Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on October 2009

Courtesy of P4P

The antipodes of South America may not be the first region that comes to mind when dance music is mentioned. But headz will know that both Buenos Aires and Santiago have thriving club scenes and a range of producers working in areas from experimental electronica to house and techno. DJ Francisco Allendes is one of the latest producers to emerge from Chile, issuing a stream of releases that inject the stripped-down esthetic of minimal techno with a judicious dose of Latin percussion and siren-song vocals. The DJ spoke ahead of his first visit as the winner of Parties 4 Peace’s ongoing Patagonica contest campaign.

What inspired you to enter the Patagonica DJ contest?
Actually, I was invited to participate. Before this, I did not know anything about Patagonica, Parties for Peace or the Peace Boat. In general, there is a lack of information about these kinds of activities in Chile, so I think it would be great to make them more popular and [better] known among young people in my country.

As the winner, what message will you be bringing to Japan?
In a globalized world, everything is connected. But if we take a deeper look, we realize that everything has been connected since the beginning of time. I have a chance now to make contact with the young people from a country that is completely unconnected with the youth of Chile, and it is a great opportunity to establish a connection that helps us to be aware of what’s happening on the other [side] of the world. My message is the music I make and play—I want to share it with Japanese DJs, producers and audiences, and bring back new sounds to my country in order to make this connection grow.

Tell us about the specifically Chilean influences in your music.
There are some great bands from the ’70s (some still playing today) like Los Jaivas, Congreso, and Fulano that have great concepts and excellent musicians, so I research about them a lot.

How does the Santiago club scene compare to other cities you play in?
In Chile, the electronic music scene is still not very big. Of course, you see big mainstream events, but hardcore fans of electronic music are not very common. This makes our club scene very intimate.

Tell us about your vision for your label, Andes Music.
When I started Andes Music with Marcelo Rosselot in 2007, our goal was to be a platform to connect our close DJ friends (and ourselves, of course) with bigger labels and artists, with the dream of making our team grow and become international. It is all about the music and friends.

Vinyl, CDs or MP3s: Which and why?
Digital music is something very good, because it brings the music to people who are far from Europe or the USA. I can buy music from an internet portal the same day that the release reaches the world, download it in ten minutes, pay an adequate price for it, and play it at a party all in the same day.

What is right and what is wrong with worldwide dance music today?
Electronic music gathers a lot of people around the world, dancing and sending good vibes to our planet. It creates smiles in a world that is very troubled at the moment, but I would like to see dance music give more support on other global issues. That’s why I support Patagonica and Parties 4 Peace!

Oct 31
Roppongi 57
Boo! Halloween. DJs The Revenge, Francisco Allendes, Leon + Skinnipants, etc. From 11pm, ¥3,500. Roppongi. Tel: 5775-7857. www.parties4peace.com

Nov 5
Departure Lounge
Muy Rico. DJs Groove Patrol (Phonika), Aosawa, etc. Special guest DJ Francisco Allendes. From 11pm, ¥1,500. Nishi-Azabu. Tel: 03-5575-5420. www.parties4peace.com

Nov 6
Favela
Patagonica DJ Contest. DJs Dr. Shingo, Groove Patrol, etc. DJ contest: winner gets a free trip to Chile to play in the hottest techno clubs in South America, Feb 2010. From 8pm, ¥3,000. Aoyama. www.favela.jp