The legendary Italian producer returns with an instant classic ‘Colors’
Words : Dan Prince
Davide welcome to DMCWORLD! You have the dancefloors jumping yet again thanks to your massive ‘Colors’ track that has received some big name support. We are loving the 1999 trance style samples. You have just returned from another mad Miami WMC – what were some of your highlights – the clubs, the DJs…
“Hey Dan. Well WMC was great, I was impressed by the Steve Aoki and Deadmaus shows and from a DJ point of view, I really liked Hardwell and Clockwork…”
What are your thoughts on the US EDM scene right now…many people are saying the clubbers out there are now looking for more housier tunes?
“Well obviously the EDM scene is very popular over there right now, maybe too much to be honest. So maybe people are looking for something different now, but you cannot fault the big festivals such as Ultra, they are such an experience for the big crowds and so exciting. It’s still all new to them.”
You have had an incredible career to date – crossing over the underground and commercial scenes with ease. We know you are an accomplished pianist…have you hailed from a musical family?
Thanks very much! I started to work in the studio as a producer and I had a classical music background that helped me to learn and cross over different styles of music. It’s funny because no one in my family has ever played an instrument and when I said to my mum that I wanted to work in music industry she said ‘are you crazy?’…”
What is your earliest musical memory?
“When I heard ‘Tunnel of Love’ by Dire Straits I said to myself, ‘I wanna make music!’”
At what point of your life did you seriously think that music could actually be a career for you?
“When I started to play with a pro band who played in all of northern Italy and earning enough money to pay the bills.”
What were the early clubs and DJs you began going to and encountering?
“We had DJs like Daniele Davoli and Benny Benassi spinning, they both played in a historic club called Marabù which was fantastic.”
What was your first break into the music industry?
“I produced a track for popular radio in Italy and it became a ‘domestic hit’ because the singer was very famous at that time…I am not going to mention the name of it as I am too ashamed!”
Platinum discs adorn your walls thanks to amongst others, writing and producing for Whigfield. How did this all happen?
“Good question, I can’t explain why this happened to be honest. I think a good combination of fortune, hard work and talent…I really don’t know Dan!”
Where is the strangest place you ever heard one of Whigfield’s hits being played?
“I heard ‘Saturday Night’ in a resort before it was really famous, it was strange cos everybody knew the ballet.”
Your productions and remixes for the legendary D:Vision have been keeping our dancefloors alive for many a year. How do you think your studio style has changed over the years?
“My studio style has followed the technology as it progressed too. When I started to make music I used big mixers and a 24 track recorder, now all you need is a good computer and good music-software.”
I interviewed the Daddy’s Groove trio yesterday, they seem to think that Italy’s club scene is on the up – and that promoters are finally getting that ‘festival mentality’. They were very upbeat about their home country and the future. What are your thoughts?
“I love Daddy’s Groove sound, they are bringing EDM and helping to being this ‘festival mentality’ to Italy, like Benassi before them. I hope this electronic culture works in Italy…”
What is the current top 10 you are spinning?
1 – Alesso – If I Lose Myself
2 – Zedd – Clarity (Tiesto remix)
3 – Hardwell – Apollo
4 – Daddy’s Groove – Stellar
5 – Rivaz – Colors
6 – Michael Wood – Platinum Chain
7 – Moguai – Mammoth
8 – GTA – Hit It!
9 – Ivan Gough – Boom
10 – David Guetta – Play Hard (Albert Neve)
Who are the producers from around the world you are giving high fives to at the moment?
“All the young producers like Zedd, Porter Robinson, Madeon, Alesso and Arty.”
You have DJ’s at the world’s finest clubs…where do you always enjoy returning from?
“Cavo Paradiso in Mykonos is always a great club in a perfect setting.”
What is the finest record you have ever played to a dancefloor?
“Well bearing in mind I haven’t been a DJ for that long (!) – so far, Temper Traps – ‘Sweet Disposition’ (Axwell Remix).”
It may not be good for my image, but Davide Rivaz really loves…
“Sports, I do the triathlon would you believe.”
And finally, what is coming next from the mighty Rivaz studio…
“I’m working on a follow-up of ‘Colors’. It seems that in today’s very fast world everything is moving so much quicker and you just have to be ready with a new single straight away.”
Thank you sir Davide, see you soon…
“You are welcome Dan, it was nice to answer to these questions and a big thanks for Google Translate! Lol.”
