SCENE FOCUS: MEXICO

As Latin America’s second biggest country, Mexico is one of the world’s most exciting places to party. Hot artists, incredible clubs and world-renowned festivals combine to create an exciting melting pot where almost every taste is catered for. It also happens to be the country that Tom & Collins - the 2014 Miller SoundClash Champions - call home. We caught up with the engaging duo to find out what they love about their home turf...

According to Tom & Collins, the scene in their home country is experiencing a similar renaissance to the one reported elsewhere around the globe; “5 years ago,” they tell DJ Mag, “the only electronic music presence was from the influence that trance producers like Tiesto and Paul Van Dyk left a certain generation. Back then, young crowds were strictly into the pop scene.”

But things have been changing. In 2008, BPM Festival launched, bringing underground dance music and a clued-up crowd to Playa Del Carmen on the country’s East coast, and in 2013 leading US dance festival Electric Daisy Carnival also launched in Mexico. Tom & Collins are due to play at this year’s edition.

“Festivals are really fun,” they opine. “We loved playing at EDC Mexico; the latin American crowd is one of the best in the world!”

But it is not only the festivals that are exciting the duo. They believe that clubland has seen the biggest resurgence, and the biggest shift in perception over the last few years. “Nowadays, clubs are focused on DJs, no matter what the genre is,” the guys continue enthusiastically. “You find a central DJ booth with the whole club’s attention. When we have the chance to relax and hang in Mexico city there’s a neighbourhood called Roma where you will find most of the bars and clubs we hang out at. There is a really cool club called Mono where we sometimes play long underground sets.”

So with thriving nightclubs, an emergent festival market and and array of exiting talent, it is a great time to be a fan of dance music in Mexico right now. “Pop radio stations now play EDM and the alternative stations play indie dance and nu disco,” Tom & Collins conclude. “Mexican producers are doing a great job in both the deep house and progressive house scenes, so with this local talent, people are going to get even more into electronic music.”