Interview – LUM

LUM has steadily been making waves through the electronic scene following releases on Rebellion, Sol Selectas, Amores Solitares and with new material due for release on Maison D’estre. He is also fresh off the back of delivering a stellar set at Day Zero so we caught up with LUM to get a deeper insight into his creative process, the influential Tulum scene and more.

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MI4L – Your music is described as a ceremonial experience rather than just a performance. How do you approach creating a set that feels like a spiritual journey?

LUM – “My approach to creating a set is deeply intentional—I don’t just play rhythms; I shape an experience. I see drumming as more than performance; it’s a ritual, a dialogue between sound, energy, and presence. Each set is like a journey, where the groove is the path, and the audience is invited to walk it with me.

I start by tuning my congas and bongos in a way that resonates emotionally, not just sonically. The tones need to feel alive, almost like voices speaking in rhythm. I let the energy of the space and the people guide me, improvising and layering rhythms that build tension and release, creating a trance-like momentum. It’s about connecting to something primal—something beyond entertainment—where movement, breath, and sound become one.

For me, every beat carries intention. Whether it’s grounding, elevating, or calling forth something unseen, my goal is to make people feel—not just hear—the music. That’s what transforms a performance into a ceremony.”

MI4L – You’ve spent years studying indigenous music and rituals. How have these experiences shaped your sound, and do you see yourself as a bridge between ancestral traditions and modern electronic music?

LUM – “My sound is deeply influenced by the indigenous music and rituals I’ve studied, but I don’t see myself as merely replicating traditions—I internalize their essence and let them flow through my own expression. The pulse of ancestral rhythms teaches me about intention, about drumming as a language of connection rather than just a beat.

I wouldn’t say I’m a bridge in the literal sense, but more of a channel—someone who lets the raw energy of traditional rhythms move freely into a modern context. Whether I’m playing acoustic or alongside electronic elements, I stay rooted in the fundamental truth of rhythm: it’s a force that transcends time and technology. My goal isn’t to fuse past and future artificially, but to let them naturally speak to each other. The spirit of ancient drumming is still alive, and I just let it breathe in new ways.”

MI4L – Tulum has become a haven for many artists. How has living there influenced your creative process, and what makes it a special place for you?

LUM – “Tulum isn’t just where I live; it’s where my creativity breathes. I moved here 20 years ago, and from the beginning, I felt an undeniable synchronicity with nature—the rhythms of the jungle, the whisper of the sand, the pulse of the waters, and the infinite wisdom of the stars.

My inspiration doesn’t come from something external—it emerges from this deep dialogue with the elements. The jungle has its own percussion, the waves have their own tempo, and the night sky feels like a silent score waiting to be played.  Tulum teaches me to listen, to be present, and to trust in the flow—both in music and in life.”

MI4L – You recently performed at Day Zero, a festival known for its mystical energy. How did that experience align with your vision of music as a transformative force?

LUM – “Day Zero is more than a festival for me—it’s woven into my life in ways that feel almost surreal. Back in 2012, I was managing a rooftop bar where we hosted the very first artist dinner. That night, I found myself surrounded by my musical heroes, not knowing that this festival would become such a defining part of my journey.

At the first edition of Day Zero, I met a girl who, years later, became my wife. And after my first performance at the festival, I had a serious car accident on my way home—another moment that marked a turning point in my story. These are just a few of the countless experiences that make Day Zero feel like something beyond a festival for me. It’s a place of transformation, synchronicity, and deep personal connection. Every year, I return not just as an artist, but as someone forever shaped by its energy.”

MI4L – Your upcoming release on Maison D’etre—can you tell us about the inspiration behind it? What emotions or experiences does it capture?

LUM – “This track holds a very personal place in my heart. I created it during the lockdown, inside a tent at Nomade Hotel, with just a small version of my studio. At the time, I was feeling a deep sense of nostalgia for a road trip I had taken through the woods of California with someone I shared a profound love story with. That memory became the soul of the track, and its name comes directly from that experience.

What makes this release even more special is that, for the first time, I used my own voice in a track—speaking in tongues, telling her how beautiful that trip was. It’s raw, intimate, and one of my favorite pieces I’ve ever made. It’s not just music; it’s a moment, a feeling, a memory that still resonates.”

As a bonus, the release comes with remixes from some of my favorite artists—Anthony Middleton, Guti, and Cali Lanouze—each bringing their own touch to the story, making it even more special.”

MI4L – Looking ahead to 2025, what are some personal and artistic evolutions you hope to explore? Any upcoming collaborations or new directions in your sound?

LUM – “2025 is shaping up to be a busy and transformative year for me. It feels like the right time to release the first album of Los Tigres del Futuro, my new project with Guti, which has been evolving into something truly special. My ambient project, Monk Veneris, will also see at least two releases, diving deeper into atmospheric and meditative sounds.

Another major milestone will be performing Homo Infinitus live for the first and only time—bringing that album into a one-time, full-scale experience. At the same time, I’m working on Homo Ludens and Homo Faber to complete the trilogy, exploring different aspects of human nature through sound.

Beyond music, I’ve found myself deeply immersed in painting—it has become an essential form of expression for me, offering a different yet complementary creative outlet.

And one of my most recent projects is an album inspired by military marches—not as a celebration of war, but as a statement against it. I’ve always been against armies, war, and violence, but I recognize that two elements from military tradition hold value: discipline and the march. Electronic music has a similar structure—repetitive, hypnotic, and designed to bring people into a trance-like state. But instead of marching into battle, we march to dance, to lose ourselves in the beat, and ultimately, to find ourselves again.”

MI4L – Can you walk us through your studio setup? How does your environment shape the music you create?

LUM – “My studio is my home, and my home is my studio—everything is integrated, like a loft, with adrums that  I built at the center, surrounded by my congas and instruments collected from around the world. It’s a space designed for movement, for flow.

Lately, I’ve been working mostly with four key elements. The heart of my setup is the Native Instruments Maschine, which is also the core of my live performances. Then, of course, my congas—but I wouldn’t call myself a percussionist in the traditional sense. I have my own way of playing, retuning, and lowering the skin to shape their tone uniquely.

One of my favorite pieces of gear is my old Roland Groovebox MC-505. The display is broken, and the save button doesn’t work—and I love it that way. I don’t want to fix it because it forces me to work in a way that feels alive. I record everything as a live jam, multitrack, one take. It keeps me in the moment, capturing the raw energy of the performance instead of endlessly moving colorful clips on a screen. I usually lay down percussion and drum machines first, and if the track needs it, I’ll add melodies. But for me, rhythm is everything—it’s where the soul of the music lives.”

MI4L – Your near-death experience has been a major influence on your artistic path. How does that moment continue to inform your life and creative choices today?

LUM – “That experience changed everything. It was a turning point—not just in my life, but in how I create and see the world. It brought moments of deep depression and feeling lost, but it also opened a new dimension of creativity and a deeper understanding of my path as an artist. I can’t escape my nature—it’s who I am.

But the most important lesson was about fear. When I came back to my body, I was convinced I would never walk again. It wasn’t until later that I realized it wasn’t my body that was paralyzed—it was fear itself holding me back. The moment I accepted and released that fear, I could move again. That lesson stays with me every day.

Since then, I’ve become fearless, and that’s reflected in my music. I take risks, I do exactly what I feel, without worrying about whether people will like it or not. My music isn’t just about sound—it’s about healing, about breaking through limitations. It’s my way of staying alive.”

MI4L – With the electronic music landscape constantly shifting, how do you navigate staying true to yourself while also engaging with new audiences?

LUM – “I’ve always been honest with myself. My art is my way of healing—of releasing pain, of falling in love, of dancing, of crying. It was never about chasing success or fame.

The electronic music landscape is always shifting, but I don’t see that as something to navigate—I just keep creating from a real place. If people connect with it, that’s beautiful. If new audiences find something in my music that resonates with them, it’s because the emotion is real. Trends come and go, but authenticity is timeless.

I’m 47 years old, and this idea that ‘music was better before’ or that everything was better in the past doesn’t resonate with me. I love avant-garde exploration, the push into new territories. Yes, there’s modern music I don’t connect with, but I stay open, always curious about what younger generations have to say. Music isn’t about nostalgia—it’s about movement, evolution, and discovery.”

Keep up to date with LUM on Soundcloud / Instagram/ Bandcamp / Facebook