Alfa Romero

Road trippin’ with Lorenzo Bartoletti and Marzio Prudo Aricò

September 2013…and the summer is not over yet!

Lorenzo Bartoletti and Marzio Prudo Aricò A.K.A Alfa Romero, founders of Alfa Romero Recordings along with the creative manager Manuel Bozzi and the label manager Andrea Guzzoletti, embark on one of their many trips to Barcelona. The occasion is the first Alfa Romero Recordings label showcase, taking place at Macarena, one of the most renowned clubs in Barcelona. The showcase was organized in collaboration with CIPY, resident DJ of the club, who was also called upon by Alfa Romero Recordings to remix the latest stunning release, “Whales” by young Italian producers Cardace & Perazzini…

Lorenzo: “That trip was memorable. It all started during the last Sonar where CIPY has proposed the possibility of playing at Macarena to us. We organized the whole thing during the summer and not only that; we managed to organize our first showcase to be around the same day of the 40th birthday of our creative manager Manuel. We were then able to put together important professional moments and extremely funny moments, my personal daily goal! CIPY is one of our longtime friends and it is always a pleasure to join him in Barcelona. We played together at the Macarena, a club that I love because it is an intimate place, it is small and attended by an audience of sheer quality because there is quality music. The best for me!”

How do you organize your showcases?

Marzio : “The one in Barcelona was the first and I can say that we have not got a method to all this yet! Many things that pertain to the label are dictated to by insights that have little to do with strict rules. We trust much of our instinct, our history and when we manage to create interesting and challenging situations we bring it forward with as much strength and passion as possible. Usually for every decision I speak before to Lorenzo, then we get together with others, Manuel puts the craziest ideas in the organization and Andrea makes it feasible and real.”

What does Barcelona mean for you?

Lorenzo: “I know Barcelona very well, I’ve been there many times, I have seen and experienced the city in all the seasons and I love it! My booking agency, B4 Bookings, is headquartered in Barcelona, as is Paco Osuna’s Mindshake Records, which I am a part of and who are like family to me. So, I never miss an opportunity to return, even multiply as time passes. Every time I come back there is still an opportunity to live its freshest news, new restaurants, shops, and to stop at “Boqueria”, the historical market of Barcelona, for a fruit shake! For example, the evening of the showcase we had dinner at a restaurant that I love, the BAR LOBO, never been there?”

Marzio: “My relationship with the city is very strong. Over the past ten years it has been my second home and I have lived it in all possible ways: hit and run for a date, but also long fundamental periods for my professional growth. I was there for pleasure, holiday, but always with the “music business” in my head. I lived in Barcelona for two months in the past, because Barcelona is the city where we wanted to give birth to the second record of DRM. Barcelona is the place where I have combined the most, and the proximity to Ibiza reminds you that you’re totally fucked because you’re in the middle of the game, there is always a party you can’t miss, and it’s difficult to realize everything when you live it! Barcelona is the city where I made important friendships both personally and professionally, many friends have moved there and there is nothing easier than to go back every time something happens!”

Can you please choose five tracks each that would represent the soundtrack to your ideal road trip…

Marzio:

01 – Beastie Boys – So What Cha Want

“I will forever love this band for their endless, hectic, rabid, irreverent and unpredictable musical imagination. Kudos!”

02 – Kyuss – Tee Ol’ Boozeroony

“The Kyuss is the band that has got a sound that more of all is close to the forces of nature. What a powerful sound!”

03 – Ultravox – Vienna

“A masterpiece of his time. A forerunner mix of post punk, new wave, electro-pop with the classical music in the heart. An amazing and epic performance by one of the best singers ever, Midge Ure. Love it.”

04 – Rhythm & Sound w/ Tikiman – Why

“Here you can get Dub, Reggae, Techno and Electronic music that is always mixed with all those ghosts of sound you can only find in the Basic Channel Studios.”

05 – Weezer – Say It Ain’t So

“This track is a lesson about how to write a chart killer pop rock song! Please, read this user manual before start composing!”

Lorenzo: “As for me, I chose these tracks because they are essential for all my trips. These are the pieces of my favorite artists that I’ve always loved. The music fills in the blanks when you’re on the move. But one in particular, Sussudio by Phil Collins, makes me think of a unique and funny moment in my career with Marzio. We were at an afterparty and the crowd in front of us were enjoying themselves; at that point I decided to play Sussudio, a risky choice and crazy…! So crazy that Marzio threatened ironically to leave the console…but the time was right, and that piece was able to emphasize the mood that had been created. Incredible! People danced and sang Sussudio!!”

01 – DJ Shadow – Midnight In A Perfect World