Flavio Monsalves: Passion for Old School and New Frontiers
Journalist Esperanza Mena interviewed Chilean DJ and producer Flavio Monsalves, while photographer Isidora Drouilly captured him in emblematic spaces in Santiago before his departure to Europe. Known by his aliases HALIKOM (2013) and Førsaj (2018), Flavio began his professional career at the age of 15, inspired by genres such as trip hop, garage, breakbeat and dubstep. Since then, he has shared stages with artists such as Must Die!, Headhunterz, Wildstylez, Steve Aoki and has performed at international festivals such as Ultra Music Festival in 2016 and Lollapalooza in 2024.
Today, 12 years later, Flavio focuses on his projects: his aliases, his record label Intaqta,, his XebeK party series and his residency at London’s prestigious Subtle Radio, where he has invited artists like Liam Howe (Sneaker Pimps), DJ Food (from the Ninja Tune label) and members of the Never B Alone label founded by DJ/producer Mija.
Music as a family legacy and personal therapy
Flavio attributes his love for music to his parents: his mother, a professional singer for 20 years, and his father, an event producer. From a very young age, music was present in his life, starting with Guns N’ Roses at age 7, which led him to play guitar and form a cover band with his school friends between the ages of 12 and 15. From that point on, his fascination with music grew, leading him to play guitar and form a cover band with his friends between the ages of 12 and 15. “‘Having a band was my first real experience with live music, something that marked me forever,’ Flavio recalls.”
“Music is therapeutic. Talking about it has helped me understand my emotions and discover who I am. Understanding why I like certain music and why I don’t like other music has been an eye-opening exercise for me,” explains Flavio.
90s inspiration and the birth of Førsaj
The Førsaj project is inspired by 90’s Big Beat icons such as Aphex Twin, Squarepusher, The Prodigy y Chemical Brothers. His fascination for this music arose in 2012, when Skrillex shared Aphex Twin’s “Flim”, awakening his curiosity for electronic production before the digital era.
Flavio researched the tools used by these artists: DAT players, samplers, Eventide processors and analog synthesizers.
“I like how each instrument had a specific purpose and the limitations of that era drove creativity. While I enjoy modern techniques, working with vintage equipment has a unique aesthetic and process,” he comments.
“Also, producers at that time had a completely different approach to production: samplers, Eventide processors, analog mixers and software like Trackers or Reaktor, which operated in a very different way than today’s DAWs like Ableton. If I try to clean up and compress the mix more than strictly necessary, I sound modern. I leave that to HALIKOM,’ Flavio explains about his sonic approach.
On Førsaj, he adapts these influences to recreate an old-school sound. According to him, the handling of the sounds, their recording and treatment, are as important as their origin.
Flavio has lived in Berlin, London, Iceland and Santiago, absorbing influences from each place:
UK: He feels especially connected to the UK, birthplace of Breakbeat, Trip Hop and Big Beat. “London made me feel welcome from day one. People were excited to hear my music, they even thanked me for playing those styles,” he says. The first time I played in London I thought I was going to sound like any other local DJ, but apparently my selection was unique even there. A couple of people were shouting ‘thank you for playing this music!’ excited to hear those sounds again.
Reykjavik: Although noted for valuing art, its nightly restrictions limit local artists. “However, Reykjavik has a very approachable and accessible scene. I had the opportunity to sit down for coffee with the owner of a label I listened to in 2019, who told me all about the Icelandic electronic industry. People here are used to buying music in physical format, something that is not so common elsewhere anymore.”
Berlin: Fascinating to visit, but dominated by techno, a genre that Flavio doesn’t consider akin to his style. “While Berlin has a very rich music culture, with very strong Noise and Ambient scenes, I felt it wasn’t the place for me. I only enjoy a handful of techno artists, and the scene is very saturated with that sound.”
“My place is UK,” he concludes, considering this region as the epicenter for his musical growth.
XebeK: A Musical and Visual Experiment
The XebeK party series, developed with visual artist Tasfet, has had three editions in Santiago, one in London and five in Berlin, including the iconic Fitzroy Club.
The proposal is based on eclectic lineups covering genres such as IDM, dubstep, jungle, UK garage and techno, among others. On April 19, 2025, XebeK will debut for the second time in London, Four Quarters club, this time including 3 UK artists: Anna Hapax, Tyger Blue, y Ella Blou.
“One of the biggest challenges has been to achieve a balanced curation. We don’t want XebeK to become a party focused on one genre, but it’s also important that there is cohesion in the energy of the night. We make sure that each DJ has the freedom to express themselves without the transition between styles feeling forced.”
“Tasfet’s visual direction has been key to the impact of these parties,” explains Flavio.
Intaqta, the label founded by Tasfet, has 22 releases and a team that includes Førsaj, Lu_x2, Atxa, Flickerchild and Gloss. Upcoming projects include:
Førsaj’s double single: “Jello / Pierogi Funk”, with Jello as part of his debut album.
A double single from Lu_x2: “Unfoldr / GusGus”, with trip hop, IDM and broken beats influences.
New productions by Tasfet and Atxa, as well as the incorporation of artists from Chile, Japan and England.
Collaboration Førsaj and Lu_x2: “Rocket Fest”, by Infinito Audio (May 9th). The track is of the Bleep Techno genre.
The Residence on Subtle Radio
Flavio got his residency at Subtle Radio with a HALIKOM mix that impressed the station’s producers. What started as a request for a single episode turned into a permanent offer, allowing him to also present his projects as Førsaj. “Originally, I was only looking to do a one-off show, but the proposal fit so well with the radio station’s identity that I was offered a permanent slot. Thanks to this, I’ve been able to invite artists I admire like DJ Food, Liam Howe (Sneaker Pimps) and members of the Never B Alone label founded by Mija. It’s crazy to think that a few years ago I was watching them on YouTube and now we chat on my show.”
“Radio has allowed me to connect with artists I admire. It’s incredible to go from seeing them on YouTube to inviting them to my show,” says Flavio, who highlights this platform as a bridge between him and referents of the genre.
Listen to some recent episodes of his show on Subtle Radio:
Førsaj Invites Amp Ape & Mink Press
Future Projects
In addition to continuing to innovate in electronic music, Flavio plans to explore other genres: “I would love to form a hard rock and glam metal band. Although my career has been focused on electronica, I’ve always had a connection to rock since I discovered Guns N’ Roses as a kid. It would be interesting to combine that energy with everything I’ve learned in music production.”
“In addition, Lu_x2 has a double single on the way, ‘Unfoldr / GusGus’, with tinges of trip-hop, IDM and broken beats. Tasfet will also release several singles and a mixtape, while Atxa is working on new UK garage and bass productions. Some of these demos will be premiered on upcoming episodes of Subtle Radio. We are expanding our roster with new artists from Chile, Japan and England, which will allow us to further diversify the label’s sound.”
