Barcelona and Ibiza-based electronic duo Mar y Cel has released their debut single "Thrill Me," out now via 1980 Recordings. The track marks the first offering from two seasoned DJ/producers who have chosen to collaborate incognito, letting the music speak without preconceptions from their previous work.
The duo's name, translating to "Sea and Sky" in Catalan, reflects their creative process. Barcelona resident Mar regularly crosses the sea to form symbiotic sounds with Ibiza-based Cel under the bright blue Ibiza skies. The pair first met years ago at the eponymous Mar y Cel Café in Figueretas, Ibiza, a spot that embodies year-round island life where musicians slow the pace and reflect over conversations about the music they love.
Both artists bring substantial credentials to the project. Their solo work, spanning chart-topping releases and underground productions, appears on leading labels including Universal Music, Sirup, NewStateMusic, Slackers 85, Pets Recordings, Moody Recordings, and Pacha Recordings.
"Thrill Me" emerged from a conversation about Junior Jack's 2002 classic of the same name. When Cel asked Mar how he would approach a remix, the creative juices started flowing. The pair quickly headed to the studio, with the track slowly brewed between them until it reached perfection.
The production features a big, bouncy kick drum at 121 bpm paired with crisp hi-hats, while synths subtly build intensity without changing tempo. The arrangement builds for a minute before the signature synth bursts in alongside the track's memorable vocals, creating what Mar y Cel describe as their take on the classic.
"Thrill Me" is available now via 1980 Recordings.
