Q&A: Paco Versailles on Austin City Limits, Their Genre-Defying Sound and Live Performance
PACO VERSAILLES, THE GENRE-BLENDING DUO KNOWN FOR FUSING FLAMENCO GUITARS WITH ELECTRONIC BEATS, has been taking the music world by storm with their infectious "dancemenco" sound. Fresh off the release of their latest self-titled album, the duo, composed of Ryan Merchant (of Capital Cities) and guitarist/composer Vahagni, has been showcasing their innovative music through festival performances and headlining shows alike. Having just graced the stage at Austin City Limits (ACL) and with an upcoming performance at LA’s El Rey Theater, Paco Versailles continues to captivate audiences with their rhythmic, Latin-infused tracks that invite listeners to move.
From their high-energy festival sets to laid-back DJ sets, Paco Versailles is committed to delivering a unique experience that effortlessly bridges the gap between flamenco, electronica, and dance music.
In our interview, we caught up with the duo during their busy Austin tour stop to talk about their latest album, their love for live performances, and the balance of keeping fans engaged with familiar sounds while constantly pushing sonic boundaries. Read on as they discuss the creative process behind their new music, their favorite tracks to perform live, and what the future holds as they gear up for more shows in Europe next year.
LUNA: Welcome to Austin! You've already had a couple of shows, including your ACL set yesterday and another show last night. Plus, you’ve got a DJ set tonight. How do you prepare for headline shows versus a festival set versus a DJ set?
PACO VERSAILLES: Good question. For ACL, we had to play a concise 45-minute set, so we did a long technical rehearsal to create a strong, impactful set. But in terms of performance, whether it’s a club or festival, it’s pretty much the same. DJ sets, on the other hand, are different—we don’t really prep for them at all. It’s more about having fun, picking good tracks. We're non-technical DJs, so whether the mixes are smooth or not, it's really just about the vibe.
LUNA: You recently released a new project that feels like a balance of familiar sounds and something fresh. How do you feel this project reflects your sonic growth?
PACO VERSAILLES: Yeah, our album came out on September 13. We worked on it for about a year, writing and collecting music. Some songs were created or started two to three years ago, but we held off on finishing them until now. The album is a solid representation of Paco Versailles—our production style, songwriting, and live performance. It captures where we are right now as artists.
LUNA: Do you always have a backlog of songs waiting to be plugged into an album?
PACO VERSAILLES: Yeah, always. We have so many song ideas. When we start an album, we mine through the treasure trove of past ideas. Sometimes, it's songs we didn’t know how to finish two years ago, but now the way forward is clear. There are also last-minute surprises—like “Hasta Málaga,” which started as a guitar idea sent remotely, and it became one of our favorite songs to perform. You never know what will come together.
LUNA: It sounds like each track has its own unique story for how it became part of the album. Do you think about the live aspect when you're writing, or does that come later?
PACO VERSAILLES: We definitely think about how songs will translate live. After playing live for a while, you get an intuitive sense of what will work in front of an audience. Sometimes, we’ll even act out performing a song in the studio to see how it feels. But some tracks you think will be great live end up being more challenging, and others come together beautifully with the band.
LUNA: Which songs from the new project have been your favorite to play live?
PACO VERSAILLES: We play a few new songs live—“Past Life”, “Olé Maca”, “Hasta Málaga”, and “Letras”. “Hasta Málaga” is fun because it's so Latin-centric. It’s one of those tunes where you feel it more with your hips than your head. But I also love playing “Letras” and “Deal With Love.” Honestly, with this band, every song is fun to play live. We’re proud of the music we put out, and it’s exciting to perform each track.
LUNA: That balance of keeping fans engaged with familiar sounds while also giving them something new is important.
PACO VERSAILLES: Exactly. Maybe to our detriment at times, but we enjoy going off on tangents and coming back. Some artists stick to a concept and repeat it, but for us, it's more fun to experiment.
LUNA: If you could tour with two artists, dead or alive, who would you pick?
PACO VERSAILLES: That’s tough! Dua Lipa would be fun...Christine and the Queens would be amazing, too. And I love Jamiroquai. A collaboration with them would be fun. Maybe the Rolling Stones, just for the perks. Not sure how their audience would feel about us, though!
LUNA: Dua Lipa and the Rolling Stones—what a combo! Lastly, what intentions do you have for the rest of the year?
PACO VERSAILLES: We’re heading back to LA to play at the El Rey, which will be our biggest show there. After that, a show in San Diego, and then we’re off for the year. Ryan just had a baby, so he’ll be spending time with his family. But next year, we’re back with an East Coast run, West Coast shows, and then heading to Europe for the first time with this band. We’re excited to play in Amsterdam, London, and Paris.
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