With their matching, Ramones-like attire, Violca and Barletta of Mansion look like each other’s doppelgänger. The male-female duo (Violca’s a woman, Barletta’s a man) have been making music for ages; Barletta crafted blog-charting originals and remixes, and Violca played in bands including Fritz Helder & the Phantoms.
Formed last summer, Mansion are making waves with a sound that meshes the bright synths and pop hooks of ’90s house with the monster beats and anthemic stabs of now. They’ve remixed acts including Thunderheist, Tiga and The Stills. Mansion’s debut EP, featuring crowd favourite “Gasaida,” comes out on Toronto’s Play Digital on March 13.
What makes Mansion stand apart from your other projects?
Violca: Mansion is the result of a bipolar mash-up of two completely different music heads.
Barletta: The longing to make big-sounding dance music, and we’re the first female/male DJ duo of its kind!
What are the essential elements of a Mansion track?
Violca: Music is like sex; there has to be something that catches you right from the get-go. Then [there’s a] build-up, and then the climax.
Global interest in CanCon electronic music is growing. Why should we pay attention?
Barletta: Because it’s all super-raw, hot and awkward. You can’t fight it.
Violca: We have a plethora of talent in this city. It amazes me to think about it!
What have you learned about Canada’s club scene?
Barletta: The energy and people are wild — a force that the elements of Canada’s shitty weather cannot even reckon with.
Violca: The west is wild, and what happens in Montreal, stays in Montreal!