INTERVIEW RYAN CROSSON & CESAR MERVEILLE
Interview By Leila Antakly
We are thrilled to announce an electrifying new collaboration with Beirut in the Mix, a platform dedicated to spotlighting the most innovative voices in electronic music. Together, we’ll bring you exclusive interviews, event coverage, and behind-the-scenes insights with groundbreaking DJs and producers from every corner of the globe.
Kicking off this partnership is a deep dive into the visionary minds of Ryan Crosson (Visionquest) and Cesar Merveille (Cadenza), two titans of the underground who have joined forces to create something truly extraordinary. Under their shared alias, Crosson & Merveille, the duo delivers a genre-defying album that bridges the gap between club-ready rhythms and avant-garde experimentation. Drawing inspiration from the minimalist pioneers of the 1960s to the downtown NYC avant-garde scene of the ‘80s, their collaboration—mixed by legendary producer Luke Solomon—pushes electronic music into uncharted territory.
Crosson, one-fourth of the iconic Visionquest collective (alongside Seth Troxler, Shaun Reeves, and Lee Curtiss), has solidified his status as one of dance music’s most forward-thinking talents. Meanwhile, Merveille’s rise through Luciano’s Cadenza crew has cemented his reputation as a master of groove and texture. Together, they redefine what a collaborative project can be—raw, refined, and relentlessly inventive.
Stay tuned as Ninu Nina and Beirut in the Mix bring you more from the artists shaping the future of sound. The revolution starts here.
Greatest inspirations or influences?
Cesar Merveille : The art of looking sideways (Allan Fletcher), Christian Marclay, Detroit, jazz, music concrete and all kind of experimental music, Steve Reich, Villalobos, Miles Davis, Ennio Morricone, the cosmos, sciences to name just a few
Ryan Crosson: my hometown, my parents, Rich, Ricardo, Eno, Harold Budd, jazz of all sorts mainly Coltrane, Ethiopiques, Miles Davis, Arthur Russell, nature, food, Panama
Most memorable set so far?
Cesar Merveille: Bucharest in sala Polivalente (a stadium arranged for the event) with Mirko and Luciano -The biggest room I've played in having a blast!
Ryan Crosson: A lot to try and recall here. I'd say in recent memory TimeWarp 2012 with Shaun and Seth or our recent 24 hour marathon at CDV.
Favorite websites, blogs?
Cesar Merveille:
stumbleupon.com to discover new things about specific topics
discogs.com to buy vinyls
http://talkinsalad.wordpress.com/ Bill Patrick’s blog
http://www.canalplus.fr/c-divertissement/pid1778-c-pepites-sur-le-net.html for entertainment
Ryan Crosson:
http://www.npr.org/
http://pitchfork.com/
http://talkinsalad.wordpress.com/
Highlight of summer 2012?
Cesar Merveille: Playing @ dc 10 with Ryan, and after party @ ushuaia b2b2b with Luciano and Mirko
Ryan Crosson: DC w/ Ces for sure!
Anything else? Cesar Merveille: I definitely recommend a good cote Rotie (red wine from the Rhone) if you haven't tried any yet!
Ryan Crosson: I'd pair that with any red meat you can get your hands on that's not over cooked.
