Guti is Making His Much Anticipated Return to Club Music

Guti may have left his rock star past long ago in Buenos Aires— one where his band Jovenes Pordioseros played to 10,000 fans weekly—but that lifestyle still creeps up on him every now and then. Especially since Guti has developed into a leading name on the house and techno front lines.

For instance, before his flight from Caracas to Miami earlier that morning: "Don't put this in the interview," requests Guti. "I was so drunk that I couldn't find my sneakers or jacket in the hotel room." I promise him not to worry, and that I'll keep it off the record. But Guti gives it a second thought. "No, no," he laughs. "You can leave it in, why not?"

The hangover is indicative of his current profession's code of conduct, but it belies Guti's commitment to his craft. Don't be fooled: Gabriel Gutiérrez is a man who takes his job very seriously. When THUMP previously caught up with Guti in the summer, he had just put the finishing touches on Rompecorazones. Handcrafting the instrumental jazz album was a process he dubbed 'me against me'. It was a challenge to emerge from a place of inner conflict; to prove to himself that he could mature as an artist on his own terms.

"Last time we talked, I was in this transition. Now a couple of months later, I have the remix album coming, there is big concert at Sonar for my Rompecorazones label, I've signed some artists, I'm doing exciting things with a new band. Everything has started rolling. I'm glad that I was brave at that point to make Rompecorazones because now there are so many doors opening."

Guti is at last very much at peace with himself. "When I said before that it was 'me against me', it was this feeling that I was not evolving or improving. It freaked me out. But I'm focused again on what makes me happy."

Currently, Guti is booked for over 150 international shows a year. This non-stop itinerary affords him the chance to get immersed in vibrant cross-sections of society, not to mention indulge in a bit of leisure. Like when he made it to see his beloved Argentine national football team compete at 2014's World Cup in Brazil.

"Sometimes I go to three or four countries a week. You have to change your mindset within hours," explains Guti. "Things are always progressing and each destination tells a different tale—you don't depart any one being the same. You take away experiences from every place you go, but you also pass on something."

Guti's far more interested in the latter, in what he can leave behind. "Any country I play in, maybe it's Malaysia or Bali—spots that don't have a scene—I feel excitement about performing music they've never heard."  After all, this is how the culture expands. "In the end, it's all about communication—via music or conversations or whatever. I love to listen to stories and in every new environment you meet someone crazy with a crazier narrative. You take that home, then you make music."

Guti's so reinvigorated that he actually can't stop making music at the moment. "It's like I finally took my brain out of the club and then I came back to it with a different perspective."

Which brings Guti to Rompecorazones Remixed, due out on Defected in a couple of weeks. To follow-up a project so deeply intimate, handing over the original Rompecorazones to a selection of his contemporaries is a definite change of pace. As it stands, Guti's not a fan of traditional remixes, particularly "club mixes of club songs."

"I'm not a DJ. I'm part of two worlds," he clarifies. "I'm a pianist and songwriter, but also I'm a house-techno producer. To ask Carl Craig to remix a club song of mine, I would be embarrassed. But with this, I was like 'Okay, let's see what he does.'"

"And it was a huge pleasure," he assures. "To join forces with these guys—Carl, Charles Webster, Nic Fanciulli, Reboot—and give them my music to do whatever they want, to rework my feelings into something from their point of view… it's unbelievable. It's a dream."

Assembling the all-star lineup for Rompecorazones Remixed was a fluid affair. "With Carl, he loved the album and wanted to contribute. Then I brought on Livio & Roby and Damian Schwartz. Both have been really important in my life and career," he shares. "Then Defected assigned Osunlade and others. So it was a blend that I'm very pleased with."

One number from the compilation warrants special attention. That would be Guti's own adaptation of his "La Salida". The edit highlights Guti's penchant for supple piano lines, hypnotic drum kicks and fiery Latin American rhythm. Comparing the two versions of the track, you get a clear concept of what best epitomizes 'club music' for Guti.

Guti's Barcelona studio is his haven. One only needs to scan his Facebook page to see the impressive array of new toys he's constantly accumulating for the creative space. It's a tech aficionado's wet dream of Yamaha AvantGrant, Avalon, Nord Stage 2, Roland Juno-106, Neve, Apollo 16 and Elektron Analog Rytm equipment. And that's only the start.

"Being there has helped influence why I'm so addicted to making club music again. Thanks to all this fresh gear, and the flow of wires and cables going into this, out of that… it's like the studio is perpetually morphing into something different. Every couple of weeks it changes. This makes it so much fun." It also makes Guti one of the most in-demand collaborators in the business. Friends like Enzo Siragusa, Pulshar, Francesco Tristano and Julian Perez, are routinely dropping in to work with him.

Guti goes on, "I'm grateful and also lucky. As I told you last time, I always look at all my peers as big artists. I don't like to think too much about myself and whether I'm good or bad. But to be regarded as a musician and feel the respect, it's cool." This is Guti to his core. Humble, accessible, intrepid and forever wearing his heart on his sleeve. "I try to be a good person. And if a good person is a good musician, even better. It all comes to that."

Guti's 'Rompecorazones Remixed' is out February 15 on Defected Records.

1) Guti "El Solitario" (Carl Craig Remix)
2) Guti "Hurt" (Yoruba Soul Mix)
3) Guti "We Love You" (Reboot's Unicorn Remake)
4) Guti "Desidia" (Nic Fanciulli Remix)
5) Guti "Rompe Corazones" (Charles Webster's Club Mix)
6) Guti "Magia" (Damian Schwartz Worship Mix)
7) Guti "Bed Time Stories" (Andrea Oliva Remix)
8) Guti "La Salida" (Guti Club Remix)
9) Guti "Desesperado" (Livio & Roby's dcnstrct Remix)
10) Guti "Desidia" (Reboot Remix)

Guti is on: Facebook // Twitter // SoundCloud
Rompecorazones is on: Facebook // SoundCloud
Defected Records is on: Facebook // Twitter // SoundCloud

You can follow Christopher on Twitter at: @theCMprogram