Jamie Romero, better known as Estrato Aurora, has been an integral part of Valencia's underground music scene for more than 15 years. Hardware aficionado, Estrato Aurora, is known for an atmospheric take on techno and electro and his hypnotic live sets. In the past few years, he released music on labels such as Appian Sounds, On Boards Music and Bliq, just to name a few. In anticipation of Estrato Aurora's latest single 'Aegean Sea,' which will be a part of incredible 23-track charity compilation set for release on June 5th by On Board Music, we asked this talented Valencian about his music beginnings, his favorite gear and more…

How would you describe your oeuvre as a DJ but also as a producer from the beginning until now? Can you identify certain phases for yourself?
I began playing and manipulating sound from a very young age and I have found inspiration through bits and pieces of many different stages. Early on, it was New Wave and the Synthpop of the ‘80s, as well as EBM and Industrial sounds. With time, I moved into Belgian NewBeat, then came into Rave and from there, Downtempo electronica and IDM. I later discovered genres of Chicago House and ran the gamut of the American wave of Deep.
In recent years, Techno and Electro in their darkest and most profound aspects have been my biggest sources of inspiration.

By looking at the videos on your Instagram, your live set is hardware-based with 909 and Elektron devices as a driving force. Do you tend to change things around while performing by adding new synths and effects or do you stay with the same setup? How did your setup evolve over the years?
I like to change my setup according to the show I plan on doing... But the base is always the same: Tr 909 + 606 + 707 + Elektron. If I play something more classic, I add 303, SH 101, or Korg MS 10. More recently, I have simplified a bit but the 909 and 606 are always there.

If you have to pick one synthesizer and use it exclusively from now on, which one would it be?
I'd definitely keep the Elektron Analog Rytm as a drum machine. It is quite remarkable as it is an incredibly versatile sampler. Nearly all my bass lines come from it, with its filter being the key element.

Looking at your career so far and the live and DJ gigs you played - which ones are the most important ones to you personally, the ones that stand out?
Two gigs that had great personal significance for me were the Sonar festival and the Volumens festival in my home city of Valencia. At the Sonar festival, I was honored to play together with David Ortolà, my partner in the LONTANO project. This professional experience offered me a seismic audience during a time when the festival was my reference.
Some years later, while performing at the Volumens festival in Valencia, I conducted workshops for aspiring DJs using material I was working on at the time. This was not only a rewarding experience but I also had the opportunity to surprise my friends and family with a final collaborative performance with my 15-year-old daughter Maya.

An interview question you really wanted to be asked but never were and the answer to that?
Why has music always been so essential in my life?
It abstracts me from the shit of the world that we live in. In the words of George Elliot, ‘Life seems to go on without effort when I am filled with music.’

Tell us about an artist you really want our audience to discover. What kind of music or art does inspire you?
James Clements, aka ASC. He is currently my favorite producer, he represents the best of the styles that I like the most, his work is on par with the best moments from Boards of Canada, Autechre, Juan Atkins, and Drexciya.

Who were important people on your path that mentored/supported you?
My family has been my rock as well as many life-long friends who are tremendous artists in their own right: Fran Campos, Raúl Romero, Dioni Sánchez, David Ortolà, Medina, Alfonso Pomeda, Chelís and many more...

For someone that never saw you playing, what would be the perfect description of your sound in your own words?
I can probably break it down to a single word: atmospheric.

We would also like to include a small playlist (a few mixes/ tracks of yours) that you would recommend as a good reflection of your work, for people to take a deep dive into what Estrato Aurora is about.

Estrato Aurora - Aegean Sea [On Board Music]