23.06.2021
This week is a celebration – the one year anniversary of the detroit.dance live mix series. I am so thankful for all of the support from you over the last year! I love finding up and coming artists, and people that you may not know about that you should. It is important to showcase the individuality of each artist as well as showcase their mixes, which is what I aim to do with each interview and feature.
The one year anniversary mix is by The Bernabela Project – a duo consisting of Ramiro & Nicole Bernabela. This is a full circle moment, as I had Ramiro on for the very first mix.
I hope you enjoy learning more about them and what they’ve been up to in their interview – and be sure to check out their Recipe by Request for Tofu Stir Fry with Peanut Satay Sauce being posted Friday.
Each mix will exclusively premiere on Deep Space Radio at noon on Wednesday – and then be available on the detroit.dance SoundCloud as per usual at 3:13pm EST.
Be sure to check out their mix, on SoundCloud now.
detroit.dance: What do you do for work outside of music?
Nicole : I work for various event companies and clubs, working the door and doing promotional work.
Ramiro : I do web programming and coding, make websites, sound design, and work on coding audio software.
detroit.dance: What are some of your hobbies?
Nicole : I love learning languages. I lived in Spain as an exchange student as a high schooler and that experience really opened my eyes to a new world of travel and languages. I speak fluent Dutch, Spanish, and am learning German as well. I also enjoy doing graphic design and practicing yoga.
Ramiro : Building computers, video games, reading.
detroit.dance: How did you two meet?
TBP: We met in early 2005 at a club in The Netherlands, introduced by a mutual friend.
detroit.dance: Talk a little bit about your time in the Netherlands – do you miss it?
Nicole : We lived right in the middle of downtown Groningen and we could walk to shops, bars, restaurants, and clubs. I really miss that! I also miss my friends and my Dutch family.
Ramiro : I miss my family and my friends and I miss being able to walk to my gigs. I also miss riding my bicycle to get around.
detroit.dance: What is your take on the electronic music scene in the Netherlands vs Detroit?
Nicole : Dance music is more popular in Europe, you hear it everywhere, in restaurants, bars, stores, on the regular FM radio, and of course also in the clubs. The clubs there stay open late, usually 6am, or they are just open for the whole weekend. Liquor licenses there don’t have cutoff times. The styles of music are a bit different too, for example, bass house is not popular there at all and I see it a lot here.
Ramiro : There are a lot more restrictions here than in The Netherlands. I was used to clubs being allowed to be open for 24 hours with no restrictions about alcohol serving times. The techno that is popular here sounds different from the techno there. I personally like Detroit techno better than European techno, it has more groove to it.
detroit.dance: The industry is coming back – especially in Detroit – how do you think the future of events will be?
Nicole : I’m hoping that Detroit events will focus more on local acts than bringing in acts from other cities and countries. There is an insane amount of talent right here in Detroit!
Ramiro : I fully agree with Nicole on this one.
detroit.dance: How did The Bernabela Project come to be?
Nicole : Ramiro has been a DJ for quite some time, much longer than me. He taught me how to DJ with vinyl on turntables shortly after we started dating. I always just did it for fun at home while he was the one doing it professionally in the clubs. He was always producing music at home too. He would ask me for advice about certain sounds in his productions. I would give him my advice, and that started happening more and more, and we just decided to start producing together. He taught me how to use a DAW and how to use the synths and plugins. We decided to officially team up and DJ and produce together in 2014.
detroit.dance: How long have you both been DJing?
Nicole : I learned how to DJ on vinyl in 2007 but just messed around and did it for fun. After we got CDJs at home, I started doing it more often, and I’ve been playing gigs in clubs since 2014.
Ramiro : I first learned how to DJ 30 years ago as a teenager. My first paid gig was at a party from my high school in 1991. In the mid 90s I got my first DJ residency at the biggest dance club in the northern Netherlands, De Golden Arm. I’ve held residencies in Amsterdam at Club Zoo and played De Melkweg as well in the late 90s and 00s.
detroit.dance: While DJing together, what is something you have learned from each other?
Nicole : Where to even start, I’ve learned so much from him! He is definitely a master at his craft and has taught me everything I know about it.
Ramiro : She has a different approach that’s refreshing to watch and she selects tracks to mix together that I maybe would not have but it works out well.
detroit.dance: How does the sound of TBP differ from the sound of Ramiro solo?
TBP: Our sound is a bit more eclectic as we combine our tastes together. Ramiro solo plays mainly underground house, tech house, and techno.
detroit.dance: Nicole – would you branch out and DJ solo? If so, have you thought about what your alias would be or your solo sound?
Nicole: Yes, I’ve thought about it and I would. I think I would just do it under my real name, Nicole Bernabela. My solo sound would be similar to our sound but with more of my own tastes, usually when I play on my own I like to mix up the genres a lot, playing everything from deep house to electro to techno.
detroit.dance: What has been your favorite gig together so far?
TBP: We played a live set on the patio of Marble Bar and it was our favorite. We used drum machines, synthesizers and Roland Aira gear.
detroit.dance: What is your dream gig?
TBP: Playing a live set at Movement.
detroit.dance: What is the thing you listen for or pay attention to the most when DJing or listening back to a set?
TBP: The flow of the set, the journey it takes, and the transitions.
detroit.dance: What is your process when putting together a set?
TBP: When selecting tracks for a set, we think about the venue we’re playing in, the time slot we’re playing, who else is playing that night, and what type of crowd we think will be there.
detroit.dance: When searching for new tracks, what speaks to you?
TBP: Uniqueness and originality. We try to avoid anything too predictable or cookie-cutter when it comes to the tracks we play.
detroit.dance: Do you have any future goals for TBP?
TBP: Our goals are to establish ourselves more in Detroit and beyond, and to have lots of great releases both on our own label and on other labels we respect.
detroit.dance: Do you produce tracks together? What are a couple steps to your process?
TBP: Yes we produce tracks together. Usually we start by making a beat, then the bassline, then the melodic elements. Occasionally one of us has already made a nice melody and we use that as our starting point.
detroit.dance: Talk about your favorite pieces of gear.
TBP: Our favorite synth to use is definitely the Roland Juno 106. We use it in all of our productions. It’s so versatile, we use it to make basslines, melodic sounds, and effects. It has a warm, organic sound that we are in love with. Coming in second is our Korg MS 20. It has its own unique sound and we mainly use it for bass and percussion sounds and effects. Our 3rd favorite is the modular Moog Mother 32. It took some time to learn this one, but it’s really fun to use and makes the coolest effects.
detroit.dance: What was your experience doing a set for Charivari?
TBP: We had a blast recording our set for Charivari’s online festival. We selected tracks that were special to us and put a couple of our own tracks in there as well. We were honored that over 90,000 people tuned into it when it was aired on Mixcloud Live.
detroit.dance: Your label AudioBite Records – When did you start the label and why?
TBP: We started AudioBite Records in 2009 together to have an outlet to release our own tracks and our friend’s tracks. We were living in The Netherlands at the time and we knew we were surrounded by talented producers and we just felt like it was the right move.
detroit.dance: Where did the name come from?
TBP: Funny story… our first idea was to call the label Audio Byte Records. A sound byte or audio byte is a music clip. Nicole was in the process of designing our first logo in Photoshop. She made a picture of a record with a bite taken out of it, like someone was trying to eat it, as then we decided to use that logo and actually call it AudioBite Records.
detroit.dance: What is the sound of the label and are you accepting demos?
TBP: The sound is underground house, tech house, deep house, and techno. We generally don’t sign unsolicited music but someone can always send us a link to check out their track at info[at]audiobiterecords.com.
detroit.dance: What are some of your favorite prior releases?
TBP: Our 2 favorite and most popular releases are “Life After House” from Ramiro Bernabela & Roland Clark, and “How Low Can You Go” from Ramiro Bernabela feat. Mr. V.
detroit.dance: Are there any releases or plans with the label coming up you’d like to discuss?
TBP: Our label is also planning to branch out into a music software business. We plan to sell audio plugins (VSTs) and producer sample packs. We are going to start pressing vinyl again as well like we did in the past.
detroit.dance: As a promoter and event curator, what is important to you when curating events?
TBP: The quality of the DJs and having the right lineup is the most important, but it’s also important that the vibes are on point. We usually hire someone to do visuals for all of our events, and we also sometimes have food vendors as well. We make sure that the event is safe and properly staffed.
detroit.dance: What do you notice the most at other events?
TBP: At other people’s events, we like to check out the DJs, the visuals / decor, the overall vibe of the crowd.
detroit.dance: You name your parties “Audio Elixir”, how did you come up with the name?
TBP: The word “elixir” means a magical or medicinal potion. So, our events are essentially a magical potion of audio. And the word “audio” also references our label.
detroit.dance: Any gigs that you’d like to talk about, or releases to look out for?
TBP: We have a few things coming up in the next few months but nothing has been officially announced yet, but watch our social media for announcements soon.
detroit.dance: Talk about your track that went viral on TikTok! How did that happen, how did it feel?
TBP: The track is the Gettoblaster Remix of Ramiro Bernabela feat. Mr. V “How Low Can You Go” and it quickly went viral there after we distributed it to them. People started a “How Low Can You Go Challenge” and they made the coolest videos, we were delighted to see it happen.
detroit.dance: Your take on using TikTok marketing in the music industry?
TBP: TikTok can be a great marketing tool. Our music distributor sends our music there and we allow people to use it in their videos and we get streaming royalties from it. Some people spend a lot of money sending their tracks to TikTok influencers, but we have never done that and don’t plan to. It’s possible to have success on there organically.
detroit.dance: Do you have any merch available and how would one get some?
TBP: Yes, we have merch available on our Bandcamp, which can be found at https://audiobiterecords.bandcamp.com/
detroit.dance: How do you feel about the future of cryptocurrency? Any tips for people wanting to invest?
TBP: We think cryptocurrency is exciting and has a lot of potential to be the new currency, replacing the financial system we have now. Our tip is try to buy as much as you can in the dips and don’t invest anything you can’t afford to lose as it is a volatile market. And invest in coins that you believe in and that have a purpose and a future.
detroit.dance: How long have you been vegan?
Nicole : About 3 years ago I went fully vegan.
Ramiro : I’ve been vegetarian for 7 years, vegan for the past 4 years.
detroit.dance: What are some ingredients you like to have around?
TBP: Nuts, avocados, curry, oat milk, spicy peppers, lots of veggies & fruits, tofu, garlic.
detroit.dance: Do you think that being vegan is more expensive grocery-wise than not?
TBP: No. When we were eating meat, we were eating organic meat, which is way more expensive than any vegan foods. We eat a lot of whole foods and try to avoid overly processed foods.
detroit.dance: What do you wish we had more of in Detroit for vegans?
TBP: Detroit needs more vegan options in regular restaurants and more vegan restaurants.
detroit.dance: Bucket list country to go to that you haven’t yet?
Nicole : Thailand
Ramiro – Bali (Indonesia)
detroit.dance: Your cats! Gush about them a little bit.
TBP: We have 2 cats, Stan & Ollie. They are brothers and just turned 4. We rescued them at 1 year old from a person that kept them locked up in a bedroom 24 hours a day, and this person was going to send them to a shelter if they couldn’t find someone to adopt them. Luckily we saw the ad for them and acted on it. They were timid and scared when we first got them, but now they’re extremely affectionate and spoiled. They are our babies. Fun fact, they are named after the famous comedians, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy that were popular in the 30s and 40s.
detroit.dance: You shop at Well Done Goods a lot, what are your favorite products from there?
TBP: Well Done Goods is our favorite store in Detroit. Our favorites are probably the shirts we buy from there. Nicole also buys a lot of jewelry from there. We do lots of our Christmas shopping there as well, so our friends and family all have lots of fun items from there.
detroit.dance: If you had 24 hours of sunlight, what would you do?
Nicole : I would take advantage of all the sunlight and throw a 24-hour outdoor event.
Ramiro : Honestly, I would probably do the same thing I normally do and spend the whole day in the studio working on music.
detroit.dance: Disco balls vs Lasers?
Nicole : Disco balls.
Ramiro : Lasers.
detroit.dance: If you could only see the world in one color, what would it be?
Nicole : Purple. It’s the color of passion and I’m a Scorpio and a very passionate person.
Ramiro : Light blue. It is calm and natural like the sea and the sky.
Make sure you check out The Bernabela Project’s Destination Detroit – Marble Bar and their Recipe by Request that will be posted on Friday (Tofu Stir Fry with Peanut Satay Sauce).
Keep up with The Bernabela Project on their socials: