Storytelling and versatility are key qualities that Mostra looks for in their resident DJs. While storytelling is not easy to convey in two-hour slots, versatility nowadays seems to override storytelling often. How many festival sets can we hear over the summer with DJs showcasing their most versatile skills but needing a coherent story? Being versatile and building a story out of an array of genres and moods comes naturally to the three residents of Mostra Festival: local Barcelona DJ legend ABSIS, Amenthia-affiliated Timnah, and NYC-based Patrick Russell. We connected with them to learn about their musical roots and the role their cities played in shaping them as artists, and dug deep into Mostra itself.

Hi there, nice to meet you all virtually for this catch-up. You live in different parts of the world and will "re-unite" for Mostra Festival in Barcelona in April. Where are you taking the interview from, and what is your mindset?

Absis: I am in Barcelona, in my studio in Sabadell.

Timnah:  Thank you very much for inviting me for the interview. I'm currently visiting my parents in Costa Rica for a few weeks, and I'm out in nature. I'm enjoying the time with my family as we rarely get to see each other. My brother, his wife, and my partner are also here. We spend a lot of time outdoors in the woods around the house. There is something new to discover daily, and it is always the best time for me to relax. It is a very good place to rest, away from everything.

Patrick: I'm currently at home in Brooklyn, New York. I've spent the last two months getting back into a studio mindset after a busy 2022, which involved a lot of work, travel, and for the most part, being away from social media. It's been refreshing to slide back into a focused, more music-driven life for a minute before things get crazy again, and I've finished one record so far. 

One of Mostra's core principles is to nourish local communities and scenes. You all come from cities that have had a significant impact on the electronic music scene in different ways but grew through communities - Detroit, Basel, and Barcelona. How did these places shape your mindset and positioning as an artist, both musically and philosophically?

Absis: Barcelona has always been a city highly connected to electronic music. If you focus on the late 80s and early 90s, you have the neighboring area of Girona, which was the cradle of all this. There were mythical clubs such as the Blau or the La Sala del Cel and raves full of French and Catalans. We all went through there, La Ruta del Bacalao in Valencia was also at its peak at the same time. Ibiza had already been doing this for a long time, many years before with Balearic. All this was very connected with Barcelona, where in the mid-90s Sonar Festival exploded. It was a time that I remember very magically because everything was new, and I was young! In fact, at the end of the 90s, I met Alfonso Pomeda (aka F-ON), a Mostra programmer, and we were already passionate about music! Who would say that now with 50, we continue the same or worse!

Timnah: In Basel, I still feel very much at home. Meanwhile, I live a bit outside, closer to the forest and nature, which becomes more important to me as I get older. The city itself is still my hometown with everything that belongs to it. Half of my family and my best friends live there. Musically, it has been an enrichment to live there all these years, and I feel fulfilled by what I have been able to experience musically and also in terms of friendship over the years. Basel is a tiny city in comparison, but it has always had a wide range of musical offerings that have shaped my musical path. Together with my crew at Amenthia Recordings and the close friendship with "a walking contradiction " and the "Home" radio show I run with Garcon, we have realized many projects. Other crews in Basel (Swim, Somatic Rituals...) and clubs (Hinterhof, Elysia), and the off-location "Wurm" have been involved in the scene and put a lot of things in motion. I appreciate that about this small town. Over the years there has been an exchange and development, even with other cities like Bern, Zurich and even smaller places... Although this scene is still a niche here, there is a lively exchange with each other, which I find very nice.

Patrick: Detroit shaped me musically in many ways, particularly in that I was constantly exposed to all the best music, from techno to house to soul. That foundation is forever, and the funk and spirit of experimentation from those early days continue to speak to how I play and choose music. 

Looking at the programming and Mostra choosing you as residents, it's apparent that storytelling and versatility are common ground for you three, though it expresses itself in diverse ways. How did you build that skill, and how do you "nurture it"?

Absis: Hours and hours in record stores, preparing suitcases of records to play, talking about music with friends, playing in clubs, at parties… It requires a lot of dedication, love, and above all, a lot of time! Years! Now it seems that everything is going much faster! Sensitivity is also important.

Timnah: I always had a diverse upbringing with music in different forms from my family. My parents ran two blues/funk/jazz clubs, and my big brother built his own big dub sound system and hosted dances. I have been very interested in music and its diversity since I can remember and still am today. For me, there are so many genres that touch me personally and that I like to play myself. So far, after almost 20 years, I have never lost the desire for it. It always fulfills me when I discover or rediscover something new, unknown, or old.

Patrick: For me, it was always an underlying necessity, an integral part of DJing. Simply throwing on some records or tracks is fine, but it was never enough. I was constantly listening to old Ron Hardy tapes when I was younger. I was fortunate to hear major influences like Theo Parrish play every few weeks, so long-format storytelling became ingrained in me. If you're going to be up there doing the thing, use your skills to get from point A to point B and show how far out you can get on the way…but it has to make sense. I play all kinds of music, from acid to IDM to ambient and experimental techno. It's a constant challenge to present disparate music from many decades in the context of a cohesive story with common sonic or rhythmic threads. Or at least, that's the goal. 

All of you are skilled in the transition phases of a night or festival and playing ambient, too. What's a record in your record bag or USB that you always have with you, no matter which slot you play? 

Timnah: I can't mention one specific record. I'm always very broad in my preparations. But I surely always have a few unreleased tracks from my friends Agonis, Varuna, and others. Since we all live together in a big house, it's only natural to get something new out of the studio before the weekend.

Patrick: I can't pick one specific record, but some form of Aphex Twin will usually make it into my sets, no matter what style I'm playing.

Let's talk a bit more about the concept of a residency. What do you aim to bring to this residency at Mostra, specifically the Mostra 23 edition?

Absis: Since this year I'll be playing in the Hangar, which is a space for more experimental and calm music, I'll do a set that will go from ambient, experimental to slow time.

Timnah: I was very happy about this request. Especially because I like the crew personally as well as musically. Many of us have already met outside the festival and had a very good time together. So it's a pleasure to be there, especially from a friendship point of view. I associate this residency with music exchange and friendship and that the guests and we have a good time together.

Patrick: It's an honor to have been asked to be a resident for Mostra, as I think it's easily one of the most forward-thinking events out there right now. Respect flows both ways, so I want to give it my all and present something special and different from last year. It's safe to say I'll have this same mindset for future editions as well.

Mostra in Barcelona is a city festival hosting performances in two stunning locations. It's a very different experience to a festival like Paral-lel or Monument, which are somewhat isolated in nature. How does this influence the performance you play and prepare and your own experience?

Absis: There is nothing like playing in nature! But music is like meditation, and you must be able to do it fully anywhere. It transmits something internal, from the inside to the outside, and you can do that in any space. You have to focus and connect with your essence, and the music is expressed. The beauty of DJ sets is that they transmit so much. The same records played by two different DJs can be so different!

Timnah: For me, it was the first time to play in this kind of setting, and I found it very exciting. I was there last year from start to finish and got to play an ambient set in the Hangar on Friday. I also found the change to the two locations and the distance between them exciting. Also that there was the possibility of indoor and outdoor as well as in terms of musical structure and lineup. I am happy that I have the opportunity to play at this beautiful outdoor location this year.

Patrick: I don't know that the city aspect necessarily impacts my set(s) all that much, although I would obviously tailor a set at the Hangar differently than one at the castle. I guess I might play softer or more organically in a natural setting. Still, no matter where it is, my primary objective is to consider the time slot I am playing and who is playing before and after. It's always situational, and I try to keep an eye on the bigger picture.  

Mostra believes the new normal should be built on cooperation and community-building, specifically in Barcelona. Looking at New York and Basel, are there similar initiatives and sentiments you could share for us to explore? 

Timnah: Here is definitely collaboration as well, maybe not in such a prominent setting as Barcelona. Switzerland is very small, and it's also more cross-city. For example, I could mention Garçon's and my radio show 'Home.' It was always important for us to book swiss artists. The live show takes place in our shared studio, and we spend the whole evening together listening to music and exchanging ideas. It's important to us that the community comes together, and we create something together. 

Patrick: New York has countless electronic music scenes in every conceivable sub-genre, but the standout communities are always the ones that prioritize quality and create a like-minded, safe space to focus on music. Mysteries Of The Deep is a label and collective I am very much tied with and an excellent example of this. Their upcoming event series is something I'm excited about because it's forging a unique path in the city, one that's focused on balancing inclusivity with international and local talent and uniting the ambient, experimental, and abstract techno communities. The events will be professional A/V presentations in an intimate setting, allowing people around the world to tune in and stream via Bandcamp Live. 

Which artists or parts of the festival are you most looking forward to in this year's edition?

 Absis: Apart from Timnah and Patrick, who I love hearing play, I fancy many things. Alfonso Pomeda has done a great job programming. From how I feel with music lately, everything in the Hangar attracts me a little more - hoping to enjoy Clara Brea, Son of Chi and Arthur Flink, Felicia Atkinson, Multicast Dynamics, Aa Sudd, Varuna…. The programming is amazing!! No artist does not interest me! It's something that is different compared to other festivals.

Timnah: I'm looking forward to the whole festival! It's just a shame that I'll miss the first day this year, which means I'll lose this great day... but most of all I'm looking forward to meeting all the people there again and getting to know new music and people. Of course, I'm also looking forward to the city itself and the delicious food!

Patrick: I'm most excited to see artists who I admire but have never seen play in a live setting before—Varuna, Aa Sudd, Multicast Dynamics, and Grand River are the first that spring to mind. In addition, there are a host of friends and peers that I'm eager to see play again, like Refracted, Marco Shuttle, Timnah, Lynne, Sciama, Jin, Mareena, and Dino Sabatini. Plus, some additional artists that are new to me as well. Honestly, the whole lineup is intriguing. Very difficult to pick favorites!