021: TIAGO
“While playing, every detail is transformed into energy.”
Lisbon
In the heart of Lisbon stands a club known as Lux Fragil, a global institution, Lux is emblematic of the Portuguese capital’s vital underground dance music scene. Since its opening in 1997, it has had one resident DJ: Mr. Tiago Miranda, or Tiago for short, perhaps Portugal’s best known DJ, venerated for his wide ranging sets that include anything from obscure psych rock to pulsing techno.
What you get from Tiago depends on the setting. The man rarely plays the same record twice.
What remains consistent for Tiago is his ability to read and connect with a crowd, shaped by the creativity and risk taking that comes with being a resident DJ for decades, curating music for the long arc of a night. His wide ranging musical influences shape his original production, on labels such as Leng, DFA, Italians Do It Better, Ene, Jolly Jams, Hands of Time, Internasjonal, Public Possession, and of course his own Interzona13 imprint.
Tiago himself quietly emerged in Lisbon’s strong rave scene in the 1990s that wasn’t well-known outside of its borders, first as a group member of the band Pop Delle Arte before moving behind the decks. Given his knowledge of music, DJ’ing was a natural fit.
Tiago keeps a low profile on social media, he’s amassed respect and friends internationally having toured the world since the 2000s. Playing Europe Asia and the States has allowed Tiago to delve even deeper into the crates and live out the mantra that music has no boundaries. Never letting success get to his head, Tiago is known as one of the nicest people in dance music; has been pure class in all of our interactions with him leading up to the release of mix. We are excited to share what he has in store for you.
Learn more about Tiago and the mix in our interview below & be sure to keep him on your radar.
TIAGO LINKS: IG | BANDCAMP | DISCOGRAPHY | LINKTREE
Interview w/Bad Lieutenant
Tiago, thank you so much for joining our series. I tend to start interviews discussing Covid and what’s going on for the artist. So let’s get into it. You’ve spent so much of your adult life in clubs, have you welcomed any of the changes?
Well, thank YOU for having me. Much happy to be part of something so well thought and maintained. About last year, guess there’s always a positive to every negative, but, a positive still to come though.
What do you miss most about clubbing? Where’s your favorite place to play in the world?
I surely miss dancing with other bodies and nothing I may rationalise can change that. My favourite place is the one I miss the most and that’s Lux.
Can you tell us a bit about Lisbon’s clubbing scene? You were at the nexus with Lux Fragil from the very beginning…
Lisbon has been harbouring a healthy eclectic tradition since the rave/acid house scene. Some styles are bigger than others of course but you can find any style here on a regular weekend. Before Lux I was living among friends in this little neighborhood called Bairro Alto, we would rock and play every little venue there and eventually started a Crew. We then got our own club (Ciclone) and for a year or so we took Lisbon playing with the freshest urban sounds emerging (Drum and Bass being the newest). After that we got back to the neighborhood that took us first and then Lux opened. I was invited to be a resident there before it opened so I had a chance to witness and be part of the creation of it all.
You are known for your deep digging and ability to play across styles and genre. How do you prepare for gigs? Does it depend on your mood or do you think about the crowd or venue?
At Lux we have two floors that we play. They are very different from each other, either in style, space or rhythm, and I prepare my music accordingly. When I travel I bring those two floors with my music, and that's pretty much it. While playing, every detail is transformed into energy.
Finding inspiration right now can be difficult… What are your greatest artistic or musical inspirations / influences (at least at the moment)?
Music wise I have been silent for some time. Not listening, not looking. It felt good. My biggest influence was the break I was taking, I forced it on myself, and I'm reverberating the effects of that. But I did listen to some music at home, say, when I am cooking and that sort of thing.
What can you tell us about this mix? You’ve called it the “Sperm mix”...
This mix turned me into listening/looking again. I reached into music for this (old and new) and I got psyched to move again, so, thank you so much for that. I recorded it at the club, I never owned any DJ gear so I had to organize the session there, and it felt weird because the club was empty, but good because I was recording it there. Please listen to it as you may please, try it now maybe?
What’s next for Tiago? Productions/ releases?
Because I have been quiet I haven't done or planned much (only now starting) so could be anything, from a metal band to singing chansons or producing computerized sounds…
Do you have any predictions about how things will change?
On predictions, no nostradamus here but I hope the kids that lost it last year will come with an appetite for destruction, I mean, claiming it all, with no segregation, no typified genres, playing it with fresh styles and beautiful manners.
There you have it from one of clubland’s best, Mr. Tiago Miranda…
