“Dancing is the hidden language of the soul and electronic music, with its beats in the form of heartbeats, the maximum expression of human warmth”, said producer Bill Laswell. Cristina Tosio, DJ, model and mother, thinks of electronic music as a spiritual journey, a door to a torrent of energy with which to make her audience vibrate.
His passion for the genre was late and came for fun. However, over the years and in parallel to a fruitful career in fashion-she has worked for firms such as Lanvin, Alberta Ferretti or Blumarine and starred in dozens of covers-the Spanish top has made it her main profession. Rebellious, fun and optimistic, Tosio is, after all, a reflection of her music: sophisticated and full of life.
You play in Eivissa, the Olympus of electronic music in Spain, what do you feel every time you go up on one of its stages?
It is an honor. I never would have imagined it when I started. The first time was for fashion events, but what really meant a before and after for me was performing last year at Pachá. There you see it differently. It was spectacular. It was the first time that this party was held and I played in the opening. There were a lot of people and the session went very well: I played three decks, people jumped and danced euphorically. It was exciting.
How do you prepare the sessions?
I like to create a trip. There are many people who say they see the public and improvise from there. I don’t. I know where I’m going and I know what music the public expects. When you prepare your set a bit, with a beginning, a middle, an end, and you link by tonalities, you give more strength to what you are doing. Everything flows. I like to think of my set as if it were a work of art that I later exhibit in concert. Also, if I have everything clear, I go relaxed and focus on having a good time.
Are you inspired by anything in particular to create that trip?
It can influence my mood, but above all it inspires me where I play. I think you have to be professional and know what they want wherever you go to work. Then I let my emotions in.
Have you produced any of your own songs?
It’s been a year since I learned to produce and it’s something that excites me. I’m working on the second and third songs, but until I have four finished I don’t want to release anything because I want everyone to speak the same language. I guess I’ll be able to do it in September. Now at least I already have a line and a clear sound.
And what is that sound?
I’m interested in melodic progressive. I want it to be elegant and have beautiful sounds, because that is the music that reflects me. I like clean sounds; elegant but without sacrificing strength and power.
Another of your passions is DJing and producing for fashion brands. What does luxury sound like?
They are clean sounds that go towards that elegance that I was telling you about. Afterwards, she slowly goes up and asks to dance. It’s important to me because I don’t want to deny my past in modeling, which, in fact, is still a present. I think I can follow both lines: playing at beach clubs or big stages and also at fashion events.
A dream place to DJ.
I now look for the good energies. I’d like to do something for The Soundgarden Festival, they do really cool daytime sessions. I have realized, based on work, that what I enjoy the most is playing a style of music according to a specific type of festival, daytime, calmer but fun. In the end I am a mother, I have already stayed up a lot, I am in another stage and in these daytime festivals I can be more myself.
Is electronics stigmatized? And the role of women?
It seems that the more techno or hard music she puts on a woman, the more she is respected. The masses like to get their heads drilled. But I’m not going to follow that line, I’m not going to play a role that I don’t identify with just to be more recognized. In addition to the fact that there is a lack of women in this specific industry and more visibility for the different genres of electronic music, beyond techno, I think that I don’t have to play for recognition but because it makes me happy.
Do you ever take your son Bosco to your performances?
If it is feasible yes. For example, this week I travel every day, every day to a different city and it seems too much for him. But recently I spent three days playing at a festival in the Canary Islands and I took it with me. His favorite phrase is: “Mom, I want to go DJing with you”. He really likes music and when he sees me playing he gets in the way and starts playing the mixer.
What does it take to make it in the music industry?
No matter how much technique you have, if you don’t have good taste it’s difficult. And above all, you have to be humble and hard-working because in this industry they don’t give you anything for free. It’s much tougher than fashion.
You have precisely lived in both worlds, what do you take away from your time on the catwalks?
I am lucky to participate in creating art at a photographic level and to have worked with such good photographers. I have photos that look like they were taken from a movie. For me, having been part of that world is a memory that I will always carry with me.
