Cristian Varela

Born in Madrid in 1975, Cristian Varela has been part of the history of the Spanish electronic scene since the late 1980s, first as a DJ, then as a producer and composer. Associated with techno, Varela has developed a fairly wide spectrum, ranging from direct and rhythmic techno to darker, mental and sometimes cinematic forms, with a marked taste for tense textures and club constructions. Active very early in the Madrid environment, notably around the record shop Phrenetic, he participated in the rise of electronic cultures in Spain before circulating his music on labels such as Intec, Bedrock, Toolroom or Blanco y Negro, while also maintaining a sustained remix activity. Varela also founded his own outfits, among which Pornographic Recordings in 2006, which became a major axis of his discography, as well as Black Codes Experiments. His trajectory also crosses theater, advertising and music for image, which sheds light on an approach to production less limited to the club format. Having lived for a time in London according to several biographical sources, Varela remains tied to European techno scenes, between DJ sets, regular releases and personal projects that extend a practice begun in adolescence.