abe duque – the genre agnostic.

We team up with Abe Duque (it is spoken ‘Abe Dukay’ if you ever wondered how), one of the great moments for dub Ibiza:

Hello Abe, it is always an honor to have living legends on our network, it is hard to put all in a few questions but i will give it a try:

How did you come to electronic music? You were there when it all started so it must be quite a story.

///I think the way I remember it was that between the ages of 12 and 14 I discovered my love for all things relating to music. At the time I was taking piano lessons and loved the instrument. I wanted to take it all in. I was also suddenly fascinated with the guitar, and the bass, then the drums and sax. It all was my thing. My dad introduced me to all of these instruments as he was a very talented man who played 9 or 10 of them our home was filled with instruments and song.

In those days I loved visiting music stores and one afternoon I walked into a music store near my home and the sales guy was demoing a sequential circuits prophet.  It freaked me out. I could not believe such a thing existed. This was 1982. And it set me on the path I am still on now.

You performed in Limelight in New York, how were them times?

///It was great! it was  a fun rather uncomplicated time. Conditions were such that crazy nightlife could flourish. Today NYC is another city, things have changed, things as simple as smoking in bars and  clubs, or the level of crime in the city being war-zone like, are nothing most new party-goers know anything about. During the best part of the Limelight era The City was not too concerned with the goings on of the party scene but Giuliani changed all that. After that Mayor got done with New York, the Electronic music scene went into a pretty dark, and by dark I mean sad and bland, period. Sure things got safer and more corporate, but the city lost its character and grit. NY went from a punk city to a fanny pack tourist megalopolis  bottle service became the main thing at clubs and “illegal” parties were shut done ruthlessly. Better for a guy like me to be in Berlin then or Vienna or Moscow anywhere except NY.

The good thing, far as I can see, is that lately parties have been on the way back up in my loved city,  lots of fun stuff going on in the Greater NY area these days, and it is all a new thing onto itself, seems the government is leaving things be.  I hope New Yorkers can appreciate that happy days are here again.

Hearing a lot about ‘Abuse Industries’ – it was originally a visual music concept by Andy Orel and you, somebody told me you or started it again or are about to? Tell us more about it please.

///Abuse is always on the prowl, abusing institutions and personalities that needed a wake up call, and by abusing we mean making fun of them so bad that it hurts them. Abuse is irreverent and we are not afraid to ambush. This type of guerrilla approach has a totally alarming effect on people just before they have to laugh about the ridiculousness of the whole thing. This process has the effect of removing any cool factor that is left on the abuse subject. Yes we remove cool. Yes we are heroes. Abuse Industries are out to correct injustice with slightly questionable and discomforting methods so watch out you that want Abuse.

You then left New York and oriented yourself more to Europe, releasing on labels like Tresor, amongst so many others. How was that new episode in your life?

///Fantastic. It was the dream of every young person, you know, to travel, meet new strange people and cultures and have days of high adventure.

Reading your discography took me several minutes, is there anybody left you would like to produce with?

///Sure, my disposition towards recording will never change. I am always looking for new ways to produce. I will work with everyone that is awesome if I could have my way.

‘Rules for the modern DJ’ will be released 20 years after your first one, what is the album about?

///In 2011 I realized that the days for doing my thing the way I fell in love with it were numbered. Meaning that I would be able to release music on vinyl and have vinyl collectors pick up the records and play them or dj them using turntables. For the era of the modern dj was at hand. I felt somehow like Tom Cruise in that samurai movie where all the  noble samurais would train in the woods all day and develop their art of war. And then at the end the guys with the guns came an killed them all. So i figured I had maybe one last chance to do this. I pressed and released the album in 3 parts. Never making a digital copy and never mentioning let alone promoting it to anyone. I did it the way I had always done it the way I would always want to. I just let it out devoid of any announcement.

So this record has been out on vinyl for a minute. I did all this really convinced that vinyl was on its way out, but funny thing about the medium that it never seems to actually die, it’s like Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stalone), it keeps coming regardless of your expectation of it. Vinyl on steroids?

Rules for the Modern DJ as it is released now is a digital version of all the vinyl releases. Being pragmatic about it I know that most of the public only pays attention to digital anymore so it is silly not to let everyone in on the secret. I have nothing against the current state of music distribution, I embrace all new useful technologies but vinyl stands nostalgically supreme for me. So I had to give it a place in my time. It’s about living. Indecently I will be pressing new vinyl this summer of yet another new project.

I have to say ‘Diabeto’ will have a fix place in my music collection for any moment somebody wants to listen to a seriously tough track – what a vocal – is it you?

///Yes this is me. I woke up one morning feeling groggy and decided it would be the best to put myself in front of a mic and let lose. I was singing purely how I felt, which was out of it. It was a joke for myself, I never intended to release it, but my wife heard it and told me I should. So I did. I guess it’s a good morning song.

You have so many diferrent styles and facettes, is there a preferred one?

///The Good Shit. That’s all I ever want to make. I am genre agnostic.

What do you listen to at home?

///Gospel, kids music, news radio, sometimes nothing . In my car I will listen to music of all sorts, not much electronic music though.

How does your perfect day look like?

///Get up in the morning to  play with my daughters, then go to the studio for a few hours. Then maybe go teach a little at dubspot, have a date with my wife, good food, and a good nights sleep.

Abe Duque in 20 years?

///Same as ever. Still making music.

You see, this is the stuff legends are made of, thanks so much for your words and keep ’em coming.

read the review of his new album here.

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more info on Abe Duque:

facebook/abeduque /// resident advisor/abeduque