CESAR MERVEILLE (Cadenza)
Cesar Merveille has long had an appetite for art, jazz, fine wines and good times, and his musical palate is equally refined. Yes, through flair and flow has the profile of this Parisian-born, Berlin-based “bon vivant” grown. Traversing styles from house and techno to Latin and tribal funk. From his uplifting Chocopop Jazz track to the downbeat Maayancholy featuring Guti, which was remixed by Luciano and released on Cadenza; from recording for Circus Company, Safari Electronique, and Wolf + Lamb, to fusing grooves on Visionquest with label co-founder Ryan Crosson. Cesar’s sound is always evolving, always challenging, always turning heads. And it’s getting louder every year.
Cesar’s taste for music developed as a youth in his family’s home. He was drawn to jazz because of the countless ways musicians pushed boundaries to explore the genre, be it classical or experimental. By the age of 14 he was passionate about playing the guitar, later discovering electronic music through friends at Circus Company parties. Cesar began producing his own tracks while living in Paris, before moving to London in 2003, the same year as his debut release, Transit, came out on Circus Company.
Graduating from London College of Communication with a degree in Graphic and Media Design, he then founded a visual design company called Hijackstudio. Yet it was Cesar’s impressive creative direction of music that would fling open the doors to his future. Sampling the Dave Brubeck Quartet 5/4 arrangement Take Five, he crafted (in the name of Cesar Maravillas) a more modern classic called Chocopop Jazz. This was released in 2008 on Remake Music and played out heavily by the likes of Luciano and Rhadoo.
By this time Cesar’s reputation as a lively, versatile DJ was on the rise too. And after honing his craft during residencies at London’s T-Bar and lo*kee, he went on to captivate crowds at other spaces that were key to his evolution. Places such as London club fabric, and Watergate and Panorama Bar in Berlin. Over the years a flourish of new music formed an inspiring discography. He produced an EP on Safari that was remixed by Seth Troxler, Shaun Reeves and Miss Fitz. He joined Cadenza to release the lush Descarga project, which was created along with his friend and former fellow T-Bar spinner Pablo Cahn-Speyer, and followed up swiftly by their Split EP. He also collaborated with Felipe Venegas on ‘The Builders’ for Drumma, and remixed Alex M’s ‘Moving the Sun’ for Monique Music. Not to mention what is probably his most poignant production to date, ?Maayancholy’, starring Guti on piano, which was signed to Cadenza.
After near on a decade of living in London, Cesar moved to Berlin in 2011. From here he has been planning a debut album, a full-on mind meld made alongside Ryan Crosson. This builds on their recent EPs (DRM Part 1 and DRM Part 2), and likewise will be released on Visionquest. Besides this long player, several remixes lie ahead, including one for Reboot. Meanwhile DJ Hell’s Gigolo Records promises to breathe new life into the ever popular Chocopop Jazz.
Also on the horizon is an original solo project for Cadenza and yet another summer of Balearic performances with the label’s Vagabundos family. Cesar will also continue DJing at other select events organised by Visionquest and Cadenza, as well as touring independently, sculpting a stream of gourmet sets for clubs and festivals around the world.
Yes, bon vivant Cesar knows how to live the good life and, thankfully, by virtue of his creative nous, it’s a passion and a feeling that he can share with us all!
