'Crossing Borders' : Ricardo Tobar Interview

From the seaside town of Vina del Mar in Chile, Ricardo Tobar has made an impression on the electronic scene with two well received EPs on James Holden´s Border Community, in addition to a single entitled ´With You´ on the excellent Traum Schallplatten imprint. His fusion of melodic techno, electronic rock and modern shoegaze music highlight a creative flair that is still seemingly untapped, and with an artist long player mooted, Ricardo looks well set to follow in the footsteps of Holden and the rest of the Border Community family.

1. Progressive-Sounds: You´ve been hailed as one of the most interesting newcomers to keep an eye on as of late. When and how did you find yourself involved in producing electronic music?
   
   Ricardo Tobar: I didnt know I was hailed like that! Quite a tricky way to be called. Anyway, I was involved with electronic music for some time before my first release, maybe like six years. I remember myself doing this shitty loop on Hammerhead and Audiomulch with my friend Sebastian and thinking that we sucked big time. Hopefully we kind of moved on from that type of software! It all started with "Firestarter" by Prodigy; I thought "what is that?!" and everything happened from there.

2. Progressive-Sounds: What equipment would we likely find in your studio? Does your computer play a large part in the production process or do you prefer to stick to mainly hardware based methods?
   
   
   I dont believe too much in the saying that "you need expensive hardware to make great tracks" or anything like that.
   
   Ricardo Tobar: I´ve got some dolls, puppets and smilies, my bed and a sofa. Mainly just anything you can find in a bedroom really. Seriously, I dont believe too much in the saying that "you need expensive hardware to make great tracks" or anything like that. Maybe my soundcard is the most expensive thing in my bedroom but it never works so well! So I only use my computer (which is bad) and a drum machine because I prefer a rougher sound than a polished-crappy- minimal sound.

3. Progressive-Sounds: Your live shows are full of energy and are quite unique in many ways. What is your methodology behind a live performance? Do you see yourself as a DJ or more of a producer when it comes to your gigs?
   
   Ricardo Tobar: Oh thats really cool, thanks! I base all the things in my live sets on my intention not to be the kind of person who presses play on the computer and at the end of the night takes their payment and goes back home. I really hated acts like that, with nothing interesting or new. I prefer my computer going out of control than just sitting back and relaxing, thats for sure. Because if I go to see someone I like and he or she is obviously doing nothing I will throw a big apple at their face, definitely!! So I dont want an apple thrown at mine... Ive never been a DJ, well not anymore but I never was a good DJ, so I cant really see my live performance as a DJ. But I take some elements from there, like if I have a loop, maybe I will mix that sound with another one, thats really helpful sometimes.

4. Progressive-Sounds: Are there any particular tracks or albums that you´re really enjoying at the moment? Some people feel that the scene is going through a bit of a lull at the moment. What is your take on this statement?
   
   Ricardo Tobar: Deerhunters new album is fantastic and after hearing it I cant think of any other good pieces of music lately. Well maybe "Isnt Anything" from MBV that I bought recently. Yeah, I know its old but its new for me. In fact, it was the only one I didnt draw my attention towards out of the whole MBV discography.
   
   I think the so-called "scene" had always been stuck. Theres nothing exciting in it and its just cyclical. A vicious cycle maybe. Because if a new sound is out, everyone wants to imitate this new sound, so you get a hundred people doing the same thing, which I think is happening right now with this minimal kind of thing. But it happens with everything really, and with any kind of music.

5. Progressive-Sounds: Is the electronic scene big in your hometown of Chile? Do you think it is heading in the right direction? Do you feel you´re as popular on the local scene as you are on the international scene?
   
   
   The people involved on the scene are very hermetic, and almost elite. So the options are very limited for young or new people, which is crazy.
   Ricardo Tobar: I dont see it as big, but its growing. This doesnt mean that its a good thing and I really dont think its going in the right direction. The people involved on the scene are very hermetic, and almost elite. So the options are very limited for young or new people, which is crazy. In other words, you have the same dinosaurs playing at all the parties, all the time, all year round. And ridiculously they play the same music, over and over.
   
   You see, people like Villalobos and Luciano are kind of like gods here, or at least, between those circles. So you have loads of people imitating them and no one doing anything interesting. Everybody wants to belong and they follow that style for gigs or maybe for a record deal, who knows really!
   
   Hopefully young people are coming up with new ideas which are exciting, they are searching for something. I really want to fck the scene and if I want to play ten minutes of noise I will do it, because I think you dont need to belong. You just need to do what you want and if you are doing this just to be cool; I think you are making a big mistake.

6. Progressive-Sounds: Border Community and Traum are two of the finest labels in their league. How did you come to be involved with them and did you experience any initial difficulties in getting your music noticed?
   
   Ricardo Tobar: Well I just sent them a demo. I think everyone has experienced some kind of difficulty getting noticed. Before my first demo of El Sunset, I sent like two other tracks that were really crappy. I really dont know why I sent those... But I survived.

7. Progressive-Sounds: Whilst your sound is highly innovative, are there any artists you would say had a large influence on your music?
   
   
   Ricardo Tobar: Yeah, of course I have a lot of things or music that have had a large influence on me. It would be difficult to say no to that. For example, The Velvet Underground are wonderful and their influence on me is very strong. But its hard to mention something new like an influence and more difficult if you mean techno, except for the guys at Border Community. Its really nice to be somewhere where people challenge you musically, in a good way. Every release you hear something new from them!

8. Progressive-Sounds: Piracy in the music scene is getting worse and worse as time goes on. What are your particular views on music piracy and its effects on the scene in general? Do you have any ideas as to how it could be reduced?
   
   Ricardo Tobar: You can see it both ways, as good and as bad. And I think the two ways are fair. But I think music wont stop for that and if someone really likes a record they would buy it for sure. I believe its impossible to reduce or to stop piracy.

9. Progressive-Sounds: Finally, do you have any upcoming releases that your fans should be keeping an eye on? What are your plans for the future in terms of your musical direction? Would you like to work on an artist album at some point?
   
   Ricardo Tobar: I dont have any plans to release anything new for now. I dont want to be releasing music all the time really but Im trying to do a full album. I hope to finish it someday!