Scan Mode and Alvaro Sanchez introduce us to their take on old crunchy house and proper techno.
Who are you?
Scan Mode: Hi. I’m Scan Mode. I’m 50% of Raw Rootz and I’m from the north of Spain. Me and Alvaro have been running Raw Rootz since 2012.
Alvaro Sanchez: Hi. This is Alvaro Sanchez, the other 50% of Raw Rootz. I come from the south of Spain. I’ve been playing music since the late 90s and I’ve known Alberto since 2004 or so. I also run a record store located in Granada, Spain, called Tech On. I’ve always been a vinyl lover.
What do you sound like?
SM: Personally we love good American house music and proper techno and we’d like to think that our sound is in between those genres, adding some current techniques.
AS: I like to think that we sound like old crunchy house. When we started making music together we had it quite clear that we wanted to use sounds from old drum machines and synths. I think we managed to sound like we wanted to.
Why should we listen to you?
SM: I think we offer something original, thinking a bit about the market but trying to avoid established rules or commercial stuff. We simply do what we feel is good.
AS: Well, our music is designed just for the floor. I don’t know if you should listen to it at home. I guess it might not make any sense because it’s conceived just for dancing and partying.
What have you released so far? What else have you got coming out in the near future?
SM: I’ve been releasing music for years. you can find my tracks on labels like Cadenza, Theory, Safari Numerique or Savor Music as Scan Mode. In a short period of time some other tracks will be released on Esperanza, Briquerouge, on its 100th release, some tracks for Surface and another EP for Safari, with a remix by Joel Alter. As Raw Rootz we’ll go on with our label in which we’re going to be releasing friends like Papol and Franco Cinelli.
AS: I don’t have so many tracks released as Alberto has. I find it very difficult to finish a track – it’s quite hard for me crossing the line between a work in progress and a finished one, which is why I don’t like having my stuff released on digital. It can take me between six months and a year to finish a track, so I prefer my stuff getting released on vinyl so I, at least, can enjoy playing and watching it for years. I don’t want my music to be lost between thousands of tracks on a hard drive. Currently I’ve released some records on Industrial Copera Records and Tech On, and of course our three appearances on our own label, as well a Raw Rootz remix on Ante Perry‘s label Be An Ape. For the future I’m working on two new releases on Tech On and Industrial Copera records, which are more focused on techno.
What song sums you up? Why?
SM: Jeff Mills – ‘The Extremist (Retro Mix)’. I’ve always loved it. That track has all that a good track needs.
AS: Misfits – ‘Last Caress’. I’ve loved that track since I was a child. The first time I listened to it was something like a fucking orgasm. I also like Metallica’s ‘Cover’.
What or who is your biggest influence and why?
SM: Nowadays my favourite producers are Levon Vincent and Eduardo de la Calle (who I have a good relationship with). As a DJ, Ben Sims was always my favourite – it’s amazing the way he mixes. What has been more important for me about music is the way I can evade myself of the problems I’ve been involved in my entire life.
AS: The first set I listened to when I was a child was from Kevin Saunderson. I remember I downloaded it vía Napster and it took something like five or six days getting downloaded. I really love that set and the way he mixed classic tracks with new ones. I also like Oscar Mulero, I personally think he is one of the best DJs in the world. When you get into a club and Oscar is playing, something special happens. Always.
Where can we hear your music?
SM: I’m having some gigs in clubs like Industrial Copera, Madrid and Berlin, but I can’t talk about it right now.
AS: Apart from us I guess there are some other DJs who play Raw Rootz’ music, or at least I hope so! What is clear is that you won’t hear our music in mass media channels.
Where will you be in five years’ time?
SM: Playing at the best festivals and clubs!
AS: I don’t know. I’ve thought about moving to the UK many times. I really love that country and its lifestyle. Not a big city, but a little town in Kent or somewhere in the south. It’s something that could happen in a short period of time, but who knows what the future holds?
Tell us an interesting fact about yourself.
SM: When I first met Alvaro I lived 1000 kilometres away. Now it’s only 100kilometres.
AS: When I first started running my record store, I reserved something like 250 records for my collection. It’s like an illness – I can’t stop buying records!
The Raw Rootz remix of Jorge Savoretti is out now on their own label. Check it out here and find Raw Rootz on SoundCloud, Twitter and Facebook.