NEXT DANCE RADIO

Mike Marquez:

So. Next Dance Radio here and we have the honor and privilege of talking to Elephante. For those of you that don’t know who Elephante is, tell us who you are.

Elephante:

I’m a producer, singer, songwriter, and DJ. I make melodic dance music, and I just put out my latest album, “Cope”, in November. And I’ve been on tour on my very first live show, and I’m wrapping that up right now. And just in Miami, I had my label showcase for Hidden Horizon last night.

Robert Kechter:

How did that showcase go last night. Where was it?

Elephante:

It was at Electric Lady in Wynwood. It was a lot of fun. My label, Hidden Horizon, is focused on supporting up and coming Artist, producers and creatives and creating a community for the fans to get behind because when I was coming up 10 years ago, there wasn’t a lot of representation in the Asian dance artist community. It was basically the Godfather, Steve Aoki. But now he’s on such another level that as an up and comer, I felt out of place and didn’t really believe in myself to be able to become an artist. So now that I’ve had some success, I want to be able to provide support and community to the up and comers that I never had.

Robert Kechter:

It’s interesting, you mentioned Steve Aoki and that he’s on that high a top of the thing level. But the thing about it is, he wasn’t always on that level. He just wasn’t, he just didn’t pop up there. He started from somewhere just like you, just like me, just like everybody else, and made it to that point. So that’s inspiration taking it to where it needs to be. And you’re giving it away as well on sharing that.

Elephante:

Absolutely, and you know he’s the nicest down-to-earth humble guy when you meet him too, but you know when you’re when you’re just a kid in your bedroom you’re like my god this guy is Jesus. ⁓

Mike Marquez:

But let me ask you this because this is an interesting topic that you’re talking about because you’re giving back to the community, right? Do you feel that it’s a little bit easier now with Aoki kind of in that higher top of the thing status, setting the path and you yourself because, know, we talk about Aoki, but you yourself have kind of blazed the path for others in all, you know, all denominations to follow. But specifically, what do you think? You think it’s a little easier?

Elephante:

Absolutely. mean, think cultures come a long way since then. know, shout out to Squid Games for making Asian people cool. But I think it’s still, for me, it’s always been about internal struggle. And I think seeing examples of people who look like you succeed is like, you can’t define, you can’t put a price on that. That’s so, there’s just something subconscious about it. You know, making it in music is the hardest thing in the world.

Anything that I can do to just give the littlest bump and even if it’s just a hey look I love your music keep on going or like hey you’re great let me put you in touch with this singer who I think you’d be great with like little things that I I’ve acquired the ability to do in my in my time in the industry it just a remember how hard it was, I think anything I can do to help you know these you’re giving it back yeah I just want it I want people to help. I want to help people achieve their dreams. I have the luckiest job in the world and to be able to help other people achieve that is just so fulfilling.

Mike Marquez:

That’s a perfect segue because you’re achieving your dream. So, let’s talk about the new album. Let’s talk about the response to the new album. What has been the response out there? Because you’ve been touring since November pretty much. How has the response been? Anywhere in particular that you’ve really noticed more reception than others or has it just been equally as?

Elephante:

I mean it’s been incredible. So I’m doing my very first live show on this tour which has been, which was really scary because I’ve DJed my entire career and you anytime you do something new as an artist there’s a little bit of a fear of like are my fans going to accept this or are they going to be like oh I like the old El Infante, like can you do more of that? But especially my new album it’s incredibly emotionally vulnerable and it details my experience with trauma the last few years and how I got over in my deepest darkest moments and so it’s kind of double scary but to see people in a lot of it’s like not super like radio friendly or bubbly it’s like it’s heavier right?

So it’s got a deeper vibe to it, but I think that one of the beautiful things about dance music, electronic music as a whole, is that we have that room to do that. Whether it’s something deeper or something more bubbly, it all fits in that place where we’re getting that vibe and that energy. It’s just, you know, through a different way. It doesn’t have to be very slow and melodic all the time. It can still be a little bit upbeat, or it could be slow and melodic, depending on the tone.

Robert Kechter:

What I’m going to interject here as well right now is that here at Next Dance Music, we play dance music. We work off four pillars, electro, house, tech, and what we call Anjuna. So, you’re going to make sure that I get your tracks. You’re going to make sure I get your tracks. We’ll put it in rotation because that’s how we do here because dance music lives here. And we want that. We want to support you. So, we’ll make sure that happens.

Elephante:

That’s it. I appreciate you guys and you know, it’s as an artist you psych yourself out you’re like, my god This is so you you’d read way too much into it But then you know, I’m playing the shows and you know people have been supporting the record and it’s just it’s so gratifying to like, know all these made-up fears in my head and then to go out and see that people are singing the songs people are coming out to the shows people are telling me how much it means to them and that’s you know, that’s it’s been such a fulfilling experience for you know, all the work you spent all these years doing it and then you’re like okay now it’s time to take the test like I people like it and to actually see people react is so really special.

Mike Marquez:

That’s an awesome feeling that I can only imagine is such a fulfillment considering the past couple of years you had up leading to the album. What do we expect next? Because this is a different direction from, like you said, from before, right? So, what’s the next direction?

Elephante:

I think it’s a great question. I’m still figuring it out, but now I have a few more dates left on the store. We’re going to finish that out and then I think it’s back into the lab. I think just going on this tour has been so inspiring for what the next direction of music is. I already have a bunch of demos and hopefully planning like a little deluxe album version. It’s coming together in my head, but back in the lab. Take a little personal time and just figure out you know the next body of work

Robert Kechter:

We want to be part of journey, so we’re going to make that happen.

Mike Marquez:

And if anybody else wants to be a part of that journey, how can they follow you?

Elephante:

I’m on socials, Instagram, X, TikTok. It’s IMTheElefante on all socials.

Mile Marquez:

I am the Elephante. Sir, it’s a pleasure, My brother, thank you so much. Very appreciative.

Elephante:

Thank you, guys.