There is ONE country that had one of the biggest influences to the current minimal and micro house sound. It’s not Germany, UK or Romania. It’s not even on the Northern hemisphere. Chile is a strip like country in South America, that had given two names that shaped the electronic underground as we know it today: Ricardo Villalobos and Luciano. While both with releases at Perlon, Luciano was deeply involved in setting the founding stones for the house music scene in Chile, back almost 30 years ago.
Fast forward to our times: looking at Chile’s electronic underground culture through the heritage lens, things are looking better than ever. Obviously, like some other parts of the world, all it takes is just a handful of people driven by the passion for house music, to keep the flame burning. This is how we met Joaquin Lledo, the mastermind behind Secret Society, a record label, booking agency and promoter based in Vina Del Mar, Chile, also know as The Garden City. The Secret Society story began 10 years ago as a party organizer and had quickly evolved into an outpost for promoting Chilean DJs and producers, while defining a unique sound with the constant flow of releases, both vinyl and digital.
We sat down and had a chat with Joaquin, to get a clear view of how does the minimal house scene look like in Chile. He recently moved to Spain, yet he kept his connections strong with his home country. Joaquin was kind enough to send us a mix, built exclusively with tracks released (or yet to be released) at Secret Society.
Do you remember how the Secret Society project was born in the first place?
About 10 years ago, in my city of Viña del Mar, when Quinto Sol stopped hosting those incredible parties led by Ricardo, Zip, Margaret Dygas and the Berlin crews that came every summer, we were left with a void. We had to wait a whole year for the experience to return.
There was a growing need to make more noise, to have these events happen more frequently, and to attract people who attended solely for the music. That’s when I decided to devise a strategy: to create a mini tour for the artists and bring them to Chile. I reached out to some clubs where I was a resident DJ and managed to get the bookers excited about the idea. Then, I contacted the artists from Sunwaves, and after some effort, we made it happen—they came to South America for the first time. And we made it real!
What’s the story behind the Secret Society name?
A few years ago, there were only a few of us interested in this sound. The music was carefully curated; the focus was on the audio system and who was DJing. Instagram wasn’t that important, and people didn’t know the names of the DJs we booked, so we had the luxury of booking whoever we wanted. We created a niche environment, something special, like a small society united by the same love for music.
The logo was born because my favorite movie is The Matrix, and if you remember, when they knock on Neo’s door, they say: “Follow the white rabbit.”
The team behind Secret Society
For the parties, we were a community: in Concepción, there was Casa de Salud; in Santiago, a DJ friend with an underground party series; and in Viña del Mar, it was me with Secret Society. We were all part of Secret Society to keep this going, as we depended on each other. Only when all three of us gave the green light, we would buy the tickets.
As for the label, I did it on my own. I’m a very particular person when it comes to explaining which artist I want to release or which painter to choose for the cover art. Plus, it was crucial to leave a tangible record of the hard work it took to cultivate underground music in Chile, back when none of what is happening now was happening then.
Intriguing abstract artworks to accompany the label’s sound. Is there any concept behind?
I studied Architecture, and I was taught that in any architectural work, everything must have a purpose. The same applies to vinyl records: each one should reflect a feeling, an auditory experience, and a visual one. It’s about feeling the physical record, listening to the music, and appreciating the cover art.
Define the Secret Society sound in 3 words.
Inspiration, transcendental, special.
Diving into SS’s back catalog, there are a lot of artists with different sounds, from Denis Kaznacheev to Renee Audiard. Are there any elements that you found common in their music, so they can fit SS sound?
These records work at any time. While some are better suited for the night, others shine in the morning, and so on. They should be like a record suitcase: carry a variety, but blend together seamlessly if you know how to do it. People want to dance, travel, and relax without leaving the dance floor.
A&R for Secret Society: open for receiving demos or working with a few carefully chosen producers, in a closed circuit manner?
We are always on the lookout for new artists. This search becomes our formula when we blend their fresh sounds with those of established artists. New sounds are often surprising and bring a unique freshness filled with originality. I really enjoy remixes because they offer a new perspective on something already created. Once you have a clear idea of where you want to go, you know whom to ask if they’re interested in doing a remix.
How does the underground scene in Chile look like, compared to how it was back 6 years ago in 2018, when you launched the record label?
The scene in Chile has grown significantly and positively. I believe the label has helped to establish the techno, micro house, or whatever you want to call it, sound, and it is undoubtedly a valuable contribution to the scene. It is very rewarding to see names of producers who released an EP in our catalog about three years ago now playing at new parties in Santiago or Chillan. This clearly indicates that good work has been done.
Giving the cultural impact of electronic music on the youth, is there any support from the government?
0 zero nada
Is there any support for local artists from your side?
Something interesting happens with my label: the big names in Chile often leave me on read. In contrast, European artists are eager to join the label; they appreciate my work and want to get even more involved than just making an EP. I have a great connection with young Chilean artists; they send me their music for feedback, and I help them in any way I can. Once the material is ready, we proceed with the release. A good example of this is Marceline: we reviewed over 30 tracks over two years, worked hard, and made a great release.
Give us a few names of talented producers and DJs in Chile, we should keep an eye on.
Delphie, Marceline, Fantasna, Existencia Pasajera, Valdivia, Herman Saiz, Vivanco…..
Owning an electronic music record label: does it have the slightest profit margin or is it just for the love of house music?
Just Love.
In a world where instant gratification and social media mirrors are invading the underground, is there still a place for a vinyl record label in the undergrounds?
I believe that there is everything in this world, and in the end, those seeking quality will go to the restaurant that serves the best food. Social media often promotes 90% Instagram models and Call of Duty players. The same applies to music, but never forget that good tracks are pressed on vinyl, and quality labels continue to thrive, even when the current seems to be against us.
How did Romania’s electronic scene influence the minimal house scene in South America?
I think it’s a bit the other way around: Ricardo introduced a South American house style with many salsa drums, which then became popular in Romania, evolving into the beautiful Romanian march. It’s a kind of remix that made a significant impact on the underground scene. There is admiration for the collaboration between Ricardo and the Romanians, and what we Chileans are seeking is to replicate something similar here, following the trail of Ricardo’s remixes.
A clubhead city break in Santiago, Chile: pick up one record shop, one small venue for a nice electronic music weekend and one breakfast spot in Santiago.
DJ Tools has all kinds of gems, both new and used, with a great curator behind the store. Club Santo Remedio in Santiago is a venue with history, very nice for DJing, with a precise sound system for just 80 people. And for breakfast, you should have a friend from the south who invites you to a barbecue.
