So you hit the main stage in 1989 with your Balearic monster ‘Cocaine’, but what is the story before that, how did you get into music, what was on your stereo as a kid…?
“Well I started working in local radio, I had a very old Philips turntable with no pitch and a Technics with a home made variable pitch control that went from plus 2 to minus 53. My sets would have been more appropriate for a circus, ‘cos I only had one pitch sometimes – I had to slow down or speed up the record that was playing. I’ve seen some very strange moves on the dancefloor trying to keep up with my mixing… great days! I used to play everything from Aztec Camera to Propaganda, but even stuff like Duran Duran did it for me.”
How did you meet up with one of your musical partners Claudio Coccoluto?
I met Claudio in Florence at a club called Yab Yum in 1987, we decided to start a studio and from then we never stopped arguing!
What made you move away from the sound of Italo House which was so huge in the early 90s?
“I never stick to one sound, it would be like wearing the same clothes all the time, things change, people change, and obviously idea’s too. One thing that should never change is the motivation to do something that satisfies my emotions while I push buttons and turn knobs.”
So 1997, I am standing in the middle of a dancefloor in Ibiza and ‘Belo Horizonte’ comes on. Wow. What was behind that?
“We released it on our house label The Dub. Claudio had this record from Airto Moreira which was his last record of the night and decided to make it longer and to give it a different life, I did some mixes with Basement Jaxx that then came out on Virgin through Atlantic Jaxx. So many covers came out after that and all of them have made more money than us, but hey who cares, uhm… well something like that.”
What have been the best clubs you’ve played at over the years?
“My first year’s as a DJ were great at 18, I was playing for 5000 people a night for 3 months a years in a place called Axis in Malta, pure Acid & Techno – then after that all the usuals… Amnesia, Space and also Goa in Rome…”
What record has been in your box throughout 2008?
“Well the biggest one so far is Tiga’s ‘Mind Dimension’ on Wall of Sound – come on Jonesy!”
What new DJs have you spotted this year?
“Well I’ve seen a lot of fresh DJs have come through, nobody has really caught me this year though but The Crookers are quite different…”
Where are you living right now?
“Sloane Avenue, Chelsea”.
How did the Steve Lawler connection happen?
“Steve Lawler is a cool guy . One day, he called me up saying he always played a lot of my stuff and I said “why don’t we do something together” – and so we did a very unusual piece of music called ‘Unicorn’ by S.L.A.D.L.Y. (Steve Lawler and Dino Lenny)”.
Which is your favourite country you spin at?
“Ibizaaaaaaaaaaaaa”
Who is Italy’s sexiest girl?
“Elena Santarelli, I LIKE VERY MUCH.”
You have remixed and worked with some amazing talent such as INXS and The Wu Tang Clan… what do you think has been your best work?
“I think my album Dino ‘Might’ which is a twisted poptastic collection of tracks, where I sing my best adventurous moments. But ‘I Feel Stereo’ on Yoshitoshi was a great record too.”
What has been the most celebrity/bling party you’ve ever been to or DJ’d at?
“Difficult to pick… but the most glam one was when I was sitting next to Penelope Cruz, Gwyneth Paltrow, Fergie, Kate Hudson, hearing Madonna’s voice in duet with mine (for real!) at the Wembley Stadium last September. I know 8000 people is not very underground but who cares! Plus, she was out of tune and I wasn’t (but she was live and I pre-recorded for the tour 😉 )
What do you think of the current state of clubland, the UK is sort of suffering but around the world it all seems good…
“I don’t think anywhere else is much better. The difference is probably is in the layout of the clubs, UK clubs sometimes look a little too sad… just like the weather!”
What we got coming up from one of the best DJs and producer’s in the world, Mr Dino Lenny?
“Well my label ‘FRENETICA’ on Beatport is very active, plus Dino Lenny featuring Ann Nesby out soon on Azuli, a project called ‘Domino’ on Southern Fried – plus a new MAD8 record is ready to go…”
Can you give us your Top 10 current tunes please?
01. WFMO ‘America Elektronica’
02. Pet Shop Boys I’m in Love With A’
03. DHS ‘House OF God
04. Timo Mass ‘Subtellite’
05. Oliver Huntemann ‘Dios Ideal Audio’
06. Sundan ‘Sleep Over It Frenetica’
07. Dino Lenny featuringt Ann Nesby ‘The Pressure’
08. Tiger Stripes ‘Hooked’
09. Mandy ‘Donut’
10. Jay Haze ‘Mama Cocoa’
