Does 25 years, Juan Carlos Mataix empezó a radiar desde la emisora de la Universidad Politécnica de Valencia un programa llamado Toxicosmos en el que repasaba toda la actualidad musical nacional e internacional del momento. Colocando al pop en el centro del tablero y prestándole mucha atención a la escena local, Toxicosmos sigue en pie un cuarto de siglo después en FM y en formato podcast y lo celebraba el mes pasado con una fiesta en Play Club, su casa, junto al vocalista de Dorian Marc Gili y el dj londinense Colin Peters. Haciendo lo que más le gusta: pinchar sus canciones favoritas. Además de dirigir y radiar desde el estudio (lo hace todo él), Juan Carlos es un dj que ha pisado los escenarios del FIB, el SOS, el Festival de les Arts, la Razzmatazz de Barcelona o la 8yMedio de Madrid. En esta entrevista hablamos con él sobre sus comienzos, sobre el tejido musical en nuestra tierra, sobre el boom de los festivales y sobre música en general, que de eso, definitely, va todo, de música que alegra el alma.
For a start, ¡enhorabuena por estos 25 años de vida de Toxicosmos! tell us, ¿cómo empezó el proyecto?
Todo surgió cuando empecé a estudiar en la universidad. En los pasillos de la Facultad de Informática [de la Universidad Politécnica] había un cartel anunciando una emisora universitaria y la posibilidad de presentar proyectos y, como la radio y la música eran algo que siempre me habían atraído, I showed up at one of their meetings with the idea of doing an independent musical current affairs program., to share the songs that excited me and I didn't hear on any radio.
You started on a common FM station and now we can also find you, logically, on podcast platforms. What do you think of the boom of podcasts? Are good current musical podcasts made??
The truth is that we were among the first to broadcast through the network. We had a website almost from the beginning and thanks to the fact that the radio belonged to the Faculty of Informatics we could use its means to broadcast all programming over the Internet.. It was lucky to have the faculty at that time, They helped us and we had everything very easy. In the early years, when no one broadcast on the Internet, We already had listeners from the United States or Japan and some of us still have them!
Regarding the current moment, the more offer, better for listeners, and now there are many. Having the facility to record a program at home and upload it to a platform without intermediaries democratizes everything a lot and gives opportunities to talented people who otherwise would not be able to show their work.. This is how we all gain in quality. There are many podcasts and very good ones..
Another bubble is that of music festivals. You have been a DJ in many of them and, evidently, It is convenient for you that there are many, But do you think the bubble is starting to burst?? ¿Hay público para tanto festival? ¿No se parecen peligrosamente los carteles de muchos de ellos?
Ahora mismo hay público para la mayoría porque hemos salido de una pandemia y la gente tiene muchas ganas de divertirse y de conciertos en directo. Puede llegar a ser una burbuja peligrosa (sobretodo empresarialmente, no tanto para el público), ya ha se ha cancelado algún festival este año, pero que haya oferta siempre es bueno.
Respecto a que muchos carteles se parezcan, hay que tener en cuenta que un festival es un negocio y si un grupo está triunfando lo quieren todos los festivales y se va a repetir en muchos. Pasa mucho con los grupos nacionales, que son los que más a mano tienen los promotores. De todos modos, There are different festival models and there is something to choose from., opting for cheaper options with national groups or more expensive tickets with international bands, more commercial or more purist festivals. As there are so many festivals, many coincide in bands, but none are exactly the same and looking, I'm sure you'll find the one that suits you.. The good thing about a festival is that, wherever you go, you always have a good time and discover something.
Which session of yours do you remember most fondly?? Because?
The first time I performed at the FIB, in 2002. It was my favorite festival, I was very young and having the opportunity to get on stage and share the bill with The Cure or Belle and Sebastian was a dream.. Aldo Linares gave me the opportunity when I was working at the festival. Besides, Aldo was a reference for me as a DJ. Now I follow him in his other facet: is sensitive in the Fourth Millennium.
We know you are a vinyl fan. What makes this format so special?? How many do you have approximately?? Any special treasure that you keep like gold in cloth??
Vinyl is the only format that allows you to play a song. You can touch the grooves with your fingers or see how the needle of the record player runs through it and it is a joy. Besides, because of the size, It is the format with which you can enjoy the art of its cover the most. And the sound is very special, sounding in the air transfers to the sound a spatiality that the CD or music online cannot offer. I have vinyl, some, It is my favorite format, but I have more CDs from the time when I bought more records and it was what was popular. Between each other, I estimate that some 7.000 And of course I have vinyl jewelry that I adore.: Eve of destruction de Barry McGuire, The queen is dead de The Smiths, that I bought in Great Britain, Pet sounds de The Beach Boys, some Françoise Hardy vinyl from my mother…
You are also very aware of the editorial news that is published on musical topics. What have you read lately? Does knowing about the lives of artists help you understand their music??
Reading helps in everything, always. And if it's about an artist that attracts you, a lot more. The truth is that yes, I love biographies of bands or musicians and you learn a lot. Sometimes they are not my go-to artists, but they are icons and I love knowing about them. There are super curious new books like the one that talks about Julio Iglesias and his arrival in America, by Hans Laguna, full of anecdotes. Or the most recent one I've read, the biography of Frank Sinatra that his road manager about those endless nights between glasses of Jack Daniels and dubious friendships. Reading about the lives of these people is fascinating..
The program reviews current national and international music, and you pay a lot of attention to the news that comes out of the Valencian Community. How do you see the local panorama? Is good music being made from Valencia?
It is made a lot and very good. There by the 98, when the program started, The so-called “orange explosion” was experienced in Valencia, who left very good bands and albums. I don't think there has ever been such an interesting scene in the city until now.. There are many groups, new artists and producers. Many who experiment with pop and electronics like Rebe, Butane Love, Hands of God, Tortel or producer Leftee. Others that have a more classic pop style but with very current influences such as Los Premios, Islands or You see UFOs, that I love. I am also fascinated by what La Plata does., Easter, Laborde o Lisasinson. There are traditional pop projects like Ramirez Exposure, L’Ultim European or Flores. And more rock and roll artists like Santero and the Boys. and luckily, bands like The Red Room follow, a banner in the music made in our land. We have everything to choose from!
How are we in a month between two waters, we take the opportunity to ask you: musically speaking, what has been the best of 2022 and why? What release are you looking forward to this? 2023 which we enter?
One of my favorite songs of the 2022 it was signed by Harry Styles. It's not indie at all and maybe too obvious, but “As it was” seems like a brutal pop song to me. I'll stick with it as song of the year. and for him 2023 I'm looking forward to Frank Gálvez's album. The topics that you have already let me know seem really wonderful to me., perfect melodies, beautiful letters, combination of boy-girl voices… a gem. I think it is a good example of what Toxicosmos is as a radio program.: a space in which good songs sound regardless of whether they are more or less indies, more or less mainstream.
If only you could listen to a local record, one national and one international the rest of your days, what would they be?
Among the Valencians I would choose the debut of The Red Room by 1998. It was published the year Toxicosmos began and its songs had a big impact on me at the time.. I listen to it again from time to time and it still excites me just the same.. My favorite national album is a murmur in the heart by Family. It is the best pop album in Spanish in history. And to complete the trilogy I am left with Viva hate by Morrissey, an album that I listened to a lot on the walkman when I was in high school and it brings back many memories. I had it recorded on cassette, until one day they gave me the CD for a birthday. Later I bought it on second-hand vinyl on a trip to Manchester and it is one of my most appreciated records..
What concert would you not miss for the world??
I would give anything to be able to travel back in time and see Elvis live. O a The Beatles. How is it impossible, I'm content with having seen Morrissey and Brian Wilson.
