Nathan Barato is a Toronto-born DJ and producer, who has carved a unique space in the scene. Known for blending the grit of underground techno with the infectious groove of house music, Barato's sets are both dynamic and immersive. His productions showcase a distinctive style, earning releases on labels like Hot Creations and Relief Records.

Canadian Tech House maestro Nathan Barato debuts on Toolroom alongside studio partner, Matheo Velez with ‘Weapon’. A record that has already caught the attention of the underground elite with Michael Bibi premiering the track at his first appearance back at DC-10 in Ibiza this Summer. Both artists are enjoying great success across key labels such as Viva, Circus, Snatch, and RAWthentic. This is an addictive, bumpy club track that packs a huge punch on the dance floor and actually features Nathan’s very own ‘Move Me… Rock me’ vocals! 

 

Hi Nathan Barato! Thanks for talking to SIX AM how are you doing?

Yo yo.. thanks for having me. Im doing pretty effing good. I just finished a long day in the studio. Now I'm over here chillin', answering interview questions and I got Letterkenny on in the background. Life is lovely rn.

 

To get things started, you’re known to have a unique blend of underground techno and groovy house music. How did you end up with that being your sound? What and who were some of your biggest inspirations?

I guess it's just a combination of some influences over the years. Some of the first dance records that connected with me were straight vocal anthems. I was heavily into the New York house sound around the mid-late 90s.. and so much of the gospel-influenced House around that time. Eventually, I got into more of a techno-influenced sound like Chiapet ‘Westworld’... That record changed my life… John Ciafone dubs were game-changing in the early 2000s. But a seminal moment for me was hearing Green Velvet at the Comfort Zone here in Toronto one time.. He was playing straight Gospel House records over banging Techno. It was amazing.

 

Your music is often described as addictive and bumpy, with a huge impact on the dance floor. Can you share insights into the specific techniques or musical elements you incorporate into your tracks to achieve this energy, and how do you gauge the crowd's response to fine-tune your performances accordingly?

I really just like to focus on the groove.. I love bumpin' basslines and tough drums.. That kind of who I am at my core in a sense. That basic foundation translates well on the dance floor.. Of course, there are other elements that help a lot.. I love shifty and slippery hi-hat combinations and I can't really stop doing vocal chop sections on my tracks.. It is so fun.. I've noticed over the years, that those vocal chops become really recognizable to people. Sometimes when I'm mixing in a track of mine .. once that vocal chop can be heard in the mix, people always react to it well.

You have a new track coming out titled “Weapon”. Can you share more about the story behind this collaboration with Matheo Velez. How did it gain recognition from underground music figures like Michael Bibi?

Ya, this is a track I started a couple of years ago. A very typical process for this one... I just started on a beat and started to add elements in... Eventually, the vocal came to mind so I recorded it... I made a bad track of it and eventually sent it to Matheo to see if he wanted to collab because I felt a bit stuck in the process and couldn't feel where to go next. And ya well he took it to the next level and the rest is history…

with Bibi.. I sent him the track in an email.. I'm often bombarding, hounding, and annoying all my DJ friends with new upcoming beats of mine. .. I was really touched to see the videos of him playing it that day he came out of the hospital.. how inspiring is that guy? incredible

 

Why did you decide to incorporate your own vocals into the track 'Weapon,' and how does this personal touch enhance the overall experience for clubgoers? Do you do this often with your productions?

You know I've been doing it more and more over the last few years. Anytime you see ‘NB76’.. That's me on the mic…but sometimes I add elements with my voice.. Or even breathing.. Who am I, Timbaland? Pharell? No just the same old NB76

I didn't get too deep with why I added my vocals on ‘Weapon’... Sometimes a vocal idea comes to mind and I just record it and see what happens. Occasionally the idea is recorded with the intention that later an actual real vocalist can run with the idea and do something more but I decided to keep my recording this time. Even though it's awkward to hear my own voice lol

Thanks so much for talking to us Nathan. Is there anything else you would like to add before signing off?

Hey thank you more! I just really appreciate how much people are enjoying something I was a part of. In the end, that's enough for me. 

Connect with NATHAN BARATO: Spotify | Beatport | Bandcamp | Instagram