Coffee Break with Enai
Girona based Enai is steadily growing and making a name for himself in the music industry. Following notable releases on Oddity, Be Free Recordings, and more recently Eklektisch, his sound is continuously supported by the biggest artists of the scene around the world. We were keen to have a chat with him about his music and his vision for the future.
Hi Enai, and thanks for talking with us today. You just released an EP on Spanish label Eklektisch: ‘Seven Lives’, that we really like, with remixes by Remcord and Clemente. What was the idea behind it and what did the creation process look like for this EP?
Seven Lives is based on a personal experience I had. Rodolfo, a 6-month-old kitten whose tenderness comforted us a lot over some terrible moments, died a year ago, and I wrote this song to honor him a few months later.
I had no intention of releasing it or sending it to a label. It all started when I contacted Elba, who had previously sung alongside Attic on my single "The Darkness," and presented her with the concept; she loved it and agreed to join the project.
About Colorful, the second track of the EP, which I wrote a year ago: it is a recollection of my breaks before sunsets when I go to my terrace after studio sessions, and it's always very soothing to see all of these colors in the sky, like a palette, before it gets dark.
We were on our way to make a livestream Edu Imbernoon, Mike Gannu and I the day after finishing the track, and I played it for them while we were driving, they loved it and saved the two tracks for Eklektisch.
You also just recorded a mix for our channel, by the same name. What was your mood for this mix? We would love to know more about the story you wanted to tell us.
I enjoy a wide range of musical genres, including indie rock, hip hop, garage, and all the various branches of electronic music, but I always tailor my set to the club, the crowd, and the timetable.
So this time, I wanted to share the various aspects of my musical taste with everyone.
Since 2020 you have released a lot of music, especially remixes, what is your favorite song?
Yes, I went a long time without releasing any music for the sole purpose of defining my sound and direction.
To me, the Fall EP in 2020 is the most significant. I had a lot of help from famous musicians like Tiesto, who put it to his Spotify playlist, Solomun, who played it in Tulum, and Fideles, who played it two days before its release in Afterlife's "Unity" stream. I received numerous record label proposals as well as remix requests. I can tell you that it was a significant step forward in my profession.
For now, I'm not doing any remixes since I want to focus on making original music.
We at Melodic Diggers - and probably your fans too - are curious about how artists we like organise their work week. What does a typical week in the life of DJ and producer Enai look like?
It's not easy for me, to be honest. Apart from being a producer and DJ, I am also a DJ and music production teacher at a school called Eumes, so finding time to focus on the studio is difficult.
Also, I'm more productive at night, when I can properly produce music, withdraw from the outside world, and put my phone away. Mornings are the most difficult for me; I never seem to be able to get out of bed early. I'm almost never motivated in the mornings, hehe.
You are based in Girona, Spain. How does this city influence you as an artist, and what do you think of the music scene there?
Girona is my creative cocoon; I adore this city. It offers many of the amenities of larger cities, but you can walk almost anywhere and run into someone you know on the street.
On the other hand, in terms of electronic music, it’s severely lacking. However, there are a few great event planners who are doing an excellent job, but neither they nor the rising musicians out there have it easy.
With already quite a few notable releases over the past few years, we can easily say you are a rising producer and dj, playing events and festivals around the globe. What advice could you give to producers/djs who are starting now, and how long they should expect to work for before seeing results?
BE PATIENT AND WORK HARD.
The new generation has become accustomed to the quick pace of life; they expect everything NOW, without having to work hard for it.
I'm quite committed to this field, and have been for a long time. The majority of my plans have always been around making music or getting together with pals for a drink and some music conversation. I've never been a soccer fan, and I don't play video games, so I don't have many distractions.
It's fine to have some distractions, but if you truly want to devote yourself to it, you must go all in, and your efforts will gradually but steadily pay off.
Because the procedure can take some time, it's crucial to be patient and surround oneself with positive people.
As an artist, where does your inspiration come from? Your style is quite melodic, but also designed for club music. When you open the DAW with an empty project, how do you start working on it?
It's a difficult question, and I don't know the answer since there isn't one.
What I've established is that I want to send a message; I don't want to make "tool" music; I require that when people listen to it, a message will reach them; it doesn't matter what message it is; each person will have their own point of view, and it will take them to a particular mood.
When it comes to inspiration, there are times when ideas just flow to me or I start playing a tune and get a clear picture of where the song is heading. When I'm stuck, I attempt other things that I've learned about : new synths, new FX, putting voices and distorting them, etc.
Some people argue that melodic house & techno is going to become the new EDM. What is your opinion on this matter and about the scene in general?
Previously, some "underground" artists grumbled that their style was not included in the main festivals; now, "underground" people protest that their music is included in those festivals.
We can never make everyone happy, but I believe that if music is your life and you are doing what you truly love, and there are more people who enjoy what you are doing, there is nothing wrong with that. It's really "cool" to claim to be underground, but because it's popular, you can make a livelihood doing it.
What exciting projects are you working on at the moment, and what can we expect from you in the next 6 months?
There's a lot of new music coming out right now, and I don't think I've ever had that much.
There are also some new gigs coming up, as well as some surprises that I hope to be able to share shortly.
Everything is moving at a breakneck pace. I've recently received a lot of support from some of the top artists I've been following for years, which pushes me to put all of my efforts into creating more, so I'm hoping to be able to disclose more in the next six months.
Last but not least: how do you like your coffee?
Coffee is better with milk. In the winter, I wake up with a cup of hot coffee to jumpstart my day. Summer is here now and I’m already ordering iced lattes.