ALL IS MATH is a Spain based Dj, who was really early surrounded by her parent's vinyl collection. Known for her refined sets with an avant-garde approach exploring sound through experimental IDM, today she experiments with modular synths. ALL IS MATH shared with us her music roots, her fascination for algorithmic and hypnotic sounds, her perception of the techno scene in Granada among others. Short interview with this talent to keep an eye on.

Hello, a glass of?

Red wine!

Where do you come from?

I was born in Alcalá la Real (Jaén). I was fortunate enough to study music both at school and at the music conservatory, where I specialized in the guitar. I lived here until I was 18 and moved to Granada to begin my studies in architecture. Music has always been present in my life in one way or another. In fact, I still have all the vinyl records my parents collected at home, where I can find pop from the 1960s, from the Beatles to Pavarotti and classical music in general.

Do you remember how you discovered electronic music?

In the clubs and pubs of my town, I was gradually hearing hints of house and techno music from Ibiza. There, the sound of machines was already heard, and it caught my attention right away! When I arrived in Granada, I began to discover and meet clubs and friends, with an underground musical culture that immediately captivated me.

Your first vinyl you got and your first approach to Djing?

Well, apart from the vinyl records I still have from my family, my first vinyl came from my friend Eva, who gave me a Richie Hawtin vinyl “DE9 | Transitions”, while I was living in Madrid for a few years. She had every intention of giving me a vinyl record to play with turntables. That's when I started learning this technique, becoming completely captivated and in love, and acquiring all the vinyl records that make up my music collection today.

What does your alias ALL IS MATH mean?

The answer to almost everything around us, as a universal language is mathematics, also music! Mathematics is present in nature, inside us, in the golden ratio, everything grows following and repeating patterns that we couldn't explain without it. My particular vision of the electronic sound universe is a mathematical manifestation, understanding that the rhythmic patterns, and modular structure obey invisible laws, as precise as any formula. Drawing me on mental techno, each set is constructed like an algorithm that evolves in real time, modifying variables, and delivering unpredictable and amazing results. In this sonic universe, every transition, every frequency, and every silence is where it should be, designing emotional trajectories that the body solves like equations only understood on the dance floor, seeking to calculate the perfect moment to unlock something inside you.

Could you define your sound?

My sound is born from within, dark, enveloping, and powerful. I like to think that with the first bars, the sound is born from within you and envelops you in such a way that it becomes an experience. I like the hypnotic side of techno, the experimental, the abstract, sometimes with more organic sounds, EBM and IDM, and of course the more underground side of techno and electro. Then I begin to play with them until I create a narrative, a story, and a mental and emotional journey.

What about the Granada scene?

Granada is one of the cities with the most techno music culture, attracting people from all over Spain and abroad. This culture began thanks to clubs like Acero and Industrial Copera, the pioneers in bringing us all the aspects and good music that was being produced at the time. In fact, Industrial Copera has been ranked among the best in the Spanish music scene since 1992, and this year marks its 33rd anniversary. All the greats have played here, including Jeff Mills, Richie Hawtin, Oscar Mulero, Jennifer Cardini, Reeko, Sven Väth, Fatima Hajji, Ben Klock, Indira Paganotto, Lauren Garnier, Cristian Varela, Carl Cox, Sideral, the list is long! Along with Junior, their resident and Sala Jesús manager, they are family. Performing almost annually, they are like family to Industrial Copera.

Which Granada artists should we check out?

Well, they are legendary: Eloy Palma, Animatek, Horacio Cruz, Sergio Cáceres...  among many others, of course! In this sense, we women come with strength to also be legends (laughs).

Which clubs should we check out in Granada?

Besides Industrial Copera, Granada has many clubs like Sala Efecto, MoonBack, Dax, Sala Berlín, and the Embrujo complex, where the Circus Nation parties are held.

What are your top 5 festivals in Spain?

At the top of this section, I'd like to mention the SINEXSIA festival, held two weeks ago in Seville, where I had the immense pleasure of participating as an artist alongside national and international artists as John Plaza, Dario Duegra, Tevor Handa, Nico or the French Vardae and Melu Toé, organizers of the Ouroboros festival, which will take place near Lyon in France next September, also in a dream location. SINEXSIA Festival has been created and curated with a sense of affection and love for music, creating a true family of artists and audiences for future editions, in a wonderful natural setting. One week ago, the RIT/MO festival took place in Granada, now established annually in our city, always ensuring the balance between international artists and the best of local talents, again in a natural location on the outskirts of the city. Another festival that is celebrated in a natural setting in the Catalan mountains is PARAL-LEL festival at Port del Comte (Barcelona), that together with LANNA festival in Gijón (Asturias), MOSTRA festival (Barcelona, focus here) and OMBRA festival (Barcelona) bring us the best of the national and international scene, ranging from experimental music to the most powerful techno, EBM, synth pop, electro… enjoying the consolidated electronic scene as new emerging artists who give their best at these events.

Your top 5 vinyl shops?

In Granada, you can find one of the best stores in the world TECH ON RECORDS! You'll receive personal and impeccable service from its manager, Eloy Palma, one of the best Djs on the scene today and now a very good friend. And TECHNO IMPORT in Paris, EL ALMACÉN DE DISCOS in Madrid, DISCOS PARADISO in Barcelona, HARD WAX in Berlin.

When you're digging for vinyl, what are you obsessed with?

Sounds that make me connect with myself, so deep that they make my stomach turn, sometimes organic, other times futuristic, clean sounds with melodies or completely immersive... anything that makes my pulse race.

Your top 5 labels?

Mental Disorder by Reeko, PoleGroup by Oscar Mulero, Hypnus Records by Michel Iseneld, Mord Records curated by Bas Mooy, Oráculo Records by Synth Versus Me.

Any ritual before a gig?

I don't need much since I'm always nervous, but if I can, I like to spend a few minutes alone to gather energy and composure.

To dress, a pair of?

A pair of good sneakers

Your favourite food?

A good cured cheese!

Your favourite colour?

To act as a Dj I always prefer black

A good track in 3 words?

Forceful, direct, emotional

Your top 5 new releases?

. Reeko “Lyra”

. Atomic Moog “Quad phase”

. Atomic Moog “Blue Scale”

. Feral & Luigi Tozzi “Trip no Trip”

. Pluge & Spigl, Vertical Spectrum “ Dfcn” (Vertical Spectrum remix)

. Your top 5 old releases?

. Plastikman “Closer”

. Anne Clark “Our Darkness”

. Thom Yorke “ANIMA”

. Massive Attack “Unfinished Sympathy”

. Aphex Twin “Nannou”

Without music life would be…

unemotional

What’s next?

Continue discovering and let myself be encouraged by great producers and share it with a personal sound narrative, telling a story, projecting a journey and my personal vision of techno and electronic music. At the moment, I'm experimenting inside field of my own production and sounds, with modular synths, always with the curiosity of what is my own story, what will be inside me and how it will come out to share with the people

If you could have a short conversation with an artist…

I'd love to talk to many people! But it would be Jeff Mills. He's a benchmark in electronic music. He's humble, and I'd love him to tell me about his personal experience in this field and give me some advice.

Finally, ALL IS MATH in 3 words?

Pulse, visceral, elevation

Anything else?

Thanks Star wax mag!

Interviewed by Sabrina Bouzidi / Picture by Cristina Beltrán