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Alejandro has been making pretty awesome tracks since his real name began to dominate his time over his other aliases, like Funzion and E. Bridge. Since I heard BCN I was hooked, and with each release his sound gets stronger, more polished and expressive, and sounds progressively more like him. He is currently finishing his first full length under his real name, the first since Hiperboria as Funzion in 2005, which is exciting news, and because I asked nicely he sent me a live set to put up on here. Check it out, it is great. So as well as that he agreed to spend some time answering my questions about his future, football, and fretwork.

Polo is big in Argentina right? In England polo is for people who say 'ya' instead of 'er'; I heard it was more popular than football there.
Money-wise, it's really big and lots of money is put into it. So, it's kind of an upper class sport, but if you mean the number of people playing it, football is the sport, no question.

Do people still love Maradona there? In England we should hate him, but we love that god of hands!
I think he has really lost it since he started to run the football national team. But he is still Maradona you know... he is an icon, and an asshole! He is amazing, full of talent, ingenious, but arrogant, addicted, egocentric and incapable of realising his own defects. A bit like Argentina!

Are you a sporty guy then?
Not at all. I'm not proud of being such a lazy ass, but I find it quite difficult to put energy into something that I am not passionate about. But I do plan to do something to get my ass out of my studio chair soon!

Is there a big dance scene in Argentina? I heard they have a couple of great clubs there.
It's big as a scene- like sixty-thousand people go to Creamfields- but dance music as a culture of production, creation and an art scene is tiny. We have a few cool clubs, mainly in Buenos Aires and some interesting spots in Cordoba and Rosario. I am positive about Argentina's future, but it's just taking too long!

So you moved to Berlin.
I've been building my career into this scene from Argentina for years, and it's been pretty tough: the distance, the lack of interaction with other artists, the cultural barriers and having to do everything over the internet.

Now I have finished my Political Sciences studies in Argentina, I felt it was time to be closer to the music, my passion and my job. I know it's cliché to move to Berlin but believe me, you are much closer to electronic music in Berlin than Mendoza. I'm not a DJ. I don't know how to DJ, I don't have records other than my own, or even have turntables for listening to them!...

Don't you get dance music overkill there though?
It can be a dangerous city for people that can't get enough of partying. But I always know when to go home and sleep. Plus I've only been here a month, so maybe ask that question in a year!

Mmkay. Had you always planned on using your real name eventually for a more melodic sound?
Well, I felt my music was becoming more and more personal, my sound was changing and at the same time I was starting to feel that this was becoming my real profession and not just a hobby. So why not use my real name? It is personal, it is honest, it is me.

And Alejandro Mosso sounds cool. Tell me about the live set you did for me- what did you use?
I only used what I use for playing in a club: my laptop with Ableton and the rest, and my Bitstream controller.

Do you DJ as well as play live sets?
I'm not a DJ. I don't know how to DJ, I don't have records other than my own, or even have turntables for listening to them!

You used to play guitar right?
I used to study guitar, I practiced every day and was pretty into it. I studied music composition for 5 years, so if you put me in front of a keyboard or bass, I can make some sounds. Today though, I have to say that my mouse/ track pad techniques are getting better than my fretwork. But it's never too late!

No matter how much fun it is making songs in a studio, nothing beats rocking out at band practice!
Well, it is actually very different, but you are right. The energy you get in band rehearsal is crazy! I miss it a bit...

You said in an interview you were praying for more soulful records. Now look where we are! Careful what you wish for.
Yeah I see your point. Actually I'm happy about the change from cold, emotionless techno to a warmer, more musical sound. Not that I enjoy all the music being released now. There's a bunch of empty releases out, just with a Latin vocal or African sound over a lifeless house loop or tool. African vocals, like the dark obscure pads or reverse snares of techno, are part of the hype. You can use whatever you like if it's good, but it should only be for the purpose of reaching your intended goal, without worrying if it is cool or not.

So how do you distinguish between hype and credible music?
I don't purposefully react against the new hype; I just prefer to find deep and meaningful music within each wave passing. I guess to be credible you just need to create feelings, presented in a musical language and structure. I think the next wave will be something still warm and emotive, but stronger and harder too. Something closer to trance/tech-house maybe. We will see. It isn't difficult to see the hype and use it to your advantage, but in the end to be credible is to be unique, and this takes years of work... So I should get back to work!

Alejandro Mosso Live Set Here
www.alejandromosso.com.ar | www.myspace.com/funzion