Kiko Navarro is a rising talent in the Dance Music scene. DJ and producer for almost a decade now, this young artist is someone to watch. His radio show is heard every Monday from 20:00 to 22:00 (local time in Palma de Mallorca, Spain) on Top Radio 106.1 FM.

Adriana
April 2000

The following interview was done in Spanish, and subsequently translated into English:

Where are you from?

I was born in Palma de Mallorca (Balearic Islands, Spain), the 24th of August 1975.

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Palma de Mallorca and hope to live here the rest of my life. It's the most beautiful island off the shores of Spain.

What was that like? What kind of music were you into?

I grew up with the kind of music my older brother was into, my brother like myself, loved music. Since I was very young I would listen to the music my brother would play at home. He would play a lot of soul, r'n'b, funk, jazz, acid jazz, British pop, and Latin jazz fusion. When I was 11 I began listening to punk, I would listen to the Sex Pistols, The Jam, Exploited, etc... Shortly afterwards I realized that I wasn't really vibing to this music, this was when I discovered hip hop, a genre I still listen to today. Actually swing, hip hop, r'n'b, funk, very little house, groups like Soul II Soul, were a tremendous influence on me.

How did you start DJing? How old were you?

I began DJing at a club called "Luna," now known as "Pacha." Unlike most DJs that go out and buy a pair of Technics SL 1200 and only DJ at home, because my brother worked at Luna, I immediately began working there as a DJ. I DJed the 1st set. I was only 15 at the time and ironically enough, I began working there the day of my Birthday: Aug. 24,1990.

What was the music scene like for you when you just started out?

The scene in Mallorca was not yet defined: it was a mixture of Pop, left over from the Acid House movement in 1988; and had it's Techno influences, New Beat that came from Germany, Belgium, and Northern Europe.

Has it changed?

Yes, it has changed. We can actually say that now the music that is most often heard here in Mallorca is HOUSE music.

Do you feel as though you've changed with the music?

Yes, I've also changed with the music, I can say that. Myself along with some other DJs on the island are solely responsible for changing the club scene here in Mallorca giving house music a lot of play.

Where do you DJ? What is your favorite spot?

I am a resident DJ at a club in Mallorca, but I also spin at different clubs as a guest DJ. In Mallorca, I have played at the major clubs. I have also played in Madrid, and in Switzerland. This year I have confirmed gigs in Australia, New York and Atlanta.

When you are not DJing, what clubs do you frequent?

I work every weekend from Thursday night to Sunday afternoon, therefore I really don't have much time to frequent other clubs. When I'm not DJing, I catch up on sleep, going to the movies, taking trips to the country, and spending time with my girl... to be happy.

What is your favorite song right now?

It's very hard for me to choose a song, because I like so many, but I will name a few: Negrocan -"Cada Vez," The Joey Negro Compilation, Anastacia -"I'm Outta Love," these are just a few...

What event, good or bad, has been the most memorable in all your years as a DJ?

Luckily, I have never had a bad experience, I often have a great time during my sets. I can tell you that my most memorable DJing experience has not been one but many. Every Sunday for me at Pacha is fabulous. People lose themselves in the music and when I finish my three hour set people scream, applaud, come to shake my hand, it's very moving. This past September was incredible, when I had finished my set, people began yelling my name: "KIIIIIIIIko, KIIIIIIIKO." They wanted me to play another record. They took me on their shoulders and carried me around the entire club, like they it do the bullfighters... it was amazing.

If you could spin anywhere in the world in the year 2000 where would it be?

If I could, I'd love to DJ in Hawaii.

How long have you been producing?

I've been producing for 8 yrs. now. I saved up and got a sampler, a keyboard, etc. in order to produce dance music. In 1992, with a friend, we remixed a song for a Spanish artist. 2000 copies were sold in Spain, Latin America and Germany. Five yrs. later in Nov. of 1997 I signed my first record called "How Can I Let U Go," with A.K.A. Elements Inc. I have two new productions called: The 4 Elements and Calypso.

Tell me about the Calypso Track. What was your inspiration?

For the Calypso Track I took a Latin guitar sample, looped it in my sampler and played with it a bit. In 2 hrs. the track was done and I played it at the club that night to see people's reactions.

Do you prefer DJing or producing? Why?

I prefer them both, they are totally different from one another, but if I had to choose, I would say DJing, because I have contact with people. There is nothing better than to be able to play the music you love and to see the reaction people have on the dance floor. They look at you with such contentment and I know they are having such a great time.

What defines a good or bad DJ?

There are a few elements that define a good DJ. The most important being that a DJ must be able to transmit something, a sensation, for example. You can transmit energy by playing techno, or good vibrations playing soulful house; but the most important is that the DJ gets his audience's attention. It's also important to value a DJ's technique, his creativity, his style, and his selection of music.

Tell me about Pacha Radio?

About 4 yrs ago, together with a good friend and fellow DJ Pepe "Link" Lopez, we put together a radio show called "La Familia." This program is sponsored by Pacha and is heard every Monday from 20:00 to 22:00 on Top Radio 106.1 FM.

During the first 1/2 hour of the show we play Swing, Funky, Old School, Drum'n'bass, Breakbeat, thanks to the collaboration of a fellow DJ and friend Don Manolo Pinchadiscos, he is one of the most famous hip hop DJs in Spain.

The rest of the program (it runs a total of 2hrs.) is dedicated to House Music. We play themes, classics, promos and test presses that I get from record labels. We also interview DJs that have come to spin at Pacha like: Erick Morillo, Boris Dlugosch, Jamie Lewis, etc. We also put together programs dedicated to different genres of House music so that people can learn and know how to distinguish them. For example, we would dedicate a day to Deep house and we talk about the history and how the movement began, or to House from Detroit, or to Garage, etc.

Our objective is to entertain our listeners; but we also try to transmit to them a historical knowledge of the music we play. We have a listening audience of 8,000 people every Monday.

As we enter the new millennium what do you think is the one quality, as a human race, we need to work on?

I think that people should work more on not being so selfish. We should think more about one another and learn to understand each other.

Some random questions: Do you like hot dogs or hamburgers... or are you a vegetarian?

I like both hot dogs and hamburgers.

Do you think that the sneakers you wear make you a better DJ... or is that an American myth?

I don't know about that myth. I just know that my pumas are very comfortable.

Can you make a good paella?

My father is the expert at making excellent paellas, maybe someday he'll teach me.

What did you do at Ibiza this year?

Last summer I went to Ibiza with my girlfriend on vacation. I feel that the scene there is deteriorating and I hope that people begin to realize that house music is still very much alive in Palma de Mallorca.

Do you surf?

Yes, on the internet!

He chuckles...

Do you prefer Technics or Vestax?

Without a doubt: Technics.

Can "doctor love cure your inner pain, make you feel good again?"

Yes, of course.