The ease with which they first came together, is much like their sound – a seamless combination of Rebolledo’s Latin roots and Schaufler’s European flavour. “We like different things in music but theatrical elements, drive and momentum are things we both like.” Bonded by their mutual appreciation of deep grooves and infectious energy, the unique duo can be seen creating waves on dance floors across the globe, with cigarette in mouth and chest hair out. It’s just how they do it. While some things have grown more formal since that fateful night at a club in Mexico, the impromptu nature of their friendship permeates throughout their work and their studio process. Much of what makes their partnership work is an unspoken bond.
“If we meet at the studio it’s because we’ve already talked and developed an idea. Sometimes we have a concept or even a title and we start from there. The creative process starts way before we turn on any machine.” You wouldn’t be wrong in thinking that there would be some sort of creative tension between two equally passionate musicians. Rebolledo, however, says he and Schaufler are always on the same page. “Pachanga Boys always agree, the charismatic Rebolledo says emphatically. “If we decide to do something we just let it flow.” Having travelled much musical terrane in their time together, the intrepid producers will now be making their first trek to Australia as a group. “Superpitcher has been there before on his own, so he already has his own picture of the magic there, but we like to be surprised every time so we try not to have expectations.”
They will be taking their open-minded dance-floor-driven approach to The Bottom End in Melbourne. The following night, if that wasn’t enough, Superpitcher will be performing a solo set at Brown Alley. Bringing the ruckus to more intimate confines during their Aussie visit, the Boys have had experience rocking different sized venues. While they enjoy both, size doesn’t necessarily matter for this duo. “It really depends on many factors, not only the place or the size. Playing in small places can be very special and we really enjoy it, but the right big venue can be also amazing. The crowd has a lot to do with it.”
The energy of the crowd is what wills them along, particularly if playing an extended set as is customary in many European clubs. “We really enjoy long sets when the right conditions are there. As long as people are still enjoying [it], we can just go on and on, but a great party not only depends on how long it is, because you can have short intense experiences that are as good as long ones.” Some of their lengthiest and most enjoyable sets have appropriately enough taken place in Schaufler’s native Germany, in Cologne to be specific.
“Cologne is one of the places where we’ve done 9 or 10-hour nights and they work perfectly… always a great place to be back to.” Like the intensity the music of the Pachanga Boys stirs up in listeners, it’s been a whirlwind of energy for the international tag team, as they continue to spread the gospel. “Last year was super crazy busy, and this year we took it a bit easy at the beginning but now it’s getting very busy again.” Ringing true throughout their time as a group, Rebolledo and Schaufler thrive on intensity and have been continuing to build their reputation as ultimate party starters. The past few weeks have seen them on the road without much respite, performing at the Sonar Reykjavik festival in Iceland and the Black Weekend in Chamonix, France. They even found time to run their own event, the Turbo Hippie Dance party in Miami, performing alongside long time buddies Thomas Von Party, Tiga and Daniel Maloso.
At time of speaking, the tireless Rebolledo, who showed no clear signs of exhaustion, was gearing up to hit Nitsa in Barcelona and Mondo in Madrid, before making the trek Down Under. While the energy can obviously vary between being in the studio with one other person and performing in front of thousands of fans, the Mexican-bred DJ/producer says that one is an extension of the other and helps them overall. “Whilst playing you get new ideas for the studio, in the studio you develop those ideas, come up with new ones and then you see the results again while playing. It’s a great creative circle.” It’s like the circle of life, but probably more satisfying. It’s no coincidence that their demand at clubs around the world is growing by the day, as the Pachanga Boys are fresh from releasing their eclectic yet cohesive debut album, We Are Really Sorry. Possibly one of the most idiosyncratic dance releases of recent times, it was released through their own Hippie Dance label. There’s plenty more where that came from, Rebolledo warns. “We’ve got many projects on the table at the moment, for Pachanga Boys and for Hippie Dance… be patient.”
BY ANDREW ‘HAZARD’ HICKEY
