Over the years, Gabriel I has become one of the most in demand and leading representatives of Mexican electronic music culture around the world. This recognition has made him appear on the radar of electronic music connoisseurs worldwide, getting wide reception to his DJ gigs due to his attention to detail and dedication to his craft.
Gabriel is co-founder of Tenampa Recordings, one of the most widely recognised and important electronic music labels from Mexico. His experience based purely on music, rather than hype, has allowed him to play shows & festivals in more than 20 countries. He is hard to categorise in a genre, as he is as comfortable with downtempo as he is with house & techno. His seamless, yet effortless style has cemented him as someone with great ability to start the night off. He is also equally skilled at delivering peak time slots.
This versatility has led him to play often with the likes of Sven Vath, John Digweed, Sasha, Hernan Cattaneo, Richie Hawtin, Loco Dice, Seth Troxler, Pete Tong, Marco Carola, and Ben Klock, among many other top international talents.
Gabriel’s studio work has been signed into key labels such as Renaissance, Balance Music, Culprit, Upon You, Desert Hearts Black, and Selador Recordings, to name a few.
Balance Selections 251: Gabriel I
Tracklisting:
01. Artist Code 505241 – Get a Life Back
02. Stimmhalt – Same Feelings
03. Oscar G & Stryke – Hypnotized (Charles Webster Remix)
04. Cobblestone Jazz & The Mole – Hip Wanders
05. Apste – Magna
06. Belville, Fabio Vanore – Luomo
07. Eins Tiefer – Tunewalk
08. Adam Ten & Yamagucci – The Girl
09. Pig & Dan – Radical Honesty
10. Gaddison – Turbulence
11. Mr. G & Duncan Forbes – Blackout
12. DJ Mourad – Illegal Alien
13. Das Ende Der Liebe – Fttfhttp (Johannes Klingebiel Brain Freeze Remix)
13. Of Norway – Revolt is a Political Necessity
14. Gabriel I & Rawbach – Primus
Balance Selections Q+A
Name: Gabriel Izarraraz
Location: Mexico City
Facebook
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Alias/Producer name: Gabriel I
Labels affiliated with: Renaissance, Tenampa, Balance Music
My last 3 releases:
Gabriel I & Rawbach – Lost Sense
Gabriel I & Rawbach – The Purist
Gabriel I & Chris Gavin – Calypso
What music did you listen to as a child?
I grew up listening to my dad’s records, which consisted of rock, mainly Pink Floyd & The Beatles.
When was the first time that you realised that you liked electronic music?
First time I heard ‘Hey boy Hey girl‘ from Chemical Brothers on a MTV awards show. They were using it as an in & out to commercials.
When was the first time you saw a DJ in a club?
It was in 1998 in a rolling skate park that was in my hometown Juarez. There was a DJ playing electronic music and people dancing in the middle of the skate rolling track. I fell in love immediately and knew what I wanted to do from now on LOL.
Which producers/artists/acts inspire you?
Anyone that is authentic inspires me. Doesn’t have to be a musician.
What is your current production and DJ set up like?
I use 3 CDJs and a Xone 96 nowadays. Also route FX from Traktro through the Xone. And also playing more vinyl nowadays.
What releases do you have on the horizon?
I am start working again with my studio partner Jamin Hernandez in Mexico. He is one of the most talented producers I ever worked with, so very happy of how things are going thus far and very excited to share our new music soon.
Where can we hear you perform?
I have a weekly podcast on Ibiza Global Radio. Also resident DJ at Funk Club in Mexico City, which is one of the best venues in Mexico.
Tell us more about the podcast you made for Balance?
I didn’t have anything in mind, nor planning, just let things flow. Only thing that I planned on it was adding my upcoming release on Balance Music and an upcoming release on my label Tenampa.
My Recommendations
If I could recommend only one of my tracks for you to listen to it would be:
Of Norway – Revolt Is a Political Necessity (Original Mix)
The last movie I watched that I really liked:
Babylon
My favourite TV show:
Better Call Saul