WHO In just three years, Brazil’s Gui Boratto has been shaping a new wave of techno. Recruited by Michael Mayer for Germany’s chief techno label Kompakt after his stunning 2005 debut single “Arquipélago,” Boratto unexpectedly moved from the mainstream to the underground. A long-time fan of rock and new wave, Boratto got his start in music working at BMG and EMI in Brazil, producing Garth Brooks and several Brazilian stars. When he was invited to remix tracks from the Brazilian film City of God in 2003, Boratto transitioned into techno — a natural extension, Boratto says, from his background in architecture and graphic design. His techno is structured, spontaneous and tuneful; his signature track “Beautiful Life” (from last year’s album Chromophobia) topped several charts and best-of lists with its jovial electronic-pop synths and singalong lyrics. Amid a packed spring-summer tour that kicked off last week at the Miami Winter Music Conference, Boratto is remixing artists such as SCSI-9 and King Unique and producing a new album for release this September on Kompakt.
WHAT “Good question. Emo-techno?” says Boratto, who draws inspiration from rock and bolero music.
WHERE April 4 with Duke Dumont and Thomas Von Party at CiRCA (126 John).
FAVOURITE RECORD OF ALL TIME Tears For Fears, Songs From the Big Chair and Depeche Mode, Violator.
FAVOURITE RECORD RIGHT NOW “Really don’t know, but really excited for the new Portishead [album] coming up.”
FAVOURITE WEBSITE RIGHT NOW Rraurl.com. “I love it. You can find more than just music there.”
DIGITAL OR ANALOG? “Both, of course. We have to get the best from each technology.”
WHAT IS VITAL TO YOUR DAILY ROUTINE? “Having my wife and my daughter around me.”
WHAT ISSUE CONCERNS YOU MOST RIGHT NOW? “Global warming.”
WHAT IS YOUR RING TONE RIGHT NOW? “An old telephone sound.”
WHAT IS THE LAST GREAT FILM YOU SAW? “Cleopatra from 1963 with Elizabeth Taylor. Awesome!”
WHAT ACTOR WOULD PLAY YOU IN A BIOPIC? Marlon Brando.
WHAT ARE YOU READING RIGHT NOW? “My Logic 8 manual because they completely changed the software and it’s my main tool in the studio.”