Sweet Melodic

Bruce Zalcer is a DJ/producer from Panama with an interesting backstory. A CEO of an insurance brokerage firm, he’s also a techno obsessive, and after returning to music a while back, his studio prowess is beginning to show. His latest work is a remix on Numen of Xenia’s killer Stimulant X EP. Indeed, he’s come to close forge times with similar acts. Alongside Xenia, he’s turned heads recently on the likes of Umek’s 1605 and Spartaque’s Codex. We put some questions to him recently, and here’s what went down…

How are you? What’s good, what’s bad in your world? On a personal level – not a music one – what’s keeping you busy at the moment?

I’m doing well. Thanks!!! Good, well, being at home with my family, being able to see my daughters grow up for a year uninterrupted. Bad, well I can’t say there’s something bad, just maybe some pandemic blues haha. Missing the stuff that we’re all missing; traveling, eating out, etc. Besides music, I’m the CEO of an insurance brokerage firm, so that’s been keeping me busy, and family, etc..

Tell us about your introduction to electronic music. What made you fall in love with it?

My first contact with it was just after graduating high school in December of 1999. I had been into music most of my life, mostly into heavy metal. So it was a big change to start listening to trance, raving, etc… But it felt liberating, it felt fun to go clubbing and actually enjoying the music, dancing, etc.. Trance has intense melodies and I had been very drawn to the melodic aspect of music until then.

What have been the highlights of your career so far?

Being able to sign to labels that I’ve admired, starting with IAMT and Codex and with Umek’s 1605, a musician that I’ve looked up to for a long time Also, working with talented and meticulous professionals like Spartaque, Xenia and Alan Wools.

So if there was one Bruce Zalcer track we should recommend, what would it be and why?

Tough question, haha. I guess Ceremony. It’s been just released on IAMT Red Why? I felt a connection with the melody since I first made it and I think it’s very special. When I made the transition from the break to the drop, I wanted to make something raw, aggressive and I was able to get exactly the sound I wanted. I think that we become attached to music because it lights up certain feelings and emotions inside of us. This track just connected with me from the start.

What keeps you motivated and what keeps you going?

I was away from music for a while. I felt that something was lacking in my life. I realized it was music, making music, creating something. When I do that I feel i’m contributing something, giving a piece of me to the world. I can connect with people I don’t know, from all over the world through my music. That’s something really special and I don’t want to give it up.

What have you most missed during the pandemic the most?

By far, it has been making plans. Organizing a trip and traveling. Taking a break really. 2020 was very good for my career, so I won’t complain. But it’s been hard on other things. It’s been very monotonous.

You recently remixed a great record by Xenia – is remixing a great record really difficult? And can you tell us a bit about the vibe you were going for with it?

Thanks! It depends really on the connection I feel with the original track. If it’s a strong connection, then the remix flows. If it’s not then it’s harder. Xenia’s track is driving, aggressive with haunting vocals. I wanted to keep that vibe, but add some melodic aspects to it. I like to see a track and it’s moods in parallel with a person and his/her feelings. In this case I wanted to contrast a reflective, contemplative mood with that action that often derived from that passive process. That’s what I felt I could add in the remix.

Where do you find inspiration? Do you listen to other music or watch certain films?

It’s kind of hard to pinpoint. I guess it’s because it doesn’t come from one thing in particular. I guess life is what inspires me. It can be a combination of music, a show, a feeling, something that happened, or my reaction to it. More than anything I need to be present, in the moment like they say, so that inspiration can flow better.

What else are you working on or what projects do you have in the pipeline?

I have a three track ep coming out this month IAMT Red and in February an EP with Codex with an awesome remix by Beico. I’m always making new music and the plan is to continue to have a monthly release during 2021.

What is the music you have listened to most this year?

Now I’m listening to a lot of techno, all types of it, and some deep house. And my daughters cartoon music haha. 

Xenia’s Stimulant EP (featuring a remix by Bruce Zalcer) is out now via the Numen label. Keep up with Bruce on Facebook here and check out the release here.