Rui da Silva: ‘Staying still gets me bored’

PRODUCER, DJ, record label boss, musical innovator.

Almost a decade ago, Rui da Silva’s music propelled him from underground legend to mainstream success after his song, Touch Me, became an international number one single. Today he continues to produce club tracks and experimental electronic music, always, as he puts it, ‘trying to change the sound and evolve, because staying still gets me bored.’

The electronic music maestro runs Kismet Records, his own, successful, independent music label, and can be largely credited for kick-starting the dance scene in his homeland, Portugal, before making a name for himself on the London circuit.

Kismet is still going strong in the digital age with a mission to ‘help new upcoming talent to break into the electronic music scene’ – and da Silva continues to throw fresh energy into creating the stuff that has afforded him iconic status.

‘If I don’t do music I feel agitated,’ he says. ‘Trying to learn a little bit more. Making music is like cooking, you must plan it, and you need to source the right ingredients. But if you cook all the time you can start experimenting. The best part of the creative process comes from mistakes but to make a track you must also be organised, it’s the pull between these two poles that makes a great song. And with Kismet, after so many years in the business, I’m in a position to help people and develop new talent.’

How did you get into house music? And what inspired you to produce/remix your first record?
‘I got into house music when I first heard it back in 1989. It made me swap my bass guitar for a drum machine and a sampler.’

What’s been the most memorable moment in your career?
‘There have been loads of memorable moments, from playing in remote places like Siberia Festival to 3,000 people, to rock places like Two Tribes festival in Australia for thousands more, or playing in Jerusalem and of course Ibiza where the parties are so great. I have been blessed to be able to travel and see the world from my work.’

What inspired your massive commercial hit Touch Me?
‘The inspiration for that track came from watching Paul Oakenfold playing at the now defunct Home in London’s Leicester Square and thinking that I could make a song that would fit into his sets, only if I could find the right singer. A few days later I bumped into the singer while she was doing an impromptu performance in Piccadilly Circus and got her number. The rest is history.’
Can you tell us about any of your new productions in the pipeline?
‘I’m currently residing in Ibiza and working with a new singer. I have releases lined up to come out on vinyl on Guido Schneider’s label, plus remixes from Perlon Artist Thomas Melchior. I’ve also released a remix for Made By Monkeys on Kult Records in New York City.’

The Ibiza summer season is fast approaching – what’s your schedule like?
‘I’ll be playing in Ibiza this summer for Pacha, Privilege, Circo Loco DC10, Superfreak, Zoo Project, Monza and a few others.’

What are your recommended Ibiza essentials this year?
‘Ibiza essentials this year are to avoid sunburn and always go out with sun shades!’

• Rui da Silva headlined a cracking CL!QUE Bank Holiday special at Platinum on Sunday with support from Peter De Momme, Carl Scott and Ashley Ford. To upload your pics and comments from this and any of the weekend’s events, log onto www.thisisjersey.com/go or visit our Facebook page Go… Get Out!