound in a way. We also come from a hip hop and drum and bass background (releasing music as Lopez and Bass Reflex) so there is also a part of that in our songs. We try to keep it raw and not too polished but that’s easier said than done.

So, put those elements together and mix it with a house jacking beat and you have the LPZ sound: music made for the current dancefloor that looks at the past for inspiration.

Why should we listen to you?

Because you’ve never ever heard music from Paraguay before (and hopefully you are bit curious about what three guys from deep South America doing house music sound like).

What have you released so far? What else have you got coming out in the near future?

This year we just had our rework of Compuphonic‘s massive hit ‘Sunset’ out on the remixes pack of that track on Get Physical. Also, in 2012 we had an EP out on Body Work (1983, which got record of the month in the disco section of DJ Mag), one on Loungin’ (Benedict & Grace EP) and two on Keep Up (‘Balham Tandoori’ and ‘Yesterday’s Games’/’NTA’).

Next we have a few remixes that we have been working on lately, one for a new act on Loungin’ called Mirrors that is doing the promo rounds at the moment, a couple of remixes for one of our favourite acts ever to release music on Ninja Tune which should be out soon, as well as a remix that we just handed in for a Parisian duo on a very cool French label.

Plus we are giving the finishing touches to a few songs we created in our latest recording session in Paraguay when Cosmo was visiting us from London (he lives in the UK – the other two of us, Ariel and Jorge, remain loyal to Paraguay still).

What song sums you up? Why?

Ask us tomorrow and you’ll have a different answer but today the Francois K mix of ‘Go Bang’ by Dinosaur L is our choice. Produced by Arthur Russell and Will Socolov, and mixed by one of our favourite mixing engineers ever, Francois Kevorkian, this gem from 1981 is the epitome of what we look for in music: depth, a feel for the dancefloor, some quirkiness and a massive bassline rolling over one of the coolest beats ever put on tape. What’s not to like, son?

What or who is your biggest influence and why?

Probably Herbie Hancock. Quality musician with an electronics background and a strong interest in experimentation. If you don’t own any of his records from the 60s or 70s then we would suggest fixing that pronto.

Where can we hear your music?

SoundCloud, any digital or vinyl retailer and more importantly dans le club.

Where will you be in five years’ time?

Still trying to figure out what does it all mean but at the same time enjoying ourselves making music. Probably still saving up to get a Jupiter-8 as those things keep going up in price and we love our synths.

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself.

We are the bastard offspring of Sun Ra.

Find LPZ on Facebook, Twitter and SoundCloud.