Caracas born, Michigan bred DJ Alo Gonzalez AKA Puma has been making waves in Miami of late with his groove-riddled house and techno blend. Raised in Venezuela before moved to Michigan at the age of 18, Gonzalez became a frequent visitor of Detroit, where he was wooed by the city’s legacy and sounds, experiences that still influence his sound today. We sat down with the rising talent this week to get an insight into his love of vinyl, his production favourites and all things Puma!
When We Dip: Hi Puma, glad to have you on WWD! What are you up to right now?
Puma: Hey! Thanks for having me! Right now I am typing up the answers for this interview so I can go back to the studio and finish mixing some tracks I wrote last week! (laughs)
WWD: How has been the year so far? Any exciting gigs and/or projects?
Puma: The year has been great! I’ve been spending a lot of time in the studio and also have played some really cool gigs like III Points Festival in Miami, Moloko Club in Panama, Punta Cana and Las Terrenas in Dominican Republic, Electronic Groove’s MMC closing party, and Addicted To Vinyl at The Electric Pickle.
WWD: Speaking about The Electric Pickle. How are the final celebrations going before they close their doors?
Puma: It’s bittersweet, every weekend since the beginning of the year has felt like the last one because everyone knows it is closing soon. The club has been packed with top vibes and energy but it’s sad to think that the best sounding room in Miami will no longer be there in a couple of months. I can only be grateful for being part of this incredible institution that has given so much to so many and enjoy what’s left as much as I can!
WWD: Have fun! Do you see any other club filling the void?
Puma: Honestly, I don’t. That’s not to say that there aren’t other quality venues in the city but The Pickle is truly unique, what Will Renuart, the owner, has created there in the past 10 years along with partners Tomas Hussain and Diego Martinelli is magical. With that being said, change always brings good things even if not immediately. Sometimes these can be better, sometimes just different. What is certain is that there will be an opportunity to create something new.
WWD: Let’s talk about your productions, are you working on any new material?
Puma: I have been creating a lot of new material. I have dedicated the past year to refining my sound, experimenting with different pieces of gear and workflows in terms of processing and recording. Right now I am polishing what I’ve made in the last few months and talking to some labels for releases.
WWD: What is your favorite piece of studio gear? And why?
Puma: I would say right now it is the Elektron Octatrack because it has changed the way I produced by relying a lot less on software and making the writing process more intuitive and enjoyable. I also think that a drum machine is essential, right now I am using the Analog RYTM MKII and I love it.
WWD: How does your mind work when creating new music? Where do you find the inspiration?
Puma: It depends on my mood. Sometimes I feel like creating music that’s a little more for the mind than for dancing, this usually happens after a long weekend or when I’m tired from gigs. Other times when I feel more energetic I transport my mind into the club and make something straight for the dancefloor. Inspiration is constantly circling around, I’m always making up beats in my head, but the really good inspiration comes from doing! You just gotta sit down and start making something, whatever. Once I turn on my drum machine and start a beat the rest follows very easily, even if I initially felt uninspired or didn’t have an idea.
WWD: Moving into Djing. Vinyl or Digital or Both and why?
Puma: I like both. I am a huge vinyl enthusiast and record collector but I still like the flexibility that comes from CDJs. There are just things you can do on CDJs that you can’t do on vinyl, and if you’re playing peak time at a super pumped party, digital can be very beneficial, not to mention the technical difficulties that can come from venues and festivals that do not have a proper setting for playing vinyl. Laptop DJ software is out of the question. I can only justify that for DJs with a style where they actually use a lot of samples, live remixing, multi-track playback and extensive use of effects, otherwise it’s a no-no for me.
WWD: Can you share with us one track that give you chills right now?
Puma: S.A.M. – Money Blues (Original Mix) is making some serious damage on my sets.
WWD: Aside from music, what does Puma like to do on his free time?
Puma: In my free time I enjoy reading, playing soccer and basketball, watching sports, and spending time with my girl!
WWD: Thanks again for the time!
Puma: Thank you guys for the questions, I enjoyed answering them!
Follow Puma: Soundcloud – Facebook – Instagram