Lokier - Shine A Light On... Ransom Note Mix

Music

Picture the weirdest, sketchiest dive bar you can imagine. A guttersnipe hole-in-the-wall hidden at the end of an unlit alley. Populate it with freaks, junkies, perverts, hustlers and at least one shambling ghoul. Ply this crowd of villains and losers with cheap shots of high strength gut-rot. Watch them dance. What are they dancing to? Our money is that it'd be this mix from Lokier.

Influenced by all things horror (Jack Nicholson and Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' are included herein, naturally), Yoan Rodriguez Lokier produces tracks that dole out dark shudders and disco grooves in equal measure, like some Berghain John Carpenter.

Having moved to Barcelona, and secured her current release on the much loved Days Of Being Wild imprint, featuring fellow DJ and friend Morgan Hammer, the Mexican DJ/Producer is riding high. When she's not delivering mixes for us lot, she's been keeping busy with upcoming EPs on Have A Killer Time and Nein. With a selection of remixes, mixes and compilations on their way, we'd say you'll be hearing a lot more of Lokier…

Who are you:

I’m Yoan.

Where are you:

I’m lying down on my bed.

What are you:

Good question…

What’s your earliest memory of music?

I had a special song with my mum when I was little and it was ‘I Saw The Sign’ by Ace Of Base. Classic.

What was the first electronic music you ever heard and how did it make you feel?

'Gillette feat. 20 Fingers- Short Dick Man’ was the best thing that happened to me when I was six years old. I made up choreography and everything. It made me feel powerful. I couldn’t stop dancing.

Can you tell us a little about the electronic scene in Mexico?

I don’t know much about the scene, I mean, every day I meet new artists that have been in this for years now. I think that over the years it has grown a lot and that many of us are getting more and more international recognition.

What prompted you to make the move to Barcelona?

Last year when I did my first European tour I stayed in Barcelona with my good friend Morgan Hammer and I immediately fell in love with the city. The food is amazing, the city is beautiful, it has great weather and everyone was very nice to me.

You have a track with Inigo Vontier coming out soon, tell us more…

We actually did four tracks together. One of them is coming out in a compilation by Rock To The Beat records. We are still thinking of what to do with the other three…

We have been long time lovers, admirers and stalkers of Days Of Being Wild. Is there a particular reason why you chose this fine label to release your latest EP?

There’s not a particular reason, I liked them, they liked me, and it happened.

Close friend and fellow DJ Morgan Hammer features on your new EP with remix ‘Voyage Of Trouble’, do you have any joint collaborations in the making with Miss Hammer?

We have a project together called She Made Monster. So far we’ve only done a remix for Iñigo Vontier, but we do have plans to keep on doing more stuff together.

How did you both meet? It seems to be a creative match made in heaven.

Some years ago she heard my music on Soundcloud and commented on one of the tracks, then we started talking on Facebook and became close friends. We discovered that we have a lot in common.

Who would you say were your biggest influences?

I think Rebolledo was one of my biggest influences.

What else informs and influences your sound?

I’m always looking for new ways to distort my sounds. I’m a huge fan of weird, crazy, dark, nightmerish music.

Where did the name come from?

Lokier is my second last name. My complete name is Yoan Rodriguez Lokier. I choose Lokier because there are many Rodriguez out there.

The beginning of the mix you’ve put together for us starts off quite dissonant cementing the idea that your sound is inspired by ‘terror’ and ‘mystery’. Have you always had a fascination with ‘darker’ sounds?

Yes! Not only sounds, but I’ve always been attracted to horror movies, TV series and Halloween parties.

What would be your ultimate achievement as a DJ/Producer?

Produce a movie score!

I noticed Jaime Martinez created a GIF of you. How did that come about? It would make for quite a great backdrop for one of your DJ sets!

Yes, Jaime is one of my favourite visual artists in Mexico. I love his lo-fi, dark vibe. We’ve been planning on making some music videos as well. Actually he has done some visuals for my sets before and he always does an amazing job.

You’re playing Lunar Festival in June, who from the line-up would get you all excited to meet?

Claudio Simonetti!

What’s your get out of jail free track to play when all else fails?

Vox Low -Something is Wrong (Javi Redondo remix) always works!

What were the first and last records you bought?

The first was Michael Jackson’s 'Thriller'. The last was the soundtrack of 'Room 237’ by Jonathan Snipes & William Hutson.

Preferred form of ‘consuming’ music?

Having a vinyl is more exiting, but I normally listen to a lot of music on my computer.

Now onto the mix…

Where was the mix recorded?

In my room.

What would be the ideal setting to listen to the mix?

In a creepy/old hotel in the middle of nowhere, preferably winter time, and pulling your crazy/psycho Jack Nicholson face.

What would be your dream setting to record a mix: Location/system/format?

In a cool studio with a nice view to a forest. For me the place I work is more important. I always like being alone in an inspiring place.

Which track in the mix is your current favourite?

Oh the first one. It gives me the chills.

What’s your favourite recorded mix of all time?

That's a hard question. I don’t think I have a favourite one. Lately I’ve been listening a lot to King So So’s mix for Edwin Europe.

If you could go back to back with any DJ from throughout history, who would it be and why?

Eric Satie if he was a DJ and alive would be awesome.

What was your first DJ set up at home and what is it now?

It hasn’t changed a lot. Just a new keyboard (a Yamaha with cheesy sounds) and a lot of plug-ins to distort the music, I love to do that!

What’s more important, the track you start on or the track you end on?

Both are important but I usually give a lot of thought on how to start a set, and at the end I just play whatever feels right. I don’t think about the last one too much.

If this mix was an edible thing, what would it taste like?

Like a good hot coffee. With no sugar.

If it was an animal what would it be?

An angry beaver.

One record in your collection that is impossible to mix into anything…

I’ve been watching ‘Twin Peaks’ and I really love the music but it’s been impossible to add it to my mixes.

Upcoming in the world of Lokier?

I have a couple more EP’s coming this summer through Have a Killer Time and Nein records, some original tracks for compilations, some remixes, and more mixes! This is a busy year for me, I’m excited.