From Manchester to the Underground: The Untold Story of Fauxplay

Forty Cats: From Russia to the World | DJ, Producer & Label Owner

In this episode of Track ID Mexico, hosts Pepe Camille and Mapu sit down with Christina, aka 40 Cats — Russian DJ, progressive house producer, and founder of Perfection Records. She shares her journey from a remote military city near Murmansk, Russia, to becoming an international artist touring Mexico and beyond. We talk about how she discovered DJing at 16, her roots in trance music (Armin van Buuren, Paul Van Dyk, In Search of Sunrise), her evolution into progressive and melodic techno, and how she runs her own independent label focused on quality over big names. 💡 In this episode: – Her origins in Murmansk and the polar night that shaped her sound – How her father (a seaman & music lover) inspired her musical taste – Working with shitty club equipment as a teen resident DJ – Trance vs Progressive House: what's really the difference? – Her production setup: Ableton, Micro Korg, Roland, Pigments plugin – Why she doesn't master her own tracks (and why you shouldn't either) – Running Perfection Records and discovering new talent – Her advice for emerging producers: be yourself, create, keep going – Her desert island tracks and musical influences (Max Cooper and more) – The meaning behind the name "40 Cats" – Exclusive in-studio track previews: "Escalera" and "Vacuum" 🎵 Follow 40 Cats: Instagram: @fortycatsmusic SoundCloud / Bandcamp / Spotify: search "40 Cats" SUBSCRIBE and hit the bell 🔔 so you never miss an episode @trkidemexico in all platforms: FB, Instagram, Tik Tok, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, etcétera. If this episode moved you, please SHARE IT with someone who truly loves electronic music. That's what keeps this project alive. Want to SPONSOR TRKID Mexico? Connect your brand with a passionate global electronic music audience. Reach out our producer: Rafa Delgado: trkid.mexico@gmail.com [trkid.mexico@gmail.com]   00:00 – Intro: "Music is not for women" — breaking the myth 00:22 – Welcome to Track ID Mexico 00:41 – Introducing 40 Cats (Christina), first woman on the show 01:32 – Her label merch T-shirt 02:24 – Who is 40 Cats? Starting the interview 02:44 – Her beginnings: from trance to progressive 03:03 – Growing up in Murmansk, Russia (military city) 04:29 – Polar nights and the nature that inspired her sound 05:29 – Dreaming of being a DJ on the bus to college 06:07 – Dream come true: 20 years later she's touring Mexico 06:35 – How hard was it to develop music in a small city? 07:31 – Working as a teen resident DJ with "shitty equipment" 08:00 – The electronic scene in Murmansk: Nick Warren, Above & Beyond 08:52 – Family background: her father was a DJ and seaman 09:25 – No formal music education, but always listening and learning 10:45 – Trance roots: Armin van Buuren, Paul Van Dyk, In Search of Sunrise 13:22 – The moment she decided to produce music (FL Studio & Ableton) 18:21 – First exclusive track preview: "Escalera" (out on Perfection Records) 20:02 – Trance vs Progressive: the crossover conversation 21:05 – What she loves from both genres and how she combines them 22:56 – The power and beauty of trance music 25:27 – Her production setup: Ableton, Micro Korg, Roland drum machine 33:00 – Favorite plugins: Pigments (Arturia), Serum (sometimes) 35:27 – Mixing & mastering advice: why less is more 38:25 – Use native Ableton plugins — they're enough 42:10 – About Perfection Records: her independent label philosophy 43:54 – Finding and supporting new talent in the underground scene 51:32 – Second exclusive track preview: "Vacuum" and its remix 53:15 – Advice for emerging producers: be yourself, create, use social media 54:48 – Message to big labels: listen to your demos inbox 1:00:05 – Labels she admires: Balance, Bedrock, and others 1:02:35 – Fun segment begins: desert island tracks 1:03:18 – Her desert island picks: States of Trance 2007, In Search of Sunrise, Max Cooper 1:19:13 – Surprise in-studio moment: she plays a track live! 1:20:04 – Follow 40 Cats on social media 1:20:38 – Why the name "40 Cats"? (Finally explained!) 1:21:17 – Closing thanks and farewell 1:24:04 – Final call to subscribe to Track ID Mexico

46 Labels Said NO. Then It Hit #1 on Billboard | Luke Brancaccio | TRKID Mexico

🎧 "Lovely Day" was rejected by 46 record labels. Every single one said no. Until John Digweed heard it in Miami, asked for it on the spot, and it went on to hit #1 on the Billboard charts. In this episode of TRKID Mexico, Luke Brancaccio — the artist with more releases on Bedrock than anyone in the label's history — tells us everything unfiltered: how he went from hip-hop to electronic music living in a house with four roommates, how he snuck into Club Heaven with a homemade CD until they played it on the main floor within 15 minutes, what it was like fronting Suicide Sports Club in front of 40,000 people alongside Radiohead and Beck, and how a drunk night in the kitchen with his wife Kiki Cave gave birth to Tokyo Fan Club and a full album on Bedrock. We also dig into his current setup (CDJ 3000XS, V10, Moog Subsequent 37, 303, Diva, Pigments, Pulsar P900), exclusive unreleased tracks heard here for the first time, and his no-BS philosophy on the industry: know your worth and stay away from the noise. A conversation between friends. No pretense. Just real music.                                       🔔 SUBSCRIBE and hit the bell so you never miss an episode @trkidemexico in all platforms: FB, Instagram, Tik Tok, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, etcétera. If this episode moved you, SHARE IT with someone who truly loves electronic music. That's what keeps this project alive.   Want to SPONSOR TRKID Mexico? Connect your brand with a passionate global electronic music audience. Reach out: to Rafa Delgado: trkid.mexico@gmail.com [trkid.mexico@gmail.com] Time Stamps: 00:00    Intro: John Digweed dragging him on stage at Fabric 02:00    Beginnings: from hip-hop to electronic music living with four roommates 07:00    "Ghosts in Town", Nokia phones, Radiohead and 40,000 people 13:00    The relationship with John Digweed: boss, headmaster, friend 16:40    65 writing credits on Bedrock and counting 18:11    Track ID 1: "All I Need" with Faux Play:  unreleased remix, first time anyone's heard it  @MusicToDieFor https://www.musictodiefor.co.uk/ 26:00    Brian Eno's "Music for Airports": the album that changed how he looks at making music 32:25    @Anthony Pappa stayed 15 days to teach him 38:14    Track ID 2: Dominion 11 Hours  by @GAIBARONE& @LukeBrancaccio 41:27    Software to use: P900, Subsequent 37, Pigment and Dive 44:00    "Bedrocking" with Gai Barone: the making of a 2025 track of the year on TrkIDMexico: how was i             It made? Number 2 on the charts. 46:00    How a track starts: voice notes, alcohol, tons of tunes and creative chaos: 30 different ideas        writing notes on my phone. It pops! 50:10    Track ID 3: "Filling Space" a solo track, out on UV Recordings @officialuvmusic in September 55:00    AI in music production: tool or trap?  Use it as a tool. 56:00    Advice for young producers: practice, practice, practice, don't copy, make your own sounds 01:05:09           How do you pitch a track to a label?" Lovely Day" was rejected by 46 labels before hitting #1 on Billboard. Send it to lots of labels.  01:05:44          Track ID 4 "Abundance" remix (Paul Thomas & Maze.28) — out June 19 on UV                                       Recordings @officialuvmusic 01:11:00           Staying inspired after 20+ years in the industry 01:12:00           Social media: why he hates it and does it anyway. I am really bad! 01:17:16           Track ID 5 and A SECRET WEAPON  a bootleg that destroys the dancefloor                         Size9 I’m Ready (Framewer k4X4 Rewerk 01:20:00           Desert Island Discs: his 5 records for a deserted island  #musicairports #davidbowie 01:25:00           Musical guilty pleasures: ABBA “Super Trooper” and Billie Eilish with zero shame 01:27:00           What's next for Luke? A new album and being able to make more music 01:29:00           Where to follow him and find his music: Soundcloud, Facebook and Instagran                                         @Lukebrancaccio

From Manchester to the Underground: The Untold Story of Fauxplay

In this exclusive episode of TRKIDMexico, we sit down with Fauxplay, a progressive music producer and DJ whose journey began in the early ’90s in Manchester: right at the heart of a cultural and sonic revolution. From listening to jazz and playing in a punk band to immersing himself in the UK underground scene, you’ll hear how living the culture shaped his connection to music and led him into production alongside Simon Novell (analogue producer). He also shares how collaboration became a key part of his sound, working with artists like OG Anthony Pappa. Fauxplay breaks down his production process in detail; from the way he approaches tracks to the equipment and plugins he uses. On the DJ side, he is living proof that being real, building community, and staying open to collaboration can lead to releases on labels like Music To Die For, Sudbeat Music, Forensic Records, and Stripped Digital, among others. This is more than a story about music, it’s about influence and the roots of progressive sound that still resonate in today’s electronic scene. If you're into progressive house, underground culture, and the origins of electronic music, this episode is for you. Favorite quote: “Never underestimate how much your music may have touched somebody’s soul.” Follow him @fuaxplay_music on IG,  Facebook: fauxplayUK  Soundcloud: fauxplay   *Subscribe here to TRKIDMexico *Like & share the episode to keep our community growing * Comment your favorit Track ID and moment of the interview Follow us on Social Media IG: @trkidmexico facebook.com/TRKIDMEXICO tiktok.com/@trkidmexico Contacto para patrocinios: trkid.mexico@gmail.com [trkid.mexico@gmail.com] Producer: Rafa “El Turco” Delgado                                     #ProgressiveHouse #ElectronicMusic #UndergroundMusic #MusicProducer #DJInterview #ManchesterMusic #90sElectronic #HouseMusic #TechnoCulture #TRKIDMexico #MusicPodcast #ProducerLife #DanceMusic #ElectronicScene #MusicStory #Rave #BreakBeats #Fauxplay   Time Stamps: 00:00    Intro 04:46    That was Simon Novell and started jamming together 10:30    I played the flute and then… 19:31    Track ID #1 Back in The Day by Fauxplay on Music to Die For 27:46    I’ve been djing since the early 90’s 34:41    He tells us all: how is his production process 47:17    Track ID #2 Suns Collide by Fauxplay on Music to Die For 1:01:24 How does Fauxplay builds his sets. 1:03:17 Track ID #3 Why are you wearing that stupid man suit? By Fauxplay on Music To Die For 1:11:08 It’s just laziness 1:20:33 Track ID #4 There is always hope by Fauxplay on Music To Die For 1:26:11 I wanna go gigging 1:37:46 Track ID #5 Free To Ride in collaboration with Ranj Kaler on Forensic Records     1:40:54 Less is more… 1:49:57 I have to be honest with you…

Nick Stoynoff - From Chicago to the world

In this episode of TRKID Mexico, we sit down with Chicago’s finest Nick Stoynoff, a producer and DJ pushing boundaries across progressive house and melodic. Nicks’s music has been released on some of the most respected labels in the scene, including Plastic Fantastic, Selador  and his own label Noff Records, while also receiving support from legendary artists such as Hernán Cattaneo, Aubrey Fry and Anthony Pappa.   Hosted by Pepe Camil and Mapiu, this conversation dives into Nick’s journey as a producer and DJ, the creative process behind his music. Nick also shares exclusive Track IDs for the #TRKIDMexico community and talks about his Jazz and pop mixing journey and building a sound that blends progressive house grooves and a melodic cinematic sound. With his debut in the upcoming Balance Festival, Nick Stoynoff seals an almost 30 year career in the Chicago’s electronic music scene. If you love progressive house, melodic cinematic music, and discovering the stories behind the artists shaping electronic music, this episode is for you.   Subscribe to the channel and turn on notifications to discover more DJs, producers, and #trackids only on #TRKIDMexico   👉 Subscribe to TRKIDMexico so you don’t miss PART 2 👍 Like the episode if this music and culture matter to you 💬 Comment your favorite moment or Track ID Follow us on Social Media IG: @trkidmexico facebook.com/TRKIDMEXICO tiktok.com/@trkidmexico Contacto para patrocinios: trkid.mexico@gmail.com [trkid.mexico@gmail.com] Producer: Rafa “El Turco” Delgado

Ranj Kaler: De 20 años en un Strip Club a la cima del Progressive & Breaks

¿Es posible reinventar tu carrera musical después de tres décadas? En este episodio de TRK/ID, charlamos con el productor londinense Ranj Kaler, cuya historia es una verdadera lección de resiliencia y pasión. Ranj nos abre su corazón sobre sus inicios en 1986, sus años trabajando con Paul Davis (Circulation) y los 20 años que pasó alejado de la producción mientras trabajaba en un club de striptease. Todo cambió en marzo de 2020: en pleno confinamiento, decidió dejar de procrastinar, abrió Ableton por primera vez y hoy cuenta con más de 150 lanzamientos y el apoyo de leyendas como John Digweed y Hernán Cattaneo. En esta charla exploramos: * Cómo superó el miedo al fracaso tras 30 años de dudas. * Su transición del DJ convencional a los Breaks melódicos y emocionales. * El proceso creativo detrás de sus remixes y bootlegs más famosos. * Su técnica old school: Por qué prefiere los plugins nativos y el botón de undo. * Sus influencias musicales * Consejos para las nuevas generaciones * El uso de la IA en la producción musical Una entrevista hecha por Pepe Camil y Mapiu que es indispensable para productores, DJs y cualquier amante de la electrónica que busque inspiración para dar el siguiente paso. Follow us on Social Media IG: @trkidmexico facebook.com/TRKIDMEXICO tiktok.com/@trkidmexico Contacto para patrocinios: trkid.mexico@gmail.com [trkid.mexico@gmail.com] Producer: Rafa “El Turco” Delgado #RanjKaler #ProgressiveHouse #Breaks #MusicProduction #Ableton #ElectronicMusic #TRKID #InspiracionMusical