Cristian Varela
Journey Through 'My Way'
Cristian Varela's Journey Through 'My Way'
It had been a while since I felt the need to revisit my ritual for listening to an album. We are in a moment in the industry where we hear incredible musical pieces every day, but the fan within me urges me to turn on the old sound system in my studio to enjoy the latest from Cristian Varela.
We are faced with twelve tracks that truly move the listener. In classical music, experts refer to this capacity to move as 'ethos,' a term that in electronic music often lacks a tangible sense. In this case, it takes on a profound meaning, as from the introduction, the listener will experience synesthesia. The timbres used evoke the sounds of harps from ancient Greece, elevating the listener to a higher plane. From the second track, 'Nolipse,' begins a journey of pure energy, where the drums act as a repetitive mantra, similar to the chants of a Buddhist temple.
'Ultrahuman' transports us to a past moment, where acid sounds and guitars dominated nightclubs. But we are not anchored in the past; it is a piece that symbolizes the avant-garde of a generation. Varela leads us through tracks like 'Akasha' or 'Asymmetric,' where the percussion infuses pure energy, varying the tempo in each piece. This album is not just music; it is the vision of a legend taking us into his electronic world.
Days later, with the energy of the album still resonating, I meet Cristian Varela, eager to explore his creative process and the essence of his latest work, the album titled 'My Way.' When asked about the inspiration for 'Ultrahuman,' he reflects on his past in experimental music. "I decided to rescue 'Ultrahuman,' adding current nuances but maintaining the original concept," reveals Varela, showing his introspective journey.
In 'Helion,' which was the first single extracted from this new LP, we find a fusion of past influences with contemporary sounds. "My album is the result of a selection and creation process throughout different stages of my life," says Varela. 'YKNALB,' for example, is a sample of his experience, taking us to the Valencian Route with a taste of acid techno.
Each track of 'My Way' radiates a unique energy. "The selection has been extremely meticulous to achieve this effect of uniqueness," shares Varela. The conversation turns technical when talking about percussions. "When I enter auditory hypnosis, my mind starts to bring out imaginary percussions," he explains, revealing how his instinct and experience merge.
In describing 'pure energy,' Varela focuses on positivity and brightness: "I aim for my compositions to be positive and clean, with a lot of strength and light." Regarding synesthesia in his music, he adds: "Inspiration can be sought by trying and repeating until everything flows."
Having delved into the depths of 'My Way' through the eyes of its creator, I am left contemplating the figure of Cristian Varela. He is not just a musician, but a sound alchemist, a sculptor of electronic emotions. Varela's words, imbued with passion and wisdom, resonate in my mind as we begin to part ways.
I realize that 'My Way' is not just a set of tracks; it is a sonic tapestry woven with threads of past, present, and future. Each theme, a window into a universe where percussion is not just rhythm, but a heartbeat, and where each musical piece is a portal to an almost unknown ethos.
As I finish this article, the echoes of 'My Way' continue to sound in my studio, reminding me that music, like life, is a constant journey of discovery. Cristian Varela has not only shared his music; he has revealed a path, his path, inviting us all to experience the world through his eyes and ears.
Overall, knowing that this encounter has been more than a sonic experience, it has been a journey into the world of an artist whose career does justice to his art. Thanks to him, everyone who listens to ‘My Way’ will embark on a pilgrimage through the hidden, though not dark, paths of techno, where each drumbeat is a step towards the unknown, towards a place where music is eternal and limits are just an illusion.
