Pirate Stereo & Santiago Caballero

Miami, FL – March 6, 2015 – Have you ever had the feeling that you couldn’t wait for something to happen? Like the simple thought of it is the only thing you need to stay sane? Well let’s just say you’re not the only one here in Miami. Everyone has that one favorite day of the week they anxiously await. For many Miamians that night is Slap & Tickle. Eyal Agai, also known as Pirate Stereo and Santiago Caballero are the reason you’ve been dancing your ass off at Bardot as their long-standing party continues to lure in party goers to their weekly, good vibes rager. Lets be honest, it’s not easy to keep a party going longer than a couple months in a town with so much going on. So what exactly makes Slap & Tickle so special? We were wondering the same thing. So we sat down with the guys behind one of Miami’s best kept secrets where they let us know just how they’ve been getting party goers to make this such a staple in their schedules.

Pirate Stereo & Santiago Caballero

WRE: Tell us about how “Slap & Tickle” originated? Who started it? What was the original intent?

PS: It was three years ago. Santiago, Troy Kurtz, and myself were playing all around Miami at different spots but none of us felt we could get away with playing the kind of records we wanted to. So we asked Electric Pickle if we could start a night. It was so we could go and play the music we liked, and I think that’s always been the idea.

SC: It’s always meant to be a place where DJ’s can play exactly what they want.  A place where the artist can really express themselves and put themselves out there for the dance floor.

WRE: Where did the name “Slap & Tickle” come from?

SC: Slap & Tickle, at the Electric Pickle. Made sense.

Slap & Tickle is a place where the artist can really express themselves and put themselves out there for the dance floor.

Santiago Caballero

Santiago Caballero

WRE: What are both of your musical backgrounds? Did you start making music for fun or was it something that you already planned as a career?

PS: I studied at Berklee and just always knew I wanted to be in music. Definitely didn’t plan the DJ part, but started playing clubs in Boston and NY and it became something I really enjoyed.

SC: I messed around in a couple of high school bands, but always had a strong passion for dance music. I went to Ultra around 2004 and had an epiphany: I could mix the records I was listening to. My brother had exposed me to dance music at a young age, so DJing naturally became an extension of my passion for dance music. I’ve known since then that I want to play as long as I can and hopefully to as many people as I can. I really just love playing records, and having people to share them with only makes it better.

WRE: What does Slap & Tickle bring to Miami that this city would be lacking otherwise?

SC: Miami has always had a rich history of dance music. I don’t know that I would be as bold as to say that we have something other people don’t, but I do feel we have a different mixture of elements, that when combined, let Slap & Tickle stand out.

PS: If anything, we’ve been able to create a night for DJ’s that may have otherwise not had a place to play in Miami, whether it is local or international talent. I’d like to think that has contributed to a growing music culture here, but we’re certainly not the only ones.

Santiago Caballero

WRE: Do you think timing music-wise had anything to do with Slap & Tickle’s success?

PS: Dance music in general has just grown so fast I think every part of its industry benefited, especially nightclubs. I think it’s a good thing that more people are getting into it.

SC: I can’t deny that “deep house” became popular over the last few years, and I’m absolutely sure that Slap & Tickle has benefited from it. That being said, I really believe that we’ve just been playing the records we enjoy and booking artists who we believe have something to bring to the table. Even if it’s in a musical style different than what we are associated with.

Pirate Stereo

We really try to reach out and work with artists that we believe will play amazing sets at this party and that people in Miami want to see.

Eyal Agai, Pirate Stereo

Santiago Caballero & Pirate Stereo

WRE: What goes into the promotion of a weekly party as opposed to a random party you happen to be playing at?

SC: A lot of time and sanity. You always have to be planning weeks and months in advance, whether it’s booking, design work, recording, or any other aspect of the party.

PS: I think continuity is what drives it. Trying to see ahead as much as possible and keep people excited for this week and the next four or five weeks too.

WRE: What is it about Bardot that inspired the move over from the Electric Pickle? 

SC: I was initially a bit hesitant about moving Slap & Tickle there. But once I saw how they were willing to work with us to grow the night, I knew it was the right move. We’ve always been incredibly fortunate to work in great venues with great people. Bardot continues, and expands this.

PS: The timing was right. I’d been a resident at Bardot for a while and knew the team well, so it made sense. They really helped us take the party much further.

Santiago Caballero

Pirate Stereo

WRE: How do you guys get the word out about Slap & Tickle?

PS: We feature a lot of guest DJs and they are a huge part of what keeps it going week after week. There’s a lot of planning so everyone can have time to spread the word for their shows. It’s gotten harder to promote stuff online because there is so much of it now, but I feel the graphic design plays a big role there.

SC: It started pretty much through word of mouth, but I feel there was a point where the name really latched on in Miami. I think it had a lot to do with the fact that we are there every Tuesday, playing good music and providing an environment in which people can let loose a bit and just dance around.

Pirate Stereo & Santiago Caballero

WRE: How have you seen the Miami nightlife develop these past 7 years? 

PS: It’s opened up in a way and you definitely see clubs taking more chances. I think it reflects because you have all kinds of artists that wouldn’t come to Miami before and now every week it seems one or more great artists are playing in town. We’re definitely spoiled.

SC: I feel it has become more accessible. There are more venues that cater to varied tastes, and allow people to see artists they might not have had a chance to see in the past. People are more connected these days, and know when certain artists are coming to town, and I feel the industry reached out differently before. Musically, I think people are more open minded to music they don’t know as long as it’s good. It’s easy to say that, but a lot of places in Miami maintain that required quality of music.

WRE: Where did you guys learn your DJ craft?

PS: I tried to play out as much as possible and it feels like I’ve gone through every type of gig imaginable in Miami over the past four years. There have been a lot of places. Being exposed to more ‘difficult’ gigs helped; even if you’re not playing exactly what you want all the time. So like anything, if you practice it and do it all the time that’s going to be the best way to keep getting better. Playing at Slap & Tickle has had a huge impact.

SC: In the most technical of ways, I actually learned to DJ in the basement of a barn. The music center at my school was located in the basement of a converted barn. A good friend of mine lent me his turntables for a few years (Thanks Rana), and I pretty much mixed whatever I could find, whenever I could. Before I found Beatport in 2006, I was mixing songs straight from mixed compilation CDs. I had a couple of steady gigs in Boston during college, but the first place I was able to play what I really wanted was The Electric Pickle.

Pirate Stereo

WRE: What kind of artists do you guys look for when booking artists for your Slap & Tickle parties? 

PS: That aspect has the ability to constantly shift, it’s about being open but also knowing what works and what doesn’t. A lot of it’s been trial and error but it’s been important to take those chances. I couldn’t name one style or sound because there are so many and we’ve had such a range of DJs and live acts. We really try to reach out and work with artists that we believe will play amazing sets at this party and that people in Miami want to see.

SC: I think that there is an important balance to be found in booking artists. In terms of Slap & Tickle, I think our baseline is someone who can make people dance. Just because somebody made a danceable track, doesn’t mean they can DJ or perform in the same vibe. It’s pretty much impossible to know which artist can nail that vibe, so sometimes you have to trust your instinct. Sometimes it comes off beautifully, other times not so much, but you can’t be afraid to take that chance if you believe in it.

Pirate Stereo

WRE: Where do you see Miami in 10 years from now as far as the music & nightlife scene is concerned?

SC: It’s safe to say it will continue to grow at a rapid pace, just look at Miami as a whole, and how it has grown in the last 10 years. If it continues to grow as an international destination, there will only be more attention paid to what this city brings to the global dance music community. WMC put us on the map, and we continue to grow as a party destination, but I feel we’re ready to contribute to the actual creation and curation of music much more. There are some incredibly wonderful and talented people in this city.

PS: It seems like Miami keeps positioning itself as more of a music destination each year. Nightlife will continue to be strong and they’ll probably be new clubs. Also so many events and big weeks year round will definitely keep bringing more and more artists to the city.

Santiago Caballero

Take a look at some of our favorite past moments from Slap & Tickle.

Duke Dumont at The Surfcomber on April 13, 2014

Brad Thomasa, Erick Passo, Jeff Miller, Mike Russ, Gabes Ben, Rod Diaz, & Martim Lucena at Duke Dumont at The Surfcomber on April 13, 2014

Pirate Stereo at Duke Dumont at The Surfcomber on April 13, 2014

Santiago Caballero & Duke Dumont at The Surfcomber on April 13, 2014

Santiago Caballero, David Sinopoli, & Pirate Stereo at at Duke Dumont at The Surfcomber on April 13, 2014

Santiago Caballero at Living’s Easy Summer Social at Broken Shaker on August 24, 2014