Colombian DJ, producer and facilitator LEGA aka No Intellectual Property (real name Miguel Lega) has been a familiar presence in Oslo in recent years. Whenever he is touring in the vicinity, he’ll add a stop at Jaeger where he’ll adot his LEGA alias for a jaunt in our sauna and last Friday was one of those occassions.
In contrast to No Intellectual Property’s Harder inclinations, LEGA is Miguel’s outlet for music covering House and classic Techno, with elements of Acid, Disco and syncopated latin percussion.
It’s these elements that converge in mixes like this one recorded live from the sauna last Friday for Frædag. LEGA produces 2 hours of intoxicating rhythms and charming melodic themes that invigorate the soul. Playing the opening set, he sets the tone for the dance floor and then keeps it groovy and energetic as the floor fills up.
A significant figure in Colombia and South America’s extended club scene, Miguel has garnered a following as far as Europe, especially for his No Intellectual Property Alias. After his stop at Jaeger he heads to Berlin’s ELSE to adopt his other alias, but not before we got the chance to ask him some questions as we listen back to his mix
Thank you for taking the time to talk to us. This is your third trip to Jaeger if I recall correctly. What is your relationship to Norway?
It’s a true pleasure to answer these questions. This is actually the third time I’ve played at Jaeger, and it’s probably the best one yet. I really enjoyed this last set, especially playing with the rotary mixer and opening up for Olanskii & G-HA—it’s a true honor. The dancefloor was lit, and starting from scratch when there’s almost no one on the dancefloor is one of those pleasures in life I truly enjoy.
I lived in Oslo in 2012 when I did an Erasmus exchange with my university in Colombia. I came here for six months. I used to go to Jaeger alone because of all the international artists that came to play—I loved them all. Sometimes I dragged my friends from the Erasmus program, but they weren’t as into it as I was. I enjoyed every second of it. The venue, the sound system, the musical curation—everything was perfect for me.
I will always remember that one time when Jay Haze played his last track with a toy parrot on his shoulder. He left the booth and continued dancing on the dancefloor with everyone until the track ended, still with the parrot on his shoulder. It was truly something I’ll never forget.
You haven’t brought your No Intellectual Property alias here yet. Why do you prefer to use LEGA and what is it about House music that you think works better here?
It’s true; I think the right time just hasn’t come yet, but I really hope there will be a chance for me to play in the basement and dive into a Techno set, which I also truly enjoy. For now, I only come to Europe once a year to Tour around, and I actually get to play more as LEGA here than I do in Colombia, for example. I feel blessed to enjoy playing both styles, and I offer both depending on the availability or the dates I have planned. I just try to fit in wherever I’m invited.
I feel like House music carries a different energy than Techno and is easier for some people to digest. From my point of view, this might be the case in Norway.
What’s it like in Colombia in terms of the differences between the House and Techno scene?
In Colombia, Techno and Hard-Techno are among the biggest genres nowadays. They have exploded in recent years, growing exponentially. Before, the big parties had around 800 people; now, you can find events with more than 10,000-15,000 attendees—it’s getting pretty crazy over there. House music remains more underground but has never left the dancefloors.
I have been promoting House and Techno music for the past 13 years, and the way these genres have evolved is just crazy, but at the same time, it’s exciting. I just hope people don’t focus too much on likes and trends, but instead, focus on what really matters: quality music!
What was your introduction to electronic music?
My introduction to electronic music came from a friend a long time ago. I used to listen only to Metal, Punk, Hardcore, Ska, Jazz, and alternative non-commercial music. There’s something about commercial music that just doesn’t resonate with me. I started off with Indie-House bands and producers, which gradually evolved into French House, Underground House, and Techno. After that, there was no stopping me.
You’ve played all over the world. How do you feel that Colombia has shaped your musical education in any unique way?
Yes, I’ve been pretty blessed to play in various places around the world. Colombia has shaped me as a person and influenced all my musical tastes because I grew up in an environment where violence was just a normal part of daily life. It was common to see in the news, with bombs detonating at any time and place due to the narco culture of the late ’80s and ’90s. Nowadays, it’s not like that, but those of us who grew up during that time will always be touched by it in some way for the rest of our lives.
This experience made me search for something different—something uncommon to me, something that made me feel alive and real. I was looking for a way to express myself and free myself from the negativity around me, and I found that freedom in music.
What is the scene for electronic club music like there at the moment and what are the clubs, festivals and events that are currently leading the way?
The scene has grown so much that it has now spread across different venues, clubs, and festivals all around Colombia. New genres are popping up, but that real underground House and Techno will always be there for true music lovers. There are plenty of options for going out on weekends, and you can choose whatever suits your taste. This is a great development because when I started, there were probably 1-2 international artists coming every month. Now, on any given weekend, we can have more than 10 international artists playing in Colombia.
We are now one of the most important music scenes in the world, and everyone wants to come here and perform. Many clubs open and close every year, but the ones I’d like to keep in the spotlight are: Antisistema, Video Club, and in terms of festivals, Estéreo Picnic and Baum Festival are leading the way. I’ve had the privilege of playing at both festivals.
Latin-American influences have always been strong in House music, and I feel like I hear them going through in this mix too. What kind of sounds in House music are you usually drawn too?
Yes, totally! What I love about Latin American music is the percussion, the feeling, and the passion we put into the things we truly enjoy. For me, this is everything. I’m drawn to those string instruments, those synths, and those heavy percussion and kicks. That’s what does it for me, and that’s what I look for when I’m playing.
Between elements of Acid, House and Disco in this mix, you venture through the sprawling expanse of House music. What ties it all together for you?
For me, all of this music is House Music. What ties it all together is the feeling and drive that the music creates in me. I never play something I don’t like or feel. I choose tracks based on the ones that evoke emotions, make me dance, and make me believe that people will enjoy and dance to them as well.
We mentioned that you played here a few times before. Being familiar with the place, how do you go about preparing for the set here now and do you think it’s changed since the first time?
I always like to play new music—I get bored playing the same tracks in different places over and over again. When I travel, I can’t bring my records, but the records I do have never bore me because I chose them very carefully. I think my style hasn’t changed in the past three times I’ve played at Jaeger because I’ve been playing House music for the past 13 years, and it’s what I enjoy the most. I always play tracks that I truly feel, and I think the people here will like them too.
I try to give my best in the selection when I come here to make it really special. Jaeger is a special place for me and always will be. It’s an honor to play here every time.
You go straight to Berlin for a Techno set. Do you feel like you need to adapt your mind-set or attitude to do a LEGA set?
Yes, I’m playing this Saturday at ELSE Club in Berlin. I’m pretty excited to share the booth with The Advent, Philippa Pacho, Sept, Henning Baer, and many more. It’s a great lineup. I definitely have to shift my mindset to a Techno selection, but in the end, it’s all music that I deeply love and enjoy. It’s just a different energy, but that’s what makes it so exciting.
While there have been some releases as No Intellectual Property, LEGA seems to remain exclusively a DJ pursuit. Is that correct, and what was the idea behind the LEGA alias?
I have releases under both aliases, with one being easier to find than the other. I’ve released EPs as Lega on Legendary Motech Records from Detroit, an album on Diffuse Reality, and I have an EP coming out next month on Truncate’s label. However, you’ll find many more productions under the name No Intellectual Property.
Lega’s work ranges from House to Classic Techno, while No Intellectual Property covers a broader spectrum, including Electro, EBM, Industrial, and Hard Techno.
You say Lega’s productions cover some classic Techno too. What would you say is the major difference between this classic sound and the more modern sound you create for NIP?
What else is on the horizon for LEGA and No Intellectual Property that you’d like to share?
I’m excited to share that next month I have one of my biggest releases to date, which will be coming out on Truncate’s label. Additionally, I have an EP scheduled for January on Illegal Alien, both as Lega. I also have a track as No Intellectual Property coming out on the Argentine label Depth Noise. More news is on the way, though I can’t reveal it just yet. I’d like to thank Olanskii and everyone here for this opportunity. It truly means a lot to me to answer these questions, and I hope to be back soon.