Pettre's guide to Barcelona
I came across Pettre in Berlin last summer, taking in the morning sunshine by the river, after a night’s revelling at Watergate. It was only a week or so later I got round to listening to his music – his gorgeous deep house, rapturous and ecstatic, it knocked me for six. His releases have appeared on John Talabot’s Hivern Discs, based in Barcelona, so naturally we wanted the low-down on the inspirations available in the Catalan capital.
View Pettre’s guide to Barcelona in a larger map
A place that conjures up old memories?
When you live in Barcelona, you feel it is a small town, every corner, park, plaza can make you remember one time or another. Good and bad memories this is inevitable. It is a city that never fails to surprise, you can always find a new place you’ve never been. Last week I was up the mountain of Montjuic, where you can see the industrial port with an incredible panorama.
A place that has a strong influence on the music you make?
The Sonar and Primavera Sound festival each year are held in the small city of Barcelona. They are reference points for me, I’d say they have been a great influence when making music. Every year I look forward to it, I have approached a lot of talented artists on the global electronic scene.
A place you like to go out?
If you want to go out for a drink and to party, I think that Apolo is the best club in town, but sometimes artists scheduled discredit the name it has. It is a club that has two rooms, one of electronica and indie-pop, I like both. I also like going to Los Encantes, I love it, It is a market for second-hand items – open Monday, Wednesday and Friday, you can find any foreign objects, including records.
A place people who have never been to the place before should definitely visit?
In this city there are many things that should be visited, in addition to the museums you can find. It’s a great cultural city, and many beautiful corners. The buildings architecture are excellent, the climate and environment are too.
A place you live or used to live?
I live very near the city center, next to Las Ramblas de las Flores, exactly in the neighborhood of Raval. The district is the most multicultural in city, blending youth with immigrants from all over the world. Formerly known as Chinatown, it had the greatest concentration of prostitution and crime. Now there’s lots of bars where you can have any drink and something to eat.
A place you like to eat?
I love Meditarranean food in Barcelona city, I always like going to the Barceloneta, old fisherman’s quarter of the city, where you can eat the best paella by the sea.
A place you work/record?
I’m working on a very peculiar project, a study in ancient astronomical observations. In a studio I share with my friend Juan Miguel II, The studio is located in Passeig de Gracia, one of the most beautiful streets of the city, right in front of La Pedrera, one of the most emblematic buildings of the Modernist architect Antoni Gaudí. Juan Miguel is part of Aster with me – a parallel project which we have also released via Hivern Discs, John Talabot label and will be releasing via Mathematics Recordings early-June.
‘La Verdad Flota’ is available as part of the Hivern a L’Estiu Vol II. Pettre makes his London DJ debut at The Macbeth tonight for the Stella Mortos launch party.
