Pastis & Buenri

The Origins of a Mákina Legend

The iconic duo Pastis & Buenri is formed by Catalan disc jockeys and producers David Álvarez Tudela (DJ Pastis) and David Pàmies Sabatés (DJ Buenri). Their shared history began to take shape in the early 90s in the effervescent electronic scene of Catalonia, specifically at the legendary after-hours club Psicódromo in Barcelona, where their paths crossed. DJ Pastis, born in Girona in 1973, had already begun to stand out as a resident at Sala del Cel, winning prestigious regional awards. For his part, DJ Buenri, born in 1974, began his prolific professional career in 1993, becoming a resident at the legendary club Pont Aeri in Terrassa, one of the great epicenters of the mákina and hardcore sound.

The X-Què? Phenomenon and Mass Success

The true turning point for Pastis & Buenri occurred in the mid-90s. After sharing a few DJ booths, their chemistry was so extraordinary that, in 1996, they began their iconic joint residency at the X-Què? nightclub, located in Calella de Palafrugell. This venue became their true temple and the musical laboratory where they defined the sound of an entire generation. Their marathon sessions, full of unbridled energy, hard trance, mákina, and cantaditas, catapulted them to absolute fame. For over a decade, they created immortal anthems and released countless compilation albums that broke sales records in Spain, such as the famous compilations under the X-Què Records label and the In Vino Veritas or La Rebelión de la Makina series. Their connection with the audience was total, always singing and dancing from the booth, becoming true mass idols.

Separation, Personal Overcoming, and the Great Return

After years of uninterrupted success and a dizzying pace of life, the duo decided to separate their professional paths around 2011, seeking new directions and also due to the temporary decline of the mákina scene. On a personal level, David Álvarez (DJ Pastis) faced serious addiction problems that took a toll on his health, a dark episode that he himself made public in 2017 when he voluntarily entered a rehabilitation clinic, receiving unconditional support from his followers, his family, and, of course, his inseparable friend Buenri.

Fortunately, after overcoming this difficult stage, the duo experienced an overwhelming resurgence. In recent years, Pastis & Buenri have returned to the stage stronger than ever, proving that their legacy is intact. They have headlined massive sessions at modern festivals and prestigious clubs, highlighting their participation in Primavera Sound in Barcelona and their acclaimed performance broadcast by Boiler Room, a milestone that connected the nostalgia of the veterans of the Catalan route with new generations of electronic music. Today they remain active through projects like Makina Legends and joint performances on the global scene, keeping the flame of the mákina culture alive and confirming their status as undisputed figures of electronic music in Spain.