Donald Braho, aka DABÓ, is best known for making electronic music. On top of this he also practices as a visual artist and videographer creating content that goes hand in hand with his music. Braho encapsulates beauty in all of his work; for instance, the beauty of juxtaposition lies at the heart of DABÓ’s latest EP “Innervisions The Remixes”. We hear from DABÓ as he tells us about his numerous creative outlets and how he went from working as a model at just 18-years-old to becoming an acclaimed DJ. Braho also talks to us about why the Coronavirus outbreak is affecting the music industry economically.

You are a DJ and visual artist based in Milan, can you tell us how you got to where you are today?
It’s been a long journey, I can say I lived in 10 years what other people would go through a lifetime. It all started with modelling when I was 18 years old, but after some years I found it very limiting so I decided to go on backstage. I worked for some years as a model scout and then as a photo editor and stylist for different magazines.
I studied Law and then I dropped and started studying Film in the Academy Of Arts in Tirana where I graduated. During those years I started developing my photographic skills, directing music videos and working as a copywriter in creative agencies, while having DJ gigs in different festivals and venues. Music was always my secret desire. A passion lurking on the subconscious of my mind waiting to be ignited, so here I go.

Most recently you have created a collection of three remixes titled “Innervisions The Remixes”. Each one dives into different sub genres of electronic music - what inspired this idea?
The idea emerged simply from the fact that opposites attract. I think there is beauty in juxtapositioning while at the same time attracting different audiences that one genre alone cannot. Natural Mess brings a tech house groovy banger, Equinoxx goes into the Electro feel, Nëna Parti delivers some serious funky synthwave while the original version is more meditative and transcendental and I think that’s empowering.

Could you tell us about your creative process when making electronic music, for example what median’s do you use?
I have created a simple set-up in a nice corner of my place where I work daily.
Truth is that not every day is productive, but perseverance is King. In creative terms, my voice is the most important instrument which most of the time I transform into a synth through vocoders and different plugins in Ableton.

In terms of collaboration who have you worked with in the music and creative industries?
I’ve shared decks with some cool techno artists such as Charlotte de Witte, Boston 168 and the list goes on. Now I’m looking forward in making the right contacts as I establish myself in the Milanese Scene of Music and Fashion.

What has influenced your visual work that is posted on your second IG account @theouroborusss and does it relate to your music?
The Ouroboursss is a project where I express my love and the way I see beauty. It is heavily influenced by poetry, paintings, fashion and of course by music. My videos especially are a derivate of the inspiration that music fuels me to envision and bring to life from my imagination.

What sort of challenges have you faced during your career as a creative?
Sometimes these challenges are very personal. Like dealing with self-growth, learning, evolving and changing which is always uncomfortable though necessary. And other times is dealing with clients and collaborators which are unclear in their goals, or who try to shut down my creative input driving me into some mechanical work which I loathe. But standing up for my vision and communication are two allies that turn these problems into entertaining challenges.

How do you think the current global pandemic has affected you personally as a DJ and the music industry as a whole?
Personally, I’m on standby mode with all of my gigs being cancelled, but at the same time I’m taking the current situation to work diligently in putting together my upcoming EP. Economically speaking this is a huge problem, affecting not only DJ’s but promoters, agents and clubs worldwide who actually make a living in through this. Small clubs and labels are facing bankruptcy while the total loss in revenue is more than 35€ million. Looking forward to the good times, I want to remind all the artists to push through the streaming services which are actually booming. Till then, stay home, stay safe!