Today we’d like to introduce you to Carlos Gerardo Zamora a DJ and producer based in South Florida that is better known as Apocalypse7.
Thank you for sharing your story with us Carlos. So where did the name Apocalypse7 come from?
I decided on the name of Apocalypse7 (or A7 for short) because of what I wanted to do with the music I created. The word apocalypse doesn’t necessarily mean the end of the world – it represents a powerful and big change or revelation. The number 7 has always been associated with good, and as such, Apocalypse7 simply means to create a good and impactful change which is what I try to help do the Electronic Dance Music scene in South Florida and the world.
Alright A7, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Wow… It’s been over 15 years now that I think about it. Way back when I started producing back in 2005, I have never lost my addiction to music since then. I started out working with guitarists, musicians, and singers, and what really got to me was when I started just delving into the freedom of electronic music. It was freedom of expression to me. I started combining it with classical elements, hip-hop, and more.
I wasn’t classically trained like the fellow musicians and vocalists I had the blessings to work with, but they understood my feelings for the melodies. It all started for the first time I just hit the key of my first synth back then.
In 2008, in collaboration with Anantra, I released my first album, “Midnight”. It truly expressed who I was showing a wide range of dance music genres from house to trance to some techno in there.
I worked my way up to a small stint at Ultra Music Festival in 2008 as well. Recently I’ve been performing throughout Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Miami, and all the way to Mexico. I haven’t stopped spinning records and producing to this day, I’ve been working on singles and EPs since then in a wide variety of electronic dance music sub-genres from techno, house, to dubstep.
What are some of the inspirations in the music you create?
My love for electronic dance music began as a kid back in NY when I was really young and my aunts and uncles jammed out to Freestyle, a vocally driven and rhythmic style that was popular in NYC and Miami, to my first CD being Eiffel 65’s “Europop”. With that one track Blue Da Ba Dee that everyone was addicted to back then.
Are there any artists that influenced you?
As I started producing, I got into quite a few different artists that influenced me. From DJ Sharam and Armin Van Buuren to Miami-natives Markus Schulz to Oscar G. To the crazy industrial sounds of Perc and pounding electro of Zodiac Cartel. To some more eclectic sounds like Burial and Creep from the U.K. There’s honestly so many.
I continue to find new artists that not only do I love playing their music but discover. Like OMNOM’s unique basslines and rhythms to Black Coffee’s African house and emotional vocals.
There are just so many amazing artists that I’ve been playing and influenced by. I would say just hit up my Spotify playlists on my page and Soundcloud page, you can keep up with stuff I like and enjoy in there.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t been for sure. Music is beautiful but difficult. We’ve all been there for something we love. But a little pain sometimes makes for beautiful music.
I’ve had people lie, cheat, and steal in the business. You name it. You just have to try to be your best self and keep doing good. Lead by example which I hope those coming in knows we need in the industry.
At the end of the day regardless of the heartbreak being in music creating it and performing it has always been a light in my life. It has always been my outlet for my dark days. It always brightened them up.
A motto I live my life by which I try to do every day, “Do what you feel and feel what you do.”
I try to incorporate that into my life every day.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
It’s always the last show I did… every show is beautiful and special and just seeing those smiles of the dancers, seeing the love on the dance floor. Ultra has to be the largest one where I made 1,000s of people from all over the world happy.
Is there anything we can expect from you soon?
Once everything with the pandemic calms back down I’ll be back in action performing in full force. I can’t wait!
In the meantime, I’ve been live streaming on Twitch and Mixcloud weekly. I’ve also been working on a few projects with some local vocalists and producers internationally that will be coming out soon!
Contact Info:
Listen to Apocalyse7’s Music & Mixes On:
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/
artist/1y6Fs6QPF0WW8d4ck56UNn? si=zWe76_M-Ro27zzUVs8ec9w - Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/
artist/apocalypse7/1298967044 - Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/
apocalypse7 - Mixcloud: https://mixcloud.com/
apocalypse7
Image Credit:
Dennis Martinez
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