UV / Antesala

Itesa are the creative endeavours of Chilean musician and visual artist Daniel Bande. Initially rooted in Santiago’s underground bands of the late 2000s, he performed in punk and experimental groups, exploring a dissonant no wave approach to his sound. During much of the 2010s he self taught himself to produce music and play keyboards, mainly with the band Nueva Costa, performing in Chile and touring Europe, while contributing to a wide range of projects within the city’s independent scene. 

His recording process, driven by drum-machine programming and real-time mixing is undertaken in a home-built studio where older analog synths and mixers, ROMplers, tape machines and recording equipment are used to create material. Conceptually, the process with the work centres on the programming of repetitive drum machine patterns, percussion, mono synth sequencing, immersive pads with some titles underpinned with ephemeral vocals.

Overall, the music contained within paints a mechanical, hypnotic sound with unexpected guitar arrangements, abstract textures and synth based adaptations. Instrument dynamics that at times can be found within the mixing/production techniques of dub and early disco. 

“The album’s overall sound has taken shape as I switched between using different synthesizers. The foundation for almost all of them was created using a Sequential Circuits Sixtrak, a Kawai F100, a Korg MS-10, Roland TR 606, and an ADX1 Modes Machines though a Tascam M208 mixer. I then incorporated a wider variety of digital timbres that I used using two Roland expanders: the U220 and JV1080, and a Yamaha TX7. The rest of the rhythms come from those same expanders and a modified Roland TR-626 loaded with samples from the Linn Drum, TR-808, TR-909, Linn and Oberheim DMX. “

Before and during production, as inspiration I listened to music by Chris & Cosey, Anna Domino, Saada Bonaire, Wally Badarou, the Boys Own label, Latin-American new wave, Swedish psychedelia, 2000s hip hop, French synthpop, cosmic disco and electro. Of note, for this release, I worked closely with Carolina Sandoval whose vocal collaborations were central to the project”.

Music by Itesa has appeared in DJ sets and radio mixes by Saeko Killy (Bureau B), DJ Nive, Zillas On Acid, Esther, The C-FU’s Dojo, Fergus Clark (Twelfth Isle) and Valesuchi among others. The compilation features new material, contemporary versions of pre-existing tracks (ie, Body Dump from renowned NTS broadcaster and vinyl archivist Gary The Tall) plus other previously unreleased works. After considerable requests through Bandcamp from DJs and radio hosts asking for a physical release, this 2xLP are the results.

Disc 1 was produced in Chile and recorded between a small studio in Santiago Centro and Valparaiso while Disc 2 was conceived in Paris, France.

Founded in Santiago de Chile, the label Missing Commas is the self-release label of the artist, currently residing in Berlin with this project marking the official launch of its publishing activities. All design duties on this release courtesy of Alicia Carrera of LIO Press.