Sinca is a Montreal-based artist with a skillfully crafted dancefloor sound, fusing hypnotic grooves, powerful baselines, and lush, uplifting synth work. The up-and-coming DJ and producer is a dedicated supporter of the city’s thriving underground, rising through the ranks to gain the backing of global tastemaker Anjunadeep. The London-based publisher released their debut album “Mancora” in 2021 with strong support from stalwarts James Grant and Jody Wisternoff.
Raised in the French capital of Canada in a Peruvian family, by Sinca An eclectic background and upbringing has brought an inimitable flavor to his sound and an undeniable joy to his performances. A passionate epicurean and former classical ballet and rhythmic flamenco dancer, her creative exploits and curious tastes inspire evolving sets that elevate the senses and provide a transcendent experience on the floor.
Sinca will perform at 15 years of EG during ADE week alongside Patrice Bäumel, Brian Cid and Borella. Reserve your spot by donating to Save The Children Ukraine here.
We caught up Sincere before his performance at 15 years of EG to find out more about what to expect for the evening, drop her ‘Other’ EPs, Stage Status Views, and more.
EG: Hi Gabriela! Welcome to EG. It is a pleasure to have you with us. Where are you based at the moment? How have you been?
If it : Thank you for! I’m currently based in the beautiful city of Montreal, but I’ve had the chance to travel quite a bit over the past year. I just finished my first tour in India, which was amazing. I had the opportunity to play in Goa, Hyderabad and Delhi. It was an amazing experience! I also recently released my new EP, ‘Other’on X Y Z. It’s great to see the positive reaction so far.
EG: First of all, thank you so much for taking part in the Duke Of Tokyo’s 15th anniversary celebrations during ADE week!
If it : Yes, I can’t wait!
EG: How excited are you about this one? What can your fans expect from this performance?
If it : I’m really looking forward to it. I will definitely be playing new tracks that I have recently discovered, coupled with my latest releases and some secret projects that I am working on. One thing is for sure: it’s going to be a lot of fun!
EG: Are there any sets from this night that you are particularly looking forward to?
If it : Yes definitely! The composition is excellent. Can’t wait to see the other artists: Patrice Baumel, Brian Cid, Borel…
“I will for sure be playing new tracks that I have recently discovered, coupled with my latest releases and secret projects”
EG: Will this be your first time in Amsterdam? What activities or spots would you recommend?
If it : The last time I was in Amsterdam was in 2017, under very different circumstances. It’s one of those cities I never tire of. I love the canals, the food, the bike friendliness and of course the very welcoming people. Amsterdam Dance Event has always been on my list of events to go play. I couldn’t ask for a better debut in the city. About food, I’m a big foodie and I can’t wait to go back to a restaurant I discovered a few years ago called Coffee of Ceuvel. The food, but also the place itself and the atmosphere make it a unique place to dine and have a drink. It’s not in the tourist area, but 100% worth the visit.
Read EG’s Amsterdam Dance Event 2022 guide here: https://bit.ly/3fUVfsa
EG: You had a sensational start as a producer with releases on Anjunadeep and When We Dip/XYZ. How long did it take you to feel comfortable with what you were releasing? What’s next on the production front?
If it : I feel very lucky for my production debut so far! I don’t think I’ll ever be completely comfortable with my musical endeavors, as it’s a very vulnerable process when you think about it (and I’m definitely a perfectionist!). I mean, you spend hours trying to find a sound that resonates with your preferences, moods and feelings and send it to music labels that dictate if it’s “good enough” to be signed and released. Love for music is so subjective and it’s a constant debate between what you really want to put out there and what you think the music industry is looking for right now.
From a practical point of view, I took a few production courses in 2019, but I would say that I am mostly self-taught on Ableton with the help of my mentor, Youtube. I went down a rabbit hole and created a few projects that never got sent to labels until the pandemic hit, where I created my first “real” track, ‘Mancora’which was signed on Anjunadeep. Something I’ve never shared with anyone is that ‘Mancora’ was produced on my beat-up MacBook as I was leaving Airbnb at Airbnbtrying to figure out where to live due to the circumstances of the pandemic.
Secondly, I think that the feedback from other artists is very important because an outside opinion allows us to take the necessary distance. When you produce a new track, you listen to it so many times that you can sometimes get sick of it, so having a fresh perspective can help improve it but also sometimes reconfirm your initial love for the track. However, I think it’s very important to stay true to your preferences because every artist (and human) is biased and will inevitably be more attracted to certain sounds. It is therefore important to take comments with a grain of salt.
As for upcoming releases, you’ll definitely be hearing new music in the months to come, and I can’t wait. The release process with the labels can be long, but I have a lot in the works for 2023.
EG: Let’s take it back to where you came from. Musically speaking, what was it like growing up in Montreal in a Peruvian family?
If it : Music was always playing all over the house and together with my mother and my sister, we would often dance salsa as we prepared “Aji De Gallina” in the kitchen (a typical Peruvian dish). Depending on which room of the house you walk into, you might expect to hear Latin, classical, rock, or sometimes even Celine Dion music. Music has always held such an important place in our home. Also, I’m glad I grew up in Montreal, where so many festivals and musical events take place.
EG: And when did you first come into contact with electronic music? What first caught your attention in electronic music? Was there a record or show that pushed you down the rabbit hole?
If it : Like most teenagers, I went through many different phases, but one of my earliest memories of listening to electronic music was when I was around 13, listening to Tiesto and daft-punk. A few years later I got sucked down the rabbit hole when Dubstep started out and then pivoted into an EDM phase with the likes of Hardwell, AVICCI, Alessoetc As for the transition to my love for Melodic House, it happened during my debut as a DJ when I found myself going out a lot more in Montreal: Electronic Piknic, Salon Daomeand Stereo for example. I developed an appreciation for all the intricate detail this genre of music offers and subconsciously began to put tracks together according to the mood of each song. I feel like the melodies in each track allow you to evoke a feeling that I don’t think is possible in every genre.
“I still notice an underlying layer of misogyny. I could give many examples, but to give you a very simple one, I invite you to browse the groups and social media pages and notice the number of memes, jokes and comments, which are probably meant to be harmless but do not help the cause of equality”
EG: What do you think of the current state of the scene? What would you like to see more of and less of?
If it : That’s a loaded question because there are so many avenues to take here, haha! I think it’s beautiful how accessible the music scene is with technology and all things digital. As I jumped from Airbnb at Airbnb In the midst of a pandemic, access to a few hundred dollar software gave me the opportunity to produce tracks and make a name for myself, which now allows me to travel the world doing what I love. Obviously I’m simplifying it, but it’s great to see that you don’t need to have a lot of upfront costs to “do it”.
Another thing I love is how tight-knit and supportive the electronic music community is. A message of positivity and acceptance often takes priority, and it is certainly not present in all industries.
On the other hand, there are some facets that we can improve, and the first that comes to mind concerns the theme of equal opportunities for all genders. As we see more women and LGBTQ+ DJs on the scene, I still notice an underlying layer of misogyny. I could give many examples, but to give you a very simple one, I invite you to browse social media groups and pages and notice the number of memes, jokes and comments, which are probably intended to be harmless but do not help the cause of equality. Obviously the transition will take time, but hopefully as more influential platforms raise awareness of this, we can truly embody the values of positivity and acceptance that the electronic music community lives .
EG: What’s next for Sinca? What particular milestones are you looking forward to now?
If it : I’ll spare you my bucket list, but I hope 2023 will be a year filled with new music, new places, new cities, new projects, etc!
EG: Thank you very much for your time, Gabriela! We wish you the best for the future. See you soon on the dancefloor!
If it : Thanks see you soon DEA! 🙂
Sinca will perform at EG’s 15th anniversary during ADE week alongside Patrice Bäumel, Brian Cid and Borella. Reserve your spot by donating to Save The Children Ukraine here.
Follow Sinca: SoundCloud | instagram | Facebook | Spotify
Comments are closed.