Logotipo DJ Makala

bio.

Mikel Unzurrunzaga Schmitz, aka Makala and/or DJ Makala, based in Zarautz (Basque Country). With more than two decades working as DJ and radio host, is also a versatile musician, remixer, music producer and events promoter.

He has released albums and vinyl records under his name on labels such as Novophonic, Metak, Lovemonk & Elkar. Some of his songs and remixes also have been included on international labels such as UrbanWorld Records (Denmark), Agogo Records (Germany), Movimientos Records (UK), Freshly Squeezed Music (UK), Songlines Magazine (UK), Wagram Music (France), Nuevos Medios (Spain),…

His album “Unexpected Tapas (Happy Sound)”, was finalist in the "Best World Music Album" nomination at the 2012 MIN Awards of Spanish Independent Music. His acclaimed song "Cartoon Tune" included in this album and with one million plays on Spotify, appears on various international Electro-Swing & Jazz style album compilations.

During these years, he has produced remixes for different projects such as Ojos De Brujo, Fundación Tony Manero, La Mambanegra, DJ Farrapo, Muito Kaballa, WARA, Chacho, Rabbit Rumba, Gose, Korrontzi, Elkano Browning Cream, Sagarroi,…

Since the mid-90's, as a DJ & musician, has performed throughout the Basque Country, in many Spanish cities and in different venues and clubs of some international cities such as New York, London, Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam, Brussels, Vienna, Bratislava, Copenhagen, Lisbon,... and some European renowned festivals such as Jazzaldia (Donostia-San Sebastián), Sónar (Barcelona), Glastonbury (United Kingdom), Wilderness (United Kingdom), Couvre Feu (France), Dranouter (Belgium), Popkomm (Germany), Supernatural (Holland), Womex (Finland),…

Throughout these years, in his eclectic DJ sessions you will find remarkable musical wisdom of multiple genres, from Afro to Funk, from Soul to Disco, from Ska to Hip Hop, from Latin to Dub, from Cumbia to Samba, from House to Jazz,… In short, a wide range of sounds and rhythms from different corners of the world, from classic to modern styles, tons of dance and fun.

Since 2005, hosts his weekly Boom Shaka Laka radio show on Gaztea radio station, Basque Public Radio (EITB). He has also collaborated in the programs "Aperitifa" and "Faktoria" on Euskadi Irratia (EITB), and currently on the summer programs "La Terraza del Mar" and "Nada Original" on Radio Euskadi (EITB) along with journalist Joseba Martin.

Since 2008, regularly organized the Global Funk events in different Basque cities and towns, programming and sharing the stage with DJs and artists such as Nickodemus, Quantic, Alice Russell, Captain Planet, Daniel Haaksman, Tahira, Rainer Trüby, DJ Floro, Jesús Bombín, Txarly Brown, DJ Budin,… to name a few.

During 2010 decade, collaborates as artistic curator of the DJs performing on the Nauticool stage during the Jazzaldia, Donostia-San Sebastián International Jazz Festival.

In 2014, creates his own record label Orrua Diskak. Releasing to date several references of his own parallel projects and other collaborators, such as Makala, DJ Makala, Makala Jazz Funk Band, Grupo Maré Baixa, Makala & Jimmy Bidaurreta, Arima Soul,…

Since 2018, is the organiser & director of Adarretatik Music Festival in Zarautz. A free open-air summer music festival with quality music performances, programming artists & groups from the Basque music scene such as Ruper Ordorika, Gari, Anari, Joseba Irazoki, Amaia Zubiria, Broken Brothers Brass Band,… as well as national and international musical proposals, such as Fundación Tony Manero, Koko Jean & The Tonics, The Souljazz Orchestra, Kumbia Boruka, Soçiedade Recreativa, Antonio Lizana Trio,… to name but a few.

In 2019, with a project called Topa-K mixing Basque tradition with electronic music, is selected to represent the “Basque Music” live at the 25th edition of the prestigious WOMEX, in Tampere (Finland).

In 2020, recovers his electric bass instrument to create Arima Soul, a new project together with female singer Lidia Insausti, later join them keyboardist Paul San Martin and drummer Gorka Gaztanbide. They work musical styles such as Soul, Rhythm & Blues, Funk and Jazz-Groove, sung in Basque language.

© Dj Makala

t. (00 34) 600 40 20 63
info@djmakala.eus

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