A Homecoming Talkback with Lupe Fuentes, Scott Martin and Someone From Berlin
Hi! Someone From Berlin here. I added the strap-line of “homecoming” because we were able to finally coax both Scott Martin, my UltraMaroon co-creator, and Lupe Fuentes, a long time collaborator and friend, to fly over together from the West Coast.
These two people are pretty important to my personal creative journey, and UltraMaroon wouldn’t be what it is without either of them. Rather than explain why myself, I asked DavidxDaisy to take a run at a group interview. Check it out!
On this very special episode of UltraMaroon, we welcome back UltraMaroon co-founder, Scott Martin, and the magnificent Lupe Fuentes, as they rejoin Someone From Berlin on the UM decks for a Homecoming jim-jamboree. These like-minded artists are a powerhouse of the sound that is the core of the UltraMaroon experience, able to play off each other seamlessly through a bond of friendship and experience. From the first season of UM at the former The Lately in Meatpacking to Fire Island Pines ragers over the years and back to Blue Midtown, these three have perfected the secret sauce that makes every party they play together so delicious.
This Sunday, Dec 4, you can get all the sauce you want and then some. I caught up with the true-house-trio as they all converged in LA for a weekend romp as Lupe played Hollywood Palladium.
DXD: How would you each best describe your respective sound?
SFB: I’ve always been grounded in house music but the pandemic changed the way I play. These days, while I still play for the room, I gravitate most to vocal progressive tracks. With that said, I’m all over the place; I could start with classic house and end up with a techno vibe – it really depends on the moment.
Scott: My first and one true love will always be soulful house. It is what got me into house music and there is no better experience on the dancefloor, in my opinion. When I play, I tend toward a more emotive tech house sound, somewhere in the groove that blends the drums and grooves and tech house with the sexier and emotive sounds that are soulful and deep.
Lupe: My sound is a mix from house to techno, heavy on the vocals with Latino undertones. Coming from Colombia, my Latino roots appear in my mixes and music production. It is such a big part of who I am as an artist.
DXD: Lupe, how did you get your start in nightlife?
Lupe: To share how I started nightlife, I have to share how I started in music.
Originally from Colombia, a country rich with talented artists, I was inspired by artists like El Groupo Niche, Celia Cruz, and Shakira from an early age. Later, I moved to Spain with my mom and my brother in search of a better life. Spain is a country rich not only in nightlife culture, but also in house music. I started going out with my friends when I was very young, experiencing DJs of all genres. One of the first DJ's I ever saw was Eric Morillo – may he rest in peace.
When I moved to the US, my life was very different. I was at a point where I needed to do something different with my life as I felt like my soul was dying. That's when I started going out in LA to Sound Nightclub. They gave me my first opportunity to play when no one else wanted to because of my past career in the adult industry, and I will always be grateful for that.
DXD: Scott and Raf, you started DJing together as Rebecca when you were roommates in NYC. With Scott’s move to LA in 2019, how have you both evolved as independent artists? What do you miss most about regularly playing as a duo?
Scott: I miss those days immensely! I had been playing at the late, great G Lounge on Wednesday nights and a few other random gigs when I was just starting out, and it was magic to find someone like Raf who shared a passion and vision of what nightlife could be – outside of the typical bounds that we were used to. It just clicked musically. We loved the same things with just enough variation to our tastes that we could play off of each other with so much ease. Those early Becky, Rebecca, and UltraMaroon parties were tequila-fueled fever dreams, but it was ours. It has been a constant and evolving path to define my sound. Since my move to LA, I feel like I have truly found my voice, and I’ve been able to explore so much more of the vibrant, interconnected underground scene.
SFB: I grew up in a (classical) music household, surrounded by chamber music. It was my parents’ passion, not mine, but one thing I really loved was the social aspect of collaborating to create music beyond just one instrument. Luckily, I found that in Scott right as I was figuring out how to use a CDJ. I’m realizing these days how much Scott’s presence kept me creating, and how much his sound influenced my own selections. Scott moved west just before the pandemic, and with him away and UltraMaroon on a COVID break I slowly lost motivation for production and even listening. Once the world reopened, I decided to bring back UltraMaroon for Season 3, by myself. It was a way to force myself to re-engage creatively, but something felt off. When I tried to pull sets together the same way i did before the pandemic…I ended up bored. So…I decided to use Season 3 as a longform workshop, and over the course of the year i figured out what motivates the post-pandemic me sonically and my sets transformed. Last summer, I visited Lupe and Scott in LA and we were talking about what is underground; we were all grounded in fairly straight up tech house in 2017-2018 while it felt underground (pun intended), but today that all has become mainstream. All three of us have grown in different directions since then, but continue to all have an interest in staying slightly outside of what is mainstream.
DXD: Someone From Berlin, why did you and Scott start UltraMaroon?
SFB: Two reasons. First, it felt like nobody was playing the house music we liked in easily accessible queer spaces – top 40, disco, and tribal circuit seemed like the only options. Second, we were nostalgic for 2010-ish NYC where you could, no, you would pop out on a Tuesday, grab a cocktail, run into a ton of people, approach blackout, and then pretend everything was okay at work the next morning. We were shooting for the vibe of community that we remembered from Beige, Greenhouse, Room Service, G Lounge, etc. Some people have called Ultra the new Greenhouse, and my response has always been one of intense gratitude, because that’s always been what we strived toward.
DXD: Scott, as a co-founder of this party, what do you notice most about how it has continued to grow?
Scott: I cannot express what a joy it has been to see this party explode into what it is today. It feels alive, even from the opposite coast. I love to hear the tales of what the evening had in store. The joy it brings people is palpable, which is the entire reason we wanted to start parties together in the first place. Raf and the entire crew that puts so much passion into this party to this day – it’s incredible to watch. It is possibly the one thing that could ever make me move back to New York.
DXD: Lupe, you have been a mainstay with Raf and Scott’s work over the years. How did you all originally meet? What has been a highlight of playing with them in New York?
Lupe: We met playing music in Fire Island that summer. I was coming from Ibiza. I played a couple of shows in Italy, and the highlight of that tour was meeting both of them. They welcomed me as if I was family right away, and we played together from the first moment we met. It was such a beautiful party by the ocean.
It is hard to pick one highlight because we have played a lot together, and it has all been so much fun. I think meeting Raf and Scott taught me how to be part of a team and play back-to-back. I had never done that before meeting them. I was terrified to play b2b, but when I met them, the energy was so special, and our music just worked together. Also, the way Raf and Scott curate parties brings a togetherness that makes anyone feel comfortable and at home. If I had to pick one, it would be the first party in Fire Island after the pandemic. The gang was back together, and all of our lives took such a big turn that it was just beautiful to be reunited and doing what we love.
DXD: SFB, you have a wonderful ear for bringing talent to the UltraMaroon decks, but Lupe has been a consistent collaborator for many years. What do you admire most about her work that keeps you coming back for more?
SFB: My rule of thumb has always been “book the music you play” and for a long time I was obsessed with one of Lupe’s productions called “The Drugs” that sampled Marilyn Manson. What’s amazing about that track is that she took a few seconds of audio and turned it into something completely different, and at the time was very emblematic of underground tech house sound. Eight years later, tech house is mainstream, and what ties me to Lupe is that we have been evolving at a similar pace. The world changes, we change, and the music changes; but through all that Lupe is a technically excellent producer that has evolved with the times. We’ve become great friends over the years and I’m super excited to see where she takes her current professional and creative momentum.
DXD: Lupe and Scott, what do you feel is an aspect of LA nightlife that you identify with most?
Scott: The inclusivity of the house music community here in LA is so inspiring. I didn’t expect that at all when I moved here, but it has turned out to be one of the most welcoming environments. The crews support each other, everyone is there just to get down to some great music and boogie with friends, and always up for making new ones. Gay, straight, queer (not to sound too LA with it,) but if your vibes are right, you’re in for a good night. And, as it should, it always comes back to the music. The creativity here is off the charts, including where you can set up shop to throw a pop-up party.
Lupe: I moved to LA in 2009. It has been an incredible journey to watch house music culture grow in Los Angeles and evolve with it. I remember when the EDM sound was huge in LA, and it was nearly impossible to get a show for a house music DJ like me and so many others in LA. The underground scene has come a long way since those days. The growth and evolution of the scene in LA in just a few years has been inspiring to watch, and I am grateful that I was able to experience that.
DXD: SFB, how do you approach each monthly set as the resident DJ? How do you juggle that with your Producer hat of the party itself?
SFB: I’m very lucky that people associate UltraMaroon with a good time and are open to new sonic experiences when they arrive. We are not a particular sound, but we are always high quality. For Season 4, I am continuing to explore, via both my sets and my headliner selections, what I find interesting and important in house music. To give you a bit of a teaser, this winter/spring is looking like we will be featuring live instruments, a US premiere, a celebration of legendary unsung house heroes, and the return of a community favorite. I see my job behind the decks to glue it all together – from openers to close.
DXD: Lupe, your first time playing a B2B was with Scott and Raf at a party called Ceremony they produced at Schimanski in 2019. Can we expect some B2B action on the decks at Homecoming?
Lupe: 1,000%! It is one of the moments I look forward to the most when I play with Raf and Scott. I can't wait to play the new music I have been working on and feed off each other's energy!
DXD: What’s a track/artist/set that’s especially been inspiring you lately?
Lupe: The last set I was super inspired by was Jayda G at Day Trip in LA at Grand Park. It was a huge festival, and she killed it! I remember I was like,”Whoa, this is fire!” I tried to Shazam a few songs, and to my surprise, it was her own production. I LOVE to see that, and I LOVE to see women thriving in the scene.
SFB: I’m really checked into this moody progressive vibe that I’m hearing from names like multi-format band whomadewho, and Rich Vom Dorf. I have also been increasingly into Carlita who recently remixed See You Again by Rufus Du Sol. There are lots of really great, thick, emotive soundscapes being released right now and it’s really inspiring me to get back into playing with production.
Scott: Ooooh, Paco Osuna just really does it for me on all fronts. A carried groove that goes from light to dark and everything in between. His sets are heaven. The Iglesias remix of his track “Groove Bass” is just: *chef’s kiss*
DXD: Top 3 things you love seeing at parties?
Scott: That head-tilted-back-eyes-closed dance moment from someone just totally in it in the crowd. Using fans for actual cooling-off, not instruments. Abundant joy.
Lupe: I love seeing people dancing and letting loose. That's what it is all about. I love the new friendships that are formed. I love when I see the same faces vibing to my sets. I love the community!
SFB: People SMILING. Music plus Community equals Joy. I love it when people arrive at the UltraMaroon, leave their stress at the door, and walk downstairs onto the floor with a big smile on their face.
DXD: What are you most looking forward to at UltraMaroon Homecoming?
SFB: Playing with Lupe and Scott, but also sharing where our sounds are with each other. It’s a bit like a creative/sonic check-in. :)
Scott: The three of us behind the decks together is always an amazing time. We can vibe off of each other like we read minds.
Lupe: Definitely, the b2b2b. Always such magical moments happen that I would have never been able to think of on my own. But I am also looking forward to seeing my New York chosen family! There have been so many friendships that I am very grateful for because of UltraMaroon.
DXD: Last question, who are you all voting for Homecoming Queen?
Lupe: Oh god, this is hard!! There is so much that goes into the UltraMaroon parties, not only the music that is super well curated, but the theatrics and performances by dancers, drag queens, and gogos. I will savor the moment, and I know that no matter who wins, we all win just by being there!
Scott: Who could wear a crown better than you, Daisy? Give the Sound Cream Queen her scepter.
SFB: A bit of a cop out, but all my queens are winners. I’m so thankful to have such a passionate and creative cru to collaborate with every month.
Thank you Scott, Lupe, and Someone From Berlin! Come revel in their return with us at Blue Midtown this Sunday, Dec 4, at UltraMaroon Homecoming. Doors open at 5pm. Get your tickets today!
Instagram: Lupe Fuentes | Scott Martin | Someone From Berlin
SoundCloud: Lupe Fuentes | Scott Martin | Someone From Berlin
Xx,
DavidXDaisy