Founded by LondonGround & Manu Desrets, Argentinian label Family Partner has quickly gained popularity in the electronic music scene due to its unique sound, and has received positive feedback from fans and critics alike.

Family Partner’s latest release sees label co-founder Manu Desrets deliver a swinging club cut loaded with weighty drum grooves and skipping percussion in ‘Bluesky’, crammed with funky flair, playful wild west licks and rich musicality from start to finish.

Neverdogs follow up on the b-side with their remix of ‘Bluesky’, cutting a deeper line with resonant tones and bumpy beats from the outset to carve out a sophisticated and scintillating late-night number.

Manuel Desrets, born in 1990, started to become influenced by electronic music at 13 years old when he moved to the island of Ibiza for 4 years. At 15, he was introduced to electronic music as an artist, influenced by great DJs of the scene such as Ricardo Villalobos, Argenis Brito, Pier Bucci & The Plug Plix and others. At 17, he moved to Argentina where he began playing at parties in the underground scene.

We had the opportunity to talk with Manu Deserts about the music industry, his creative process, his influences, and more. Enjoy!

WWD: What inspired you to pursue a career in the music industry, and how did you get started?

Since my childhood, my passion for music has inspired me. I was lucky to meet great artists who introduced me to the industry, as my father had discos in Argentina. That sparked the beautiful passion I have for music.

WWD: Can you tell us about your creative process when producing music and how you stay motivated and inspired?

My process for making music varies. Sometimes I start with simple chords on the piano, other times with a sample that motivates me, and sometimes spontaneous musical ideas come to me. To be honest, I don’t have a very organized work schedule. As for inspiration, it’s a complicated issue. Changing my habits and routines, meeting new artists and seeing different shows of all kinds gives me a lot of inspiration.

WWD: Which artists or genres have influenced your music most, and how do you incorporate those influences into your work?

Throughout my 13-year career, I have been inspired by many artists from different genres. While I will always be a Ricardista, there are many artists who inspire me.

WWD: Your latest release, ‘Bluesky’, is available now on your Family Partner label. What can you tell us about the release and having the Neverdogs remix your work?

I’m very excited about this release as it’s the first of the year and comes with a remix from great Italian artists whom I admire since my childhood. I composed this track last year, as soon as I moved to my new studio. In Argentina, everything was just starting to return to normal after the long pandemic we had. It’s a cheerful track with some jazz influences, and works very well on the dancefloor.

WWD: How do you balance your time producing new music, touring, and other aspects of your career?

After the pandemic and having my new studio, I organized my time to handle production and touring in a more organized way. This is my job, and I take it very seriously. During the weekdays, I wake up early and spend at least 8 hours a day in the studio, not only producing, but also performing many other tasks required by this profession. On weekends, I prepare to travel.

WWD: How do you engage with your fans and build a solid online presence, and how important is social media for artists today?

In my opinion, social media is one of the most important tools for an artist today. They are essential to stay in touch with fans, showcase my music and my life, among other things. Every day, I think they are becoming more and more important in an artist’s career.

WWD: Can you talk about upcoming projects or collaborations, and what can fans expect from your future releases?

I can say that there will be many more of my productions this year, although I cannot give names. There will also be several interesting collaborations and remixes on the way.

WWD: How do you approach remixing other artists’ music, and what is your process for putting your spin on a track?

Usually, when I make a remix, it’s at the request of the label or sometimes the artist is a friend and requests it directly. To start a remix, I look for some part of the track that I like or that inspires me, and based on that melody, I start putting the rest together. Generally, I start with the drums, then the bass, some more melodies, and finally, in the arrangement, I usually put the effects.

WWD: How do you see the electronic music industry evolving in the coming years, and what role do you hope to play in shaping its future?

I think the industry is encompassing more and more resources. I believe that just playing music won’t distinguish as much, but the more complete artists in terms of their show will stand out. To stand out as an artist, I think it’s necessary to have more and more resources, from people’s experience in the show, social media management, charisma, collaborations, and more things are added every day.

WWD: What can fans expect from you and the label over the rest of 2023?

This year, I have many projects not only related to music on my agenda. I’m working on many things that are not only music but related, many trips to Europe and the USA! Regarding Family Partner, many incredible releases are coming and an evolution in our showcase that will be two years old and every day my team and I work to evolve and improve the viewer’s experience.

Manu Desrets & Neverdogs’ ‘Bluesky’ is available from 24th April 2023 via Family Partner. Buy Here