A mixtape can be many things, but one thing is for sure, a mixtape is more than just random songs put in a particular order. It’s about recontextualizing sounds, giving them a new meaning (sometimes very different from the original) by setting them side by side, or juxtapozed in ingenious ways with others. Best thing about mixtapes, most of them are FREE (!), and they’re a great way to discover new music. In this new column, Juan Data gives you a worthy one every week.
MIXTAPE: Bass de Acorde On
DJ: Acorde On
Acorde On doesn’t show his face. He keeps his real identity secret. We know he lives in San Luis Potosí, in the geographical center of Mexico, and we also know he’s an anthropologist by day and a DJ by night. But he doesn’t like to be called a DJ, he says he’s merely a “ponemúsica,” someone who plays music, simple as that. And unlike other DJs, he doesn’t aim for the spotlight. He says he prefers to hide in a dark corner while doing his intricate mixes instead of being the center of the party. “Watching somebody pushing buttons on a computer is as ridiculous as watching somebody preparing sushi,” he claims. True, it’s always better to dance to that music and eat said sushi.
Another thing that differentiates him from the herd is that his focus is more on the cultural aspect of the music (something obvious considering his academic background) than the beats and harmonies themselves. He does know how to mix on tempo correctly, but when blending two (or more) tracks he’s aiming to generate questions regarding the cultural connotations of the music taken out of its preconceived context. Too brainy? Don’t worry, this Acorde On mixtape he did for Fiestas Pirata is still very dance oriented and in its 41 minutes it pours plenty of low-brow cumbia and remixed reggaeton with a dubstep twist.
Download Acorde On’s Bass de Acorde On below to hear the faceless wonder’s tunes.