House music is arguably one of the most prolific subdivisions of Dance music. Since its inception in Chicago in the early 80s, producers have taken the idea of laying simple melodies over a repetitive, minimal 4/4 beat to new heights. Two DJs who have preserved the original spirit of House music while also updating it for today's generations are the Dutchmen, Gabriel & Castellon. They create some of the easiest House music to listen to and get lost in. And we're not the only ones to think that with releases on Ministry of Sound, Nocturnal, and Fedde le Grand’s Flamingo Records that have been picked up by Pete Tong on BBC Radio 1, Radio 538’s Dance Department, and other noteworthy radio stations. Their love for this music and emotionally connecting with their fans ensures that they'll be remembered as two of the best to do it in the house of House.
Gabriel Vezzola, or just Gabriel, and Steven Willems, Castellon, first met about seven years ago at Midtown, one of the bigger record companies in Rotterdam, Holland. Gabriel was the in house producer covering everything from Hardcore to minimal. According to Castellon, the chemistry between the two was immediately apparent and they got right to work. At the time, Castellon had finished college and was DJing in one of the most popular clubs in Rotterdam. It was only a matter of time before he met Gabriel. The success from their first EP on Audio Damage led to an influx of requests for more of Gabriel & Castellon. They share equal responsibilities in the studio and on stage, allowing both to flex their creative muscles. And when one comes up short, the other finishes the sentence:
"We complete each other. Gabriel and I are in the industry for a while now and melded together with it. Of course sometimes one wants to go left and one right, but we always end up in a good middle."
In 2013, they both noticed a slow shift in interest in the masses towards Deep House music. While it felt new to many Dance music fans, it was sort of a homecoming for Gabriel & Castellon. They were already studying how to push House music in more organic and melodic direction so this return to their older tendencies was a welcomed one: "We heard when the Deep House sound came it had a lot of influences from back in the days we started out as kids behind turntables. We were hoping for a sound like that to come again cause it is just more musical and there aren’t that many 'rules' as in other styles for example." And even if it was new territory for them, it would have been strangely familiar since they've been so obsessed with its fundamental melodies. The resurgence of their roots led to a relationship with Yves Murasca and Déepalma Records. Based out of Ibiza, the label is at the forefront of modern deep house and releases other artists such as Matvey Emerson and Loui & Scibi
While the House music that the two DJs put out may sound simple in nature, it comes from a genuine place and they've figured out a way of fitting all the beauty in its simplicity: "We can only make music and play music from the heart." And they've chosen House music because it allows them to explore their ideas without inhibitions that other genres have: "It gives us more freedom in creating and the vibe is more based on melodies than trying to make the biggest and hardest drop ever like in EDM. Wooshes and snares and kicks is not something that gives you an emotion, we believe. It’s melodies, sounds, and vocals." One thing you'll hear prevalent in their music is the use of a vocalist, whether it's her natural voice or a slightly altered one. They not only use the singer as a vehicle to convey a message of positivity as well as another instrument in their music, but also because she also helps the fans remember a song better.
As they travel the world and get in touch with other cultures, they broaden their minds and adapt to the different musical climates: "Some countries like Panama, the people just go mental and enjoy the music to the max and actually don’t really care for vocals for example. Holland is a different thing. People almost want to hear vocals. Denmark tops it and they need the vocals. That’s why a great DJ like Noir does not really play a lot in his home country." They've also come more in touch with their heritage, as both of them are half Latino, by adding more tropical undertones in recent releases. But what prepared them for the stages across the rest of the world? Their home crowd. They explain that the Dutch crowd is a difficult one to please. Since House has deep roots in Holland, most fans are well educated and expect something of high caliber as a given. The duo has come to terms with being held to a standard of finding that balance among the "deep, the different, and the commercial side."
With 2015 coming to a close, Gabriel and Castellon are still aiming to fulfill the goal they set out with--release a new song every month. So far they've nailed every month save for July, but they promise their fans that the October release will be so cool and different that it will count as two. For them, the hardest part about this ambitious goal is not creating the music on schedule. It's the business aspect of planning releases with big labels. That's when you know that you were meant to create music. They're bona fide role models whose passion and dedication can only be outmatched by someone who cares just as little about the money and just as much about the love. So while the other EDM artists hunt down the hardest drops made possible by a human mind for a quick buck, Gabriel and Catellon will be hanging out on the "Deep" end.
Last Call
1. What is your favorite movie of all time?Gabriel: Corny but The Godfather
Castellon: Jungle Book
2. As a young DJ, who was the one DJ you looked up to?Gabriel: Gigi d’Agostino
Castellon: Benny Rodrigues
3. As a DJ, what's your biggest pet peeve?Castellon: "Everybody will dance to it if you play this song now!!!!" [On my phone]
Gabriel: What Steve said
4. What is your current set up at home?Gabriel: Nothing at home since I only want rest, but my studio is around the corner and that’s one big playground of synths, guitars, piano, percussion, outboard gear, and Mac Pro of course.
Castellon: iMac / MacBook
5. What's your favorite record of all time?Gabriel: Outlander - "The Vamp" and Format #1 - "Solid Sessions"
Castellon: Baby D - "Let Me Be Your Fantasy"
Keep up with Gabriel & Castellon on their Twitter, website, Youtube, Facebook, and Instagram.
Bryan Hahn probably eats dinner as passionately as these guys create House music. He's on Twitter: @notupstate.