Fran Garay showcases a finely-tuned sound across a tight 60-minute mix…
Portugal-based producer Fran Garay is quietly becoming one of the underground’s most compelling voices. With releases on tastemaker labels like Balance Series, Mango Alley, and Univack, his sound balances deep emotion with sleek, club-focused production.
Once a dubstep-obsessed kid recording radio hits on his mom’s phone, Garay has evolved into an artist with a clear sonic identity—shaped by mentors like Ezeqiuel Arias and driven by a hunger to create music that sticks. “When I fall in love with an artist, I dive into their story,” he says—something clearly reflected in his own ever-evolving journey.
On this Balance Selections podcast, Fran delivers a dense 60 minutes of progressive sounds squarely aimed at the dancefloor. Featuring tracks and remixes from Simon Vuarambon, Ric Niels, and a host of Fran’s own productions, this is the sound of an artist with a truly singular sonic identity.
Tracklist
2- ID – ID (Simon Vuarambon Remix)
3- Fran Garay – ID
4- Fran Garay – ID
5- Fran Garay – ID
6- Fran Garay – ID
7- Fran Garay – ID
8- Agustin Pengov, Tirso Enriquez(AR) – ID
9- Ric Niels – ID
10- Fran Garay – ID
11- Fran Garay – ID
12- Radiohead – All I Need (Fran Garay Edit)
13- Fran Garay – ID
Name: Franco Emanuel Villegas Garay
Location: Portugal
Alias/Producer name: Fran Garay
Labels affiliated with: Balance Series, Mango Alley, Meanwhile, OrTwoStrangers, Univack, among others.
Wow, it’s hard to summarize. My musical taste has evolved alongside me and was always quite different from what I heard at home. I went through phases — from being a fan of Skrillex, Eminem, Mac Miller, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers — and each one pulled me in deeper. That’s how I became not just a listener, but someone who really dives into the history behind the artists who captivate me.
That curiosity still drives me today. Every time I fall in love with a new artist, I find myself soaking up their story all over again.
It started really early for me, when I was just a kid. I’d listen to the radio on my mom’s phone and record the songs I liked so I could play them back later — no Spotify, no Shazam, no nothing.
Whenever a Gigi D’Agostino or David Guetta track came on, my 7-year-old self would go absolutely wild.
A few years later, I discovered dubstep, and that sound completely took over my world — I had it playing nonstop, from morning till night, for six or seven years straight.
The first time was with Martin García at Quinto, a club in my city. I was only 16, and honestly, I didn’t even catch the DJ’s name or know what genre he was playing — I just knew I really liked it.
Years later, once I’d learned more about the scene, I looked back and realized who the DJ had been that night. That moment stuck with me.
Of course, we all love Guy J — he’s changed many of our lives — but there are a few artists who played an even more personal role in shaping my path.
Hearing Ezequiel Arias for the first time when I was 18 was a turning point. I remember thinking, ‘Okay, I definitely want to be what this guy is.
Later on, Simon Vuarambon took me under his wing. He pushed me to grow, to refine my sound — and for that, I’ll always be grateful.
And then there’s Andrés Morís — a brother. We’ve had the chance to grow together, and from the very beginning, we’ve shared a kind of healthy competition that’s only made us better.”
Tripolar by Usted Señálemelo — I love that kind of sound. There’s something therapeutic about driving while it plays.
I’d actually forgotten about them for a while, but recently, a student mentioned them in class, and it brought everything back. I fell in love with their music all over again.
I’m currently using all software as I just moved to Portugal and am acquiring my instruments again.
I’ve got a two-track release coming out this April on Melorama — a label run by one of my inspirations, Eze, along with the amazing Nacho Varela, Cruz Vittor, and Zimon Mamy.
There’s also a four-track EP on the way via Flown Records, the label owned by my good friends Scippo and Figueiras.
I’m currently planning dates in Europe with an open agenda, and I’m uploading sets every few months on my SoundCloud channel, where I showcase the productions I’m currently working on and those of my friends.
It was recorded using three CDJ-3000s and a V10, all rented in a booth setup. I’d especially like to highlight the intro — one of my latest productions, originally created for a show in Lisbon, Portugal.
Despicable Me 3 (This is because I saw it with my son and we couldn’t stop laughing)
I don’t watch much TV, but I could trade it for the game Red Dead Redemption 2. Man, that game changed my life.
I don’t really know much about hotels, but it would definitely be in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
