Torquato & Boghosian’s first full length comes to life though one of deep house’s most revered labels, Yoruba Records.

A deeply spiritual and artistic voyage, the album is constructed from deep melodies, ghostly vocals of indeterminate gender and drum kits influenced by African percussion. Throughout, Andre Torquato & Paulo Boghosian draw on a vast array of influences mixing old school house vibes with modern electronic timbres and the flavours of their home country, Brazil.

In advance of the release of the debut, we spoke to Paulo and Andre about their heritage, influences and their boredom of overtly ‘happy’ music…

You're both originally from Brazil...do you think the Brazilian culture and lifestyle has influenced the kind of music you create?

Paulo Boghosian: Definitely, I think that everything that you experience culturally, artistically and even in your day to day life, influence the way you make music. Talking specifically about Brazilian culture, it will be pretty clear to the listener that we are deeply influenced by Brazilian popular music (MPB) and some of its more mellow sides. Also there are many percussive elements from Latin and African music present in this album. Overall, the warmth and depth of the Brazilian culture will be felt throughout.

Andre Torquato: I've experienced many styles of music since I was a kid. I was the youngest out of eight brothers who used to listen all kind of music, which I consider good music, including of course, the most important Brazilian artists from early 70's till now.

The album is very deep, much deeper than some of your previous releases...how does the process of making an album differ from that of making a single track?

Paulo: Being DJs, when we think of doing tracks for EPs or regular releases, we are concerned, to some extent, with making more dance floor friendly music. By contrast when we think of an album, we want to express ourselves musically. We want to share with the people the sentiments and the vibe that come from our inner selves and try to give the listener an emotional experience.

Andre Torquato

When putting the album together, did you just concentrate on one track at a time, or are you concentrating on how each relates to the next?

Andre: Most tracks just came about one at a time. We were just doing what we loved and having a good time at the studio. All of a sudden we had like seven or eight tracks that were to some extent related and had our musical signature on them, so we decided we had to make it into an album. Then it was just a matter of just doing a few more tracks that gave cohesiveness to the whole storyline.

How does DJing in Europe differ from playing in South America? Do you have to adapt your sets depending on where you are in the world?

Paulo: I have very limited experience in other South American countries. I play mostly in Brazil or Europe. In comparison to Europe, the Brazilian scene is still very young. Although Brazil has some of the best underground clubs in the world where I can develop my signature sound to the fullest such as Warung and D-Edge (my residencies), when it comes to more mainstream clubs, the scene is over flooded with very commercial dance music, so we have to adapt. In general, I feel that in general, in Europe people are more open-minded and we have more freedom to dig deeper and experiment.  

Andre: I’ve never played in other South American countries. On the other hand, I had a chance of play in Europe a few times and it was amazing, especially in Madrid. I just did my thing, my approach was my vision and musical taste, just like I think things should be. Regarding the scene here, I think there are clubs for everyone. I really love my residence at D-edge; it’s a really special place, as is Warung. Both are temples for underground music.

South America has a huge problem with piracy - probably more so that any other continent. How do you go about combating it?

Paulo: I think that piracy is more of a structural problem in the musical industry than something particular about a certain region in the world. The musical industry is still trying to reinvent itself and bring about new ways of commercializing music that reduce the incentives of pirating or enable more control over piracy. But of course, if we knew how to do that, we’d be millionaires by now.

Tell us about a few of the tracks on the album...are each of them a collaborative effort or are there some that have more of one of you in them than the other?

Paulo: Andre and I share a pretty similar musical taste, which is fundamental in our opinion so that the collaboration works out. We both have this love for deep, spiritual, profound sounds and melodies; lines that make you reflect, which touch your soul in some way. Don’t get me wrong, happy music can be nice, but sometimes it’s just a bit too shallow, and sometimes if we are working with a hook that is too happy we get bored in the process and give it up.

Andre: Yes, I’d agree with that 100%.

How does the creative process work when you are together in the studio? Do you each have a specialty?

Paulo: Basically, we tend to start with an idea, be it a hook, a sample, a melody line, just something that will be the center of attention in the track. At times we do that together, at times by ourselves. Only after that we start doing the drums and the rhythmic elements of the track. I feel that when we try to start with drums sometimes the track becomes limited. But that is only our case, each producer does what works best for them.

When in the studio, usually Andre is in control of the keys and synths and I’m in control of the Maschine (what we use for drums) and the DAW (we use Logic). But we try not to limit ourselves and to be constantly talking about where we want to go with a particular musical piece.  Anytime any of us is adding an element to the track, the other one is directing and constantly giving feedback. After the track is finished, we leave it be for a couple days and then get back to it, getting rid of the unnecessary elements and adding final touches, which can go from ambiances, to drums fills or even changing the construction. Then I mix it and give it to Andre, we listen to it by ourselves in different sound systems and then decide if the mix is good to go.

Paulo Boghosian

Are either of you classically trained in music? If so, which instruments do you play and tend to use in your productions?

Paulo: Although our material is very musical, none of us have classical training; we tend to go by our feelings and by our ears.  Both of us have contact with music since we were children. I’ve been a house head since I was 12 and I’m really curious about every kind of music, so the research process comes naturally. Andre has this natural born talent for music, he is self-taught, which in my modest opinion is many times more interesting than trained musicians because of his capacity to improvise and just get away from the obvious, the formulas.

Andre: I am 100% an intuitive musician. I studied harmonics by myself to be sure that what I am thinking is not wrong. Usually I think in harmonic lines with the melodies sounding together I’m my head. I can say that I play guitar better than keys, but keys became my number one for composing. It’s always beside me here in my home studio.

These are more than just club tracks...there's a lot of emotion apparent in their contraction...where do you take your inspiration from?

Paulo: That is exactly our intention. Our inspirations come from so many different influences, from early Jose Padilla Ibicencan compilations to Brazilian Popular Music (MPB), from Radiohead melodies to Jean Luc Ponty, from the soulful lines of James Brown to the inspiring uplifting vibe of African music. Anything that makes us shiver really.

Andre: Everything around: people, movies, art in general, etc.  In music, I listen to Jazz, Soul, funk, and electronic music. Brazilian instrumental music is also of my passions and inspiration source.

Do the two of you have a live show? Would you consider touring the album?

Paulo: We have not formatted a live show yet, although we DJ back 2 back at times and the chemistry works as good as in the studio.  I think that a live show would be great, but I feel I would do it like Laurent Garnier’s LBS project, with live instruments and band, and also interweaving DJing and live music of our own. I do enjoy live presentations but I feel that in clubs, to properly work the crowd, this interweaving between DJing and live is fundamental.

What are your plans for the rest of 2011 and into 2012?

Paulo: 2011 has been a fantastic year for me as a DJ but especially as a producer. Now the summer is arriving in Brazil and I can’t wait for the end of year gigs, especially one opening for Carl Cox at Warung for his first time, which will be historic. Then after the madness, go back to the studio for more.

Andre: Well, making more and better music, getting nice gigs for this summer in Brazil. Take care of my family what is maybe my support number one to still doing what I do.

Anything else you'd like to tell us about...?

Andre: We would like to thank our brother Ale Reis for all the help and support with the productions, and for encouraging us to go forward with it. We would just like to say what a great honor it is to be part of Yoruba and Defected. We share this incredible respect for Osunlade, and his musical talent, and we feel that earning credentials to release an album through Yoruba is one of the greatest recognitions and artist can get in electronic music, because rest assured he is a man that stays 100% true to himself and to the music he likes. Meanwhile Defected has released some of the greatest house records of our time, so many records that we played and that are part of our history as DJs as well.

Paulo: I will never forget the goose bumps I got from playing Kings of Tomorrow ‘Finally’ for the first time, or DJ Gregory’s ‘Tropical Soundclash’ or Mood II Swing ‘Can’t get Away’ just to name a few. Defected has always been true to house, and created a great balance between big hit records and more underground house head tracks., evolving constantly but without falling  for the temporary, ephemeral and many times overrated sounds.

Andre: Music is something so special, spiritual, and magical. I feel blessed doing music everyday in my life.

Torquato & Boghosian is out 6th November