LETTERING “GITANO DEL FUTURO”

Credits
Text - Claudia Rodríguez, @claaurod
MUAH & Styling - Francisco Manch @franciscomunch
Photography - Juan Bernal @el.chasko

I remember the first party I saw Gitano del Futuro play at: their mixes, their look, and their moves made no one stop dancing on the dance floor, not even to go out to smoke a cig. Later I discovered that they are not just a DJ, not just an urban singer, and not just a hip hop dancer. Gitano del Futuro is all that and much more: a living character who mixes roots and avant-garde, clubbing, spectacle, and advocacy.

Our conversation takes place in Valencia. In their hotel, Gitano del Futuro is putting on make-up, getting dressed, and concentrating with the help of their closest team. In a few hours they will conquer Spook Club at the TOTAL party. We join them in this preparation, sharing the intimacy of the minutes prior to their set, and accompanying them every step of the way.

Your audience expects not only music but also a visual statement from you. How important is “the look” for you in the construction of the set experience, and how do you decide what to wear each night? 

For me, the look is fundamental partly because it describes who I am every night. Although Gitano del Futuro is an already defined character, I like to keep exploring and creating different versions of myself within that universe. Depending on how I feel that day, I choose what to show, and that is also part of the set experience: it's not just music, it's a story that is also told with my visuals. 

For this occasion my friend and stylist, Francisco Much, and I decided to place Valencia and its world as the protagonists of the look, taking inspiration from Valencian women of the 90's like Manuela Trasobares, the Valencian “periquitas,” as we call them, or “las vecinas de Valencia,” with a mix of buchona and over-the-top style.

Aesthetics is not the only highlight of your sets, you also give a show, you dance… How do you understand your facet as a performer, and to what extent do you think of your set as an all-around show beyond music?

Since I was a child I have always felt a great connection with art in general, but especially with dance and performance. It is something that is part of me, something that I carry inside me and that, inevitably, has to be present in what I show to the public. I don't think of a set as just a musical session, but as a complete spectacle in which I can express myself from many different places.

A few years ago the media talked about you as an urban-music promise, focusing on your work as a singer. How has your relationship with vocals and singing evolved and why does that part seem less present now in your work? When did sets and mixes start to gain weight in your creative path?

It's true that at that time I knew very little about music outside of the urban scene. After all, I've always been a hip hop dancer, and that's the music that has been with me since I was little. I felt very comfortable within that movement. But over the years I explored further, and I realised that I didn't want to stay under the “urban singer” label, but to be recognised as an all-round artist, able to move between different musical genres and disciplines, such as DJing or production.

Although this vocal aspect may seem less present now, I haven’t abandoned it at all. In fact, I’m working on new things that I hope to be able to share soon. I started DJing because I’ve always liked playing all kinds of music, and I discovered that being able to show another side of myself and make people dance is very fulfilling for me, both personally and artistically.

Why “Gitano del Futuro” [“Gypsy” or “Romani of the Future”]? You always say you like to answer this question... have you found a new answer to your artistic name over the years? What does it mean to you now?

“Gitano del Futuro” was never a simple concept, but rather a political and activist act from the very beginning. It is a statement of resistance, connecting my gypsy roots with a vision of the future and transformation. 

Over the years, this idea has evolved with me, but always maintaining that spirit of struggle and questioning stereotypes. 

Now for me, “Gitano del Futuro” is a symbol of empowerment, diversity, and creativity that allows me to connect with my history while building my own artistic path, pushing me to break barriers and explore new forms of expression.

A few years ago you mentioned in an interview with Aida Camprubí how much the New York Club Kid culture inspires you. Now that you’ve been able to play in New York, what emotions did you feel when you set foot in those spaces, and what part of that energy did you bring back to your sessions here? Do you feel that this trip opens a new chapter in your project, perhaps a more international one, or are you interested in keeping a foot in the national scene?

For me, being able to be in New York coming from a neighbourhood that many would call the ghetto has been a huge revelation, both personally and artistically. I remember one day, walking through the streets of Brooklyn, I said to myself: “That's pretty amazing, who would have thought that you, with everything you’ve been through and coming from where you come from, that you would be here doing what you love and being valued as an artist?”

Without a doubt, it was a turning point in my career and I feel motivated to continue traveling and expanding my project to other parts of the world. I bring that energy and experience with me to every session, because it reminds me how important it is to keep exploring and evolving.

Your persona works almost as if it had a life of its own: you don't generate much content on social media, but you are always active and present on the scene. Why do you think it is that Gitano del Futuro doesn’t depend on digital visibility to maintain its relevance?

I think that happens because my name resonates in people’s minds precisely because it is unusual. That’s the magic of my project: to be always present, but without the need to saturate social networks. I want people to wonder what a “Gitano del Futuro” is, who they are or what they will be like. It all has an air of mystery about it, almost like a kind of witchcraft, and that has always been the main idea behind my work.

We’ve seen you DJing at the coolest parties in the Spanish scene. What’s the one party where you always have a good time? Where do you like to dance with your friends? 

Normally, I always have a great time at every party I’m invited to. Of course, like any artist, I have my moments, but in general I always have a good time. I tend to support all kinds of parties and collectives, both nationally and internationally. I’m also inspired by many of the artists and people around me, like Mia Flaw, Sofixit, and Nida, among others.

Razzmatazz in Barcelona and Industrial Copera in Granada are the clubs that have seen you play the most. What differences do you find in the audience? Does that influence the type of mixes, songs you choose for your sets?

For me, every club feels like a temple. I never prepare a fixed set or limit myself to a defined genre. In my sessions you will always find everything, because I like to flow with what I feel in each moment and with the energy of the audience that accompanies me. That connection is key and, although the spaces may be different, my approach is always the same: to create a unique and authentic experience for everyone.

We’re backstage and I’m curious... before going out to play, do you prefer to be completely ready or do you need a few minutes to yourself? 

It’s true that I like to share those moments with my friends, but always from a place of calmness, focusing on what’s coming and charging myself with energy to give my all on set. Being a dancer and having competed for years, that mental preparation is a very present part of me, and I apply it to almost everything. I always need my moment before I go on stage to connect with myself and be at 100%.

What is the backstage atmosphere like for you? Any funny situations you remember from there?

Sometimes the atmosphere backstage is calm, sometimes chaotic, haha. In those spaces you can experience anything. I’ve been through some funny situations and some more stressful ones, but I always try to make it a nice place and leave it as a nice memory.

I remember one time I was in my “mental preparation” moment, trying to concentrate, but my friend, who was super crazy and clearly drunk, kept choreographing dance routines that looked like something out of TikTok. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t focus and I kept looking at her because the situation was so random. In the end I had to run out of the room to the toilet because I literally almost peed my pants.

Our conversation ends and the interview is over. Now what matters is the present: Gitano del Futuro is already in the DJ booth. In Basta we can’t wait to see what Gitano del Futuro releases soon.

Instagram: @gitanodelfuturo
Soundcloud: gitanodelfuturo