Mexico’s Greatest: Discover Rising Star Daniel Étienne

When looking for fresh EDM blood, one might peruse the clubs in Paris, take a pit stop in Berlin, and a short stroll through the Netherlands. While the Europeans have by far produced the highest number of globally recognized DJs and producers, Daniel Etienne is here to prove that Mexico is an EDM force to be reckoned with.  Hailing from Colima, Mexico, Daniel began producing music four years ago when most kids are just developing their musical tastes. Now, fifteen years young, Daniel creates music that has been played all over the world, most notably on BBC Radio 1 as well as on Hardwell On Air. 

https://soundcloud.com/carter-recordings/daniel-etienne-voices-premiered-by-promise-land-04-05-15

The first aspect of Daniel’s music that listeners will immediately notice is the tech house slant on his generally Prog House tracks. Daniel’s production is simple and clean, allowing those enjoying his music to fully appreciate the samples and sounds that Daniel uses. However, as he grown up, Daniel’s music tastes have also evolved. His musical influence, which now include more commercial artists like Daft Punk, are readily apparent in his production style. While previous tracks have relied on varying levels of distortion, his most recent work best captures the crispness of Daniel’s work. This isn’t to say that his music is boring, plain, or generic. Instead, Daniel’s work seems to remove many of the frills from EDM and leave listeners with raw emotion. His music eliminates distracting sounds that may invite critique, resulting in a highly polished sound that seems well beyond his years. In fact, the unadulterated sound that Daniel claims as his own is very much a function of his limited exposure to the EDM industry. What we receive now from Daniel is music that has not been overwhelmingly shaped by other producers with more experience in the profession.

Daniel notes that his musical journey has not been a result of only his own doing. In fact, he is the first to acknowledge the support that he has been given by other industry professions, namely Oliver Chang and Lee Carter. Their track Arkham, reflects a critical moment in Daniel’s career as he realized that music production was a strong career possibility. This track, alongside the process of releasing his first EP “Frankfurt”, have encouraged and motivated Daniel to continue on the difficult journey into EDM.

The rest of 2015 will be both a challenge and opportunity for Daniel. As he recognizes, the EDM club scene is highly competitive, even in Colima. He notes that most venues already have tried and true DJs, and are not forward-thinking enough to give him a spot. Daniel’s age might also be a limiting factor in receiving residency. However, this has not discouraged the musician. In fact, Daniel hopes to be preforming later this year in Italy for a least a few nights this year, proving that his global audience is already quickly growing. Daniel’s early success has not resulted in complacency. He expresses a clear understanding of his limitations and can already see where he can improve. If you like what you hear, be on the lookout for more original music from this Mexican who has certainly proved that he can hang with the big dogs despite his youth.

By: Ian Yoon

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