By: Staff
From Miami's vibrant electronic music scene comes a track that's equal parts energy and emotion. "Lie To Me" by Stas, aka Gonzalo Eyzaguirre, featuring the mesmerizing vocals of Eli Verano, isn’t just another dance anthem, it’s a deep dive into the complexities of love, heartbreak, and betrayal.
What makes "Lie To Me" truly stand out is the way it seamlessly blends the raw emotional tension of its lyrics with hypnotic minimal tech beats and high-energy house rhythms. The result is a track that not only moves your body but stirs your soul.
But who are the creators behind this sonic masterpiece? A globetrotting producer whose career spans continents and a dynamic singer-songwriter whose voice commands attention, together, they’ve crafted something extraordinary. Stas and Eli Verano bring a depth of artistry to "Lie To Me" that’s as intriguing as their individual journeys.
Want to know more about the inspirations, challenges, and creative alchemy that brought this track to life? We sat down with Stas for an exclusive interview. Dive into their world and uncover the stories behind the beats.
Don’t miss the full interview on "The Cage" Music Blog. Click now and discover the magic behind "Lie To Me."
Here’s how it went:
Begin Interview:
Hello Stas, we’re thrilled to have you here for this interview! We've had an amazing time exploring your music and diving into your creative journey. Now, we’re even more excited to get a deeper look into both your brand and your personal and professional inspirations.
Gonzalo, what is the story behind the name Stas for your artist persona? How does it capture the connection you want to build with your fans?
Stas is the name of my electronic music project, which I launched earlier this year. Since then, I’ve released my debut solo album, “Darque Swan,” and my first live set, “Stas Live at the TeePee.” My most recent work in this project was released on December 13—a collaboration with singer-songwriter Eli Verano titled “Lie To Me." In this track, we combined the energy of minimal techno with a deeply personal and honest story.
The name Stas pays tribute to the Polish sculptor and painter Stanislav Szukalski, an artist whose life was as complex as his work. Living through the First and Second World Wars, his art was absolutely unique for its time, blending Aztec influences with European Art Nouveau. Stanislav died forgotten in a house in Los Angeles, and in a way, the name seeks to raise awareness of the importance of art and bring his legacy to life through another artistic form: electronic music.
Gonzalo, we noticed your post, “Recording for @wearemusiversal 💎”—fantastic drum skills! How much of your content is influenced by your drumming abilities? What’s it like having a part of your home dedicated to music creation and so accessible to your craft?
Thank you! In this video, I shared what my typical day as a session musician looks like. I’m a member of Musiversal, a platform that connects remote session musicians with global projects. Over the past 2 years, I’ve recorded more than 1,000 songs with Musiversal as a drummer and percussionist, collaborating weekly with 20 to 30 artists from around the world.
I would say that all my content comes from rhythm. The same applies when I compose electronic music: I always start with the beat and then build the rest of the sounds around it, so percussion is always a key part of my creative process. Having a dedicated space at home for music creation has been an incredible opportunity to develop my skills from the comfort of my house while also having the flexibility to travel the world and keep working.
Gonzalo, can you walk us through your songwriting process? Which instrument typically serves as the foundation for your songs, and how does it influence the overall mood and direction of the final sound?
I don’t use a specific instrument, but I always start with the beat, trying to give the song its initial swing and rhythm, focusing on the progressive or tech genre. After that, I create the bassline, as those two elements together set the overall mood and sound direction of the track.
Gonzalo, we see the sync and TV/Movie/Product industry is a component of your work. What parts are the most exciting of making music for these types of projects, ie is it seeing your music influence a brand or is it the process itself?
What I enjoy most about creating music for these platforms is that the music serves a purpose beyond my own tastes, which challenges me to step out of my comfort zone and grow as an artist. It’s a fascinating process—whether crafting sounds for a film, designing a bassline for a song, or creating entirely original compositions, it always feels like an experiment that teaches me something new.
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working as a sound designer and composer for film, television, video games, and advertising. In 2024, I contributed to the soundtrack for the video game Karate Kid (available on PlayStation, Steam, and Xbox) and the HBO Max series Bookie, starring Charlie Sheen. I've also created music for global campaigns with brands like Pepsi, Coca-Cola, and the NFL. For now, one of my aspirations is to compose original electronic music for a major project, like a movie or a video game, in the vein of Stas.
Gonzalo, you’ve worked across continents and genres, from live performances to composing soundtracks for global brands. How does this tremendous experience influence the way you produce electronic music today?
I believe that every musical process feeds into another, so it has helped me not only to learn about instruments, styles, and sounds but also different ways of composing. Composing for commercials, for example, involves certain timings that need to be quick and effective, and that has helped me come up with ideas faster for my own tracks. Everything connects and works together.
What are the main challenges you face as a solo artist, and how do the benefits of working independently compare?
For me, carrying a solo project is the most complex because it depends entirely on you, and you have to push forward on your own. At the same time, when you invest in it, you cover all the expenses yourself, and sometimes you have to stay motivated alone to keep moving forward. I also believe that when you work with someone else, you can incorporate that person's talent and ideas into your music, which is why I’m currently trying to collaborate with both singers and producers. What I feel benefits a solo project is that things work at your own pace; you don’t have arguments with others or ego-related situations with other artists, and you can shape the project in the style you want.
Gonzalo, how do you finalize your finished rough track work? Do you self-mixed and master or utilize another source?
I produce and mix my tracks myself, and then I send them for mastering. On the recently released song “Lie To Me” with Eli Verano, I handled the mastering myself, so it’s a completely DIY project where I was responsible for the music from production to mastering, while Eli took care of the topline, lyrics, and content. Working in a small but dedicated team on my project is something I’d love to continue doing in the future.
What part of the music-making process is the most stressful, ie the creation, the actual release date, etc?
The most complex and stressful part for me is starting. It’s like facing a blank sheet of paper and trying to paint from scratch—it feels like lifting a huge rock. On top of that, you need to work on the sound to ensure everything is high-quality and professional. So, I’d say the beat and bassline are the most stressful parts.
The second would be the release process, which involves promotion, content creation, management, social media, and more. But I get a lot of support from the music agency WONDRWORK, founded by Eli Verano. They help facilitate and handle the entire process. It’s a pleasure to work with people who not only truly care about music but also know their way around marketing and the music business.
What inspired the collaboration between the two of you for Lie To Me, and how did the idea for this track first come about?
The inspiration came after working with Eli Verano through a drumming session at Musiversal for her personal project. I really liked her voice and style, which led me to decide to collaborate with her on "Lie to Me." The concept for this track was to create a club music song with a high minimal tech vibe, inspired by the German producer Boris Brejcha.
The song combines hypnotic minimal tech beats with emotional, raw lyrics, which we felt is very unique. How did you approach blending these two elements together?
I believe both styles coexist within the techno genre, and both an agile, energetic rhythm and a melancholic, raw concept make these styles and interpretations work together. What stands out in this is adding a rhythm that blends house with tech, which makes the track feel even more danceable.
Gonzalo, the minimal techno and progressive house sound in Lie To Me feels fresh and modern. How do you both stay innovative and push boundaries within the electronic music scene?
I believe that progressive house creates that incidental sound, while house makes you dance easily, and when you combine it with high minimal, it becomes even more energetic. At the same time, techno plays an important role in its melancholy, generating sounds with piano or other instruments. I feel that while this style has been popularized in Germany, I try to propose new things within these canons. For that, I keep pushing forward, seeking out singers with different styles or producers as well.
Miami has such a rich electronic music culture. How has the city influenced your music, and what role does location play in your creative process?
Miami is synonymous with partying and nightlife, and at the same time, it has a scene that’s open to all kinds of musical styles, which isn’t the case in other cities in the U.S. This has motivated me to create my music with the certainty that it can be played at a party due to its diverse audience. It's very important to be in the right place because that can give your music more value than others. Sometimes, being in the wrong place can be discouraging and make you stop doing what you love.
Finally, what’s next ? Are there any upcoming projects, collaborations, or live performances we should look out for?
Of course! I’m already working with new singers and producers, continuing to release original music and collaborations. I’ll also be performing DJ sets and live sets around Miami, incorporating live instruments. Right now, my goal is to continue blending my different roles in the music world—whether as a composer for TV and video games, a professional session musician, or as the creator and producer of my electronic project, Stas. I’m excited for what’s to come and can’t wait to share more with everyone!
Stas, thank you so much, we appreciate you taking the time to talk to us!
End Interview
We’re happy to have shared Stas’s exciting journey with you and uncovered such inspiring insights about their creative process.
Now, click the links below to experience their incredible work firsthand!
Check out this latest release and listen to more on Spotify & YouTube
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