The Brvtalist is proud to present a new mix from Chemtrailz. Cutting his teeth at California's legendary desert raves, the American artist began the Chemtrailz project in 2018 quickly garnered attention in the global techno scene. Delivering a number of successful EPs and singles on top labels such as EXHALE, Voxnox, CLTX’s TX Records, The Finest Techno, Suara and much more, his high quality productions have been heard on dance floors worldwide. In 2020 he launched his own imprint, Terra Nova and was also featured on Boiler Room's Hard Dance series. This summer he released the powerful EP, "Eternally Yours Truly" and today we are thrilled to feature this exclusive set and interview where we talk about the project's history, the USA and more.
The Brvtalist: For those who are not familiar, give us a little history on your music background and/or the Chemtrailz project.
Chemtrailz: I began the Chemtrailz project when I came back to techno-based music in 2018. I launched this project with an intention to spray the underground, and possibly masses, with a frequency that is conducive to human spiritual and physical evolution. I produce every single release at A=432hz and I incorporate one 528hz element in every track. Some say it’s nonsense, but honestly, it genuinely sounds better to me in a side-by-side comparison.
I started “producing” by recording and writing rap music in high school in the early 2000’s. My very first recorded song was in 8th grade in 1999. I discovered the rave in college in 2004 and finally made the jump to DJing house raves in ‘08. I wanted to be a producer and DJ since middle school in 1998. I was inspired listening to DJ Screw tapes and the gangsta rap DJ’s on the black community radio station throw down deep mixes. Being a DJ was a prestigious title in the Texas gang neighborhoods in the 90’s.
In 2010 after college, I went to audio engineering school, but they only taught us how to work a console and record bands. It was another 8 years of moving to California, various aliases, and trying different genres like minimal, progressive and psytrance before I had a half-decent sound and refound my techno calling. I launched Chemtrailz with peak-time releases on Autektone Dark, Reload, Funk n Deep, Silver M, and others, but it just didn't feel right. During quarantine, I started playing with faster, harder more trancy sounds and I got hooked. It’s been a journey but hey, it's not the destination- it’s the journey itself…
TB: There's been a lot of talk recently about the growing American scene. From Europe it looks like there's more events happening but do you feel that being at home (in Texas or in the USA in general)? And if it is growing, do you think it's sustainable?
C: Yes and no. We are seeing some growth in the techno area, but unfortunately the growth rate still dwindles compared to European rave and club culture. To me, it seems mostly more of a crowd steal from one rave genre to another. I’d be surprised if our audience is even 1/10th of the European audience per capita.
I’m seeing some new and cool projects pop up here and there, but there are still clubs, venues, and promoters closing down and going out of business from slowing economic conditions, unimaginable inflation, real estate over-development, and a culture that is still very badly damaged from Covid lockdowns. Governments haven’t been very supportive here either in nightlife, the arts, or even public infrastructure and social support- which are all vital to a thriving live entertainment industry.
These things are achievable in America, but it requires a culture change that can take up to another half of a generation (hopefully not). Depending on where you are in America, often it feels 5-10 years behind Europe in infrastructure, the arts, and social support systems. I do have some hope for the long-term future, but for the next year or two, I’m focusing more of my time and energy on Europe and South America and planning to relocate to the EU as soon as possible.
TB: Today we're also releasing this big mix from you. Tell us a little bit about it and what you try to do with your sets at the moment.
C: My current performance is two overlapping vibes. First is my earlier, lighter side which is more 140-150 bpm hard techno and hard trance with a bit more groove and melody. On the other hand, there’s my late-night 145-155 rollin’ hard vibe. It’s mesmerizing, darker, bangin’ hard techno and industrial. The trance-themed feel is similar, but there is more distortion, deeper darker melodies, and a tasteful pinch of hardstyle elements. I’m also often a fan of epic or nostalgic endings. My own productions usually bridge the gap between these two vibes, so they are two sides of the same coin. I play a little of both vibes in my longer sets, but I always choose a focus depending on the vibe of the party or what the host wants. For this guest mix, I’m bringing my favorite of the two to the table; we’re goin’ hard.
TB: On top of some big releases on EXHALE, Voxnox and more, this summer you also released "Eternally Yours Truly" on Terra Novae. The EP is dedicated to your mother who you lost last year. Tell us a little bit about the EP and the process of making this one in particular.
C: Eternally Yours was a tough EP. The title track was written over the last two weeks of my Mom’s life while I hosted hospice in my house with help from my sister and aunt. She died early of cancer. I found I handle hardship much better when I channel my emotions into my art, so although I couldn't sleep much during that time making this EP was very instrumental in helping me get through a very tough period in my life. In the following months, while I finished the rest of that EP as well as other projects, I also lost a best friend to police violence [ACAB], my grandmother, and my 14-year-old pitbull best friend I raised from 8 weeks old.
I honestly can’t remember much about the actual process of producing this EP because I’m relatively good at forgetting the bad and remembering the glad, but I’m extremely blessed and grateful to have experienced all this and still manage to come out stronger on the other side.
TB: What is something you currently like about the sound/direction in techno and something you don't like?
C: Overall I am a fan of the current general direction of techno at the moment. I found it difficult to find my sound at the slower bpms and VIP vibes that were more popular pre-pandemic. I’ve been able to comfortably express my artistic vision over the past couple of years without being disregarded as some kind of trance weirdo. I also like the growth in warehouse parties and more authentic “raves” and renegade parties over the past few years while still managing to grow the underground techno vibes to a larger audience. It’s such a relief to go to Ibiza on vacation and club hard techno. The options for my personal taste of music have really grown over the past few years and I love that.
With the good, there will always be bad though. I am definitely not a fan of how often really good producers and DJs that make all the music are being overlooked and not booked in favor of hot, sexy DJ’s with no clothes, huge marketing budgets, and little experience behind the decks or in the studio. It sucks that the people putting in all the work aren’t seeing any return on their investment and the people with fat pockets for marketing gimmicks are the ones seeing all the tour income. But hey it is what it is, and if you can’t swim then get out the water. You fight the current in the ocean and you will drown. If you can't work harder because you can’t afford it, then you gotta work smarter.
TB: What's coming up next and anything else you want to mention.
I have some pretty serious new music “premiers” in this mix. I can’t say much about one ID, but there’s a particular remix in here I will mention. A little while back I was blessed to come across the actual studio stems for Everything But The Girl’s 90’s hit “Missing”. This original mix was highly nostalgic to me in my childhood, and the Todd Terry remix was very significant to me in my early raving days.
I was so happy when I found these stems that I made not one but two actual remixes of the song. These aren’t just pop edits. I really put my heart into these while still leaving the original vocal arrangement intact. They are coming soon free download. One will be from my own Soundcloud in a few weeks, and the second harder mix featured in this guest mix is coming on The Finest Techno October 3rd. I can’t wait to drop these. Lots more in the works, but that’s all I can speak on now =].