Juntos, Un Viaje Hacia El Sueño Eterno: Conversation with David Triana
Hello David, would you mind briefly introducing yourself ?
Hello, my name is David Triana. I'm a musician, producer and DJ based in London and originally from Colombia. I've been writing music for the past 20 years. Merging sounds from house to funk, Latin jazz, punk, and anything else that ever inspired me.
What are the main influences that shape your sound?
My sound is deeply shaped by the places I've lived, the people I've met, and the music that has accompanied me over the years. I grew up in Bogotá, surrounded by a vast and diverse world of music where rhythm and emotion always pulled me in. My friends and I loved getting together to play—we picked up a few instruments and started writing songs, making noise, and exploring whatever sounds we could create. The first thing that really shaped me as a music maker was punk rock—that’s what we were trying to imitate as kids. It gave us that raw sense of rebellion and urgency. Later came loads of classic rock and jazz, which I picked up through my parents. Radio and TV were also huge influences. I remember staying up late just to catch the weirdest and most intriguing tunes coming through those channels. We'd record cassettes and VHS tapes, then bring them to school to trade—music was always a shared discovery. Later in life, the party scene and electronic music started influencing me more and more. I became deeply interested in experimenting—creating loops, jamming on my own, and discovering new sounds outside of the traditional band format. That’s when DJing entered the picture, and it completely transformed the way I listened to music. DJing opened up a whole new dimension: the idea that you don’t just listen to a song—you mix it, bend it, and connect it with others to reveal new textures, new feelings, and new frontiers. It’s in that process of layering and blending where I often find the most exciting moments.
How did your collaboration with AirFunk come about?
Back in January 2024, Rakim Under and I were playing in NYC for our friend Kenia from the Alegria party. Maxime dB was there too, and for the first time, we had the chance to meet and hang out at her place. Max had this incredible curiosity about everything around him, which instantly connected all of us. We later played at H0l0, followed by a really fun after-party where we shared records and precious moments for hours on end. When the day was finally winding down, Maxime came up to me and said, “Heya, I’ve got another party to play in the morning—want to come with me?” So off we went to Apollo Studios, where we had yet another unforgettable session of music.
Apollo Studio, New York, January 2024
That moment paved the way for me to visit the whole Airfunk crew at a rave they organized later in February in Lyon. As we danced throughout the weekend, I got the chance to connect deeply with Nico, Paul Cut, and the rest of the crew. Not long after, I sent Paul the music from Hermana Juana, our band, which had just released its first two singles on a 7” . Paul, being a musician through and through, heard it and immediately asked for the files—he wanted to remix it. Before I even had the chance to send the stems, he had already taken the master and drafted what is now the remix pressed on Airfunk Special Edition #2. Later that year, Nico and Max invited me to spend some time in the studio outside of Paris. We jammed late into the night, and somehow, these magical tunes began to appear.
Triana y Hermana Juana - Maldito Aparato
Can you tell us about the creative process for AirFunk Special Edition 02?
Yes! When I headed to Paris for our first studio session, Maxime was waiting for me at the door of his place, basking in the sun with a bench laid out with the finest cheese, wine, and Parisian snacks. We were meant to head to the studio early, but the boys had gotten a last-minute gig that night in the city. I was casually told, “Ah, we’ll play and then head there… ” and, well, it all unfolded in a pretty hilarious way. Fast forward to the gig—Max and Nico started playing, and soon after, I jumped in for a few tunes. Suddenly, our names appeared on a big screen behind us, as if the whole thing had been planned out. Paris, c’est toujours la fête! We got pretty jolly (and slightly drunk), and later headed out to catch Krol at another venue—that’s where I met him for the first time. He was playing the sickest tunes and the crowd was fully going for it. As we walked out of the venue, the sun was rising, and we finally made our way to the studio—about 30 minutes outside the city, into the countryside. During the car ride, we hugged, laughed, and talked about our dreams and the importance of keeping the family together, pushing forward. We spoke about friends reaching far and wide with their music—Aman (Flo), Obee, Tomas, Karim… all of them. That moment stayed with me. Once at the studio, we jumped into writing our first track. I was truly inspired by everything we had just lived through in those first 12 hours in Paris. The rest of the weekend was all about collaboration. Two of us would be writing in one room, while the others were digging for samples or building new ideas next door. Then we’d come together, drink wine, walk in the forest, and keep working. It was all very organic. That was the first session, which we followed up with a second visit a couple of months later. During that time, we wrote new material and revisited the music from the first trip. By then, the boys had worked on the structure and further developed the mixes, but most of it remained true to the original jams—pretty much untouched, actually. I think we all wanted to preserve the rawness and power of those first takes. They held that spontaneous, unpredictable, sometimes “imperfect” beauty—the kind that creates magic, opens timeless portals, and captures the soul of music and art.
Monfort L’Amaury, 2024
AirFunk Special Edition 02 - JUNTOS, UN VIAJE HACIA EL SUEÑO ETERNO
A1. David Triana, Aline Brooklyn, Maxime dB – Take You Far Away
A vocoder-driven journey infused with the essence of 80s electro, Take You Far Away blends airy synths, crisp drum programming, and a futuristic groove. A perfect balance between nostalgia and forward-thinking club energy.
A2. David Triana, Krol, Aline Brooklyn, Maxime dB – Journey of Love
This track channels the deep, hypnotic soul of Detroit techno while maintaining the signature vocoder elements. Pulsating rhythms and atmospheric layers create an immersive sonic voyage, balancing warmth and intensity with emotional depth.
B1. Triana y Hermana Juana – Maldito Aparato (Paul Cut Remix)
Paul Cut reinvents Maldito Aparato with a lush, jazz-infused touch, featuring warm Rhodes, deep basslines, and an electrified groove. The remix elegantly fuses jazz-house influences with a contemporary club aesthetic, offering a refined and soulful reinterpretation.
B2. Triana y Hermana Juana – Maldito Aparato
The original recording from Triana y Hermana Juana brings raw Latin energy to the release. Infused with organic instrumentation and infectious rhythms, the track captures the spirit of traditional Latin music while embracing a rebellious, groove-driven edge.
Do you have any favorite records or artists that you always come back to?
Yes, for sure. For me, the most powerful and interesting music always has layers—hidden textures and emotions that reveal themselves over time. That’s why I constantly find myself coming back to certain records; they keep offering something new with every listen. I love the classics—anything from Steely Dan, Miles Davis, and Fania All-Stars to Daft Punk or Tom Jobim. That’s the kind of music that will always accompany me, no matter where I am in life.
If you had to describe your sound in three words, what would they be?
Freedom. Dreaming. Rhythm.
At Paul Cut’s Studio
