RAFAEL | CP Magazine

Hey Rafael, thanks so much for speaking to us and Welcome to Mexico! Are you happy to be playing shows again, especially so far from home? Thanks so much! I’ve had an amazing time in Mexico, enjoying your beautiful weather and country! It feels so amazing to be back and to be playing some headline shows across Tulum and Cabo San Lucas, the audiences have been so receptive and its exciting to share live music with everyone after all this time!

How have the Mexican audiences been? So much fun – Mexican fans always know how to get a groove on, it’s been a very warm welcome and I can’t wait to return, already!

You recently landed once again back in the DJ Mag Top 100 DJ’s Poll, marking you amongst the best in the world – what does that mean to you and what do you think has lead you to this point? Is it all purely music, or business ethics and following your own path, too? It's an achievement I’m really very proud of and to be recognised by the votes of the fans means the world to me. I’ve been doing this for a long time and for me, this is a true representation that my audiences enjoy what I’m putting out into the world with my productions and shows. It’s been a lot of hard work but at the same time, so much fun! Making music is my passion and I’m constantly pushing my sound to new places to keep things fresh and exciting with my own Plastik Funk signature sound.

You’ve had some huge releases, even in this past year alone, including tracks on Hardwell’s Revealed Recordings, Future House Music and more that have kept us all entertained whilst at home – but what track from this past year has stood out to you the most and why? I’m really proud of all my releases and getting to release on so many impressive labels, but one that I must say stands out for me is ‘I’ll Be The One’ with Inpetto that marked my debut on Future House Music. I’ve worked with Inpetto before and feel like we really captured both of our sounds on this one bringing the funky, energetic and unexpected to our fans with a pumping house anthem – one for the dancefloor, for sure!

You also have a new single coming out on Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike’s Smash The House in December – tell us about that and what can we expect? What inspired this new track? I do! I’ve released on Smash The House’s sub-labels before so I’m excited to be releasing on the main imprint to close out my 2021! The track is a collaboration with my guys Firebeatz and Nazzareene that is a huge explosion of funk, deeper house and Nazzareene really added a special element with the edgy vocal – a big bombastic one for me that is great to get everyone dancing over the party season and into the new year and I can’t wait for you guys to hear it! For you, what is the most important thing for inspiration in the studio, do you like to work with a vocal first-off, or is it more about a melody or groove, for you? It varies for me, but it always must have that grooving vibe that brings together genres and makes something uniquely ‘Plastik Funk’ – I sometimes get inspiration from a melody and play with that but a groove and house element is always at the core.

You’ve collaborated with many artists, what draws you into working with a particular artist – and can you tell us one or two of your most stand-out collaborations over your career? So many, I don’t know where to start! ‘Dare Me’ with NERVO and Tim Morrison was such a fun collab to work on, aswell as Tujamo on ‘WHO’ that was so well-received all over the world. I also always enjoy working with Inpetto, as I also did on ‘Lost’ aswell as others, and also Timmy Trumpet on ‘Raveille’ – I always aim to push out of my own lane on collaborations but constantly adding my own, individual stamp.

It’s been a crazy 2021 that is soon coming to an end – what do you have planned for the rest of the year and into 2022? I’m very lucky to be on tour again, and as you mentioned, we have just finished out epic Mexico headline run of dates and I’ll also be playing a number of shows across Europe including back in Germany and I’m also excited to finally head over to the US for the first time post-COVID at the end of the year!

Please leave a message for your fans in Mexico and around the world! Hola Mexico – thankyou for welcoming me back with open arms and for all your constant support that allows me to bring my music to you! I’m already counting down until I can return to your beautiful country once again.

Thanks again Rafael and we hope to enjoy another show of yours soon! Thankyou guys! | 19