Chris Marino, a rising star in the techno scene, has been making waves with his unique blend of driving melodies and hard-hitting beats. With a deep passion for electronic music and a relentless work ethic, Chris has quickly gained recognition for his innovative sound. Recently, he released his latest single \”Independent Woman\” on Suro Records, marking his third release with the label in under a year. In this interview, Chris shares insights into his creative process, the inspiration behind his music, and how living in New York influences his sound. Join us as we delve into the mind of an artist who is redefining the techno landscape.
Suro Records has a reputation for releasing quality techno. How did you come to work with them, and what has your experience been like with the label?
About a year ago I stumbled upon Suro Records from a techno playlist where I had added a bunch of quality techno tracks. I loved their releases and decided to pitch them my first official demo as an independent artist. They quickly showed interest in the track and I signed it over to them to be released last October. The track \’Nonstop\’ ended up reaching the 15 spot on Beatport\’s Hype Peak Time Techno chart and from then on, I knew to trust the Suro team with more of my music. \’Independent Woman\’ is my third release with Suro in under a year and you can bet that there is more to come. Not to mention, the artwork for their releases always look incredible ;).
How do you stay motivated and inspired to create new music, especially when dealing with creative blocks or challenges?
Part of being an artist is being able to transcend moments of being unmotivated or uninspired by having a consistent production process. If you have a different process each time you get in the chair, you\’re going to have a different result each time. Being able to develop your own process is something that takes a lot of time and failure but serves its purpose if you\’re consistent with your attempts. Writer\’s block hits everyone at some point or another, so it\’s also very important to take frequent breaks, and to listen to music you love. I feel like this brings every artist back to earth and reminds them of their dreams of being an artist in the beginning, and sometimes that\’s all the motivation you need to keep going.
What’s a typical day like for you when you’re working on new music? Do you have any specific routines or rituals that help you get into a creative flow?
I try to schedule certain times in each week specifically to creative studio sessions. I think it’s very crucial to have organized time for each stage in the music making process. Before having those creative sessions, I try to inspire myself by listening to new songs I’ve discovered in that week, and writing down which elements I’d like to incorporate in my own way. As you get more experience in the production process, you also start to discover certain things about your workflow that set yourself apart from others. This is super important as it creates individuality in your music that eventually becomes a staple to your sound and style.
Techno is a genre known for its high energy and rhythmic complexity. What draws you to techno, and how do you keep your sound fresh and innovative?
Techno, to me, just has the most infectious spirit behind it that is hard for me to ignore. Solid running basslines and high hats just get me moving me like nothing else does. I’m a big believer in creating tracks that are both fresh and familiar. A classic techno kick and bass relationship is a must, but adding your own personal flair and musical knack to the genre is how you keep things interesting. A good rule of thumb, in my opinion, is to have a first and second beat drop that sound very different from one another, while also containing the core elements that built it up in the first few minutes of the mix. Accomplishing that, while also developing an emotional breakdown to glue the whole track together, is a proper recipe to making a track fresh from start to finish. I’d like to believe that ‘Independent Woman’ is a good example of all those aspects coming together smoothly.
How does living in New York influence your music, and what elements of the city\’s culture and energy do you incorporate into your tracks?
I know it sounds a bit cliche, but it’s definitely the truth: New York does not sleep. It’s one of the few places in the U.S. that simply doesn’t stop the party. Every single weekend holds an opportunity to hear a different artist in a new setting and if you’re a music-lover, it never gets old. Having said that, New Yorkers tirelessly expect the best of the best from the artists that perform to them. The bar is set really high which, in my eyes, brings the best out of the artist. Every Dj that enters a club in Manhattan, Brooklyn or Queens knows that the crowd they’re playing too has been exposed to top notch production from another artist just the weekend before. Sometimes even the day before. So it’s needless to say that all Djs need to bring their A-game when they come to the Boroughs. I try to make sure that New York’s face-paced culture bleeds into my music by constantly pushing myself to finish new projects, finding new tracks, and creating new edits to keep up with the insatiable hunger this city has for music.