Recognized as one of dance music\’s breakthrough producers, Parnassvs has made significant strides in the electronic music scene, from earning support from legends like Armin Van Buuren and Paul Van Dyk to shaping the vibrant dance music culture in the Philippines. With a diverse range of releases across top labels and the creation of influential event companies in Manila, he continues to push local and international boundaries. In this interview, they share insights into the creative process, the challenges of the industry, and their vision for the future of electronic music in Southeast Asia and beyond.
You’ve been recognized as one of dance music’s breakthrough producers. What has been the most rewarding part of your journey so far?
Every part of the journey has been very rewarding—more importantly each music release and event draws in new supporters and fans.
Can you tell us about the inspiration behind your latest release, \”Metatron,\” on IAMTRED200?
I wanted something a melodic techno track that was very much an in-your-face peak hour track. Definitely had inspiration from Hi-Lo and Joyhauser.
You’re the first DJ and producer from the Philippines to be supported by legends like Armin Van Buuren and Paul Van Dyk. How does that feel, and what impact has it had on your career?
It definitely is an honor and has given me the opportunity to pave the road for new producers here in the Philippines. We’re a country that is slowly becoming a nightlife and music powerhouse in southeast asia especially in dance music.
With a diverse range of releases on labels such as Blackhole Recordings and AVA, how do you approach maintaining consistency across different labels?
Each label has their own “sound” so I try to maintain my music personality in both.
Your music has been supported by top industry giants. Which artist’s support has meant the most to you and why?
Artist support is one of most important tenets of a producer’s trajectory to success. it serves as a way for to indicate what works and what doesn’t in one’s productions.
You’ve founded two event companies in Manila, Gigas Lux and Communique. What motivated you to start these companies, and how have they influenced the local dance music scene?
Being self reliant and not constantly just asking for shows and gigs is crucial in one’s DJ and producer career. Being able to create your own following is necessary for one’s growth.
Sessions Academy is another significant venture you’ve started. What inspired you to establish a media arts training center, and what impact do you hope it will have on aspiring DJs and producers?
The hope for Sessions Academy is to create a local community of DJs and producers that share a mindset of growth, success, and positivity.
You also release music under the alias Luis del Carmen. How do you differentiate the music you produce under each alias, and what’s the creative process behind it?
Luis del Carmen is more on the house and dark tech side whereas Parnassvs is a bit harder, more melodic. Sometimes I would combine both to merge these elements and showcase them within the track.
Your music traverses melodic and energetic rhythms of trance. How do you maintain this balance and ensure each track conveys the desired emotion and energy?
I try to think of it as supplemental to each other especially when doing productions. This is what makes my music stand out since there’s always that push and pull of dark and euphoric.
As someone who’s played a significant role in shaping the trance music scene in the Philippines, what changes have you seen over the years, and where do you see it heading?
Trance has gone through its ups and downs but now it’s heavily becoming popular again. In the Philippines, music tends to stagnate and have a longer turnaround when it comes to what’s trending. As of now, harder and faster music is just starting to penetrate the industry. A good thing for producers like myself.
Collaborating with other artists can be a unique experience. What has been your favorite collaboration so far, and why?
So far I have notable ones in the trance scene— for techno, I’ve had the honor of working with my late friend, Cris Grey, who passed last year. We had two collaborations, “The Cube” and “Crimson Moon”.
What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your career, and how did you overcome them?
Probably getting the right opportunities— there’s a lot of gate keeping involved when you’re new to the scene and a lot of rubbing elbows with others. Best thing I did was to remain consistent with my productions.
Your performances have taken you to various parts of the world. Which gig has been the most memorable for you and why?
My most memorable one has to be playing at Ultra Europe—this has been a dream for me and to be a part of the actual billing was mind blowing. In addition playing in front of people at Ultra has been absolutely intense— seeing your crowd respond to your own productions at that level was surreal.
For aspiring producers and DJs, what advice would you give to help them navigate and succeed in the music industry?
To get multiple mentors to help you with your craft. Do not think you “know” everything. Take out your ego and keep learning new ways to benefit your career.
Looking ahead, what are your long-term goals for both Parnassvs and Luis del Carmen? What do you hope to achieve in the next few years?
My biggest long term for both is to gain more international shows and collaborations with the two artistic brands. Also helping the Philippines gain more influence in the dance music scene.