The dance legend returns with the mighty ‘Crosses’ on D:VISION
Interview : Dan Prince
Hey Chicco welcome to DMCWORLD…where in the world are you right now ?
“Hey, Thank you for having me here…I live in Miami Beach, Florida.”
Well you have done it again young man, created a monster! This time around it’s ‘Crosses’ which is out now on D:VISION that is getting support from the likes of Roger Sanchez, Tiesto and Wally Lopez. Talk us through the tune and the forthcoming Eelke Kleijn Remix…
“I always liked the original, which I discovered about ten years ago with the incredible Tiesto remix of it…then I looked up for other remixes from the past, and noticed that no one had ever done a deep house remix of it. I thought myself that it could have been a cool idea to have that flavor with this song, so I spoke about it to my partner Fabio B. Immediately we agreed to do it, then I contacted Matteo Esse of D:Vision and asked him if it could have been something of interest for them to release it. Done !! The Eelke Kleijn remix is amazing, I have just receive it and play it in three different clubs here in South Beach, people love it ! But I would like to mention as well, for EDM lovers, the Vincenzo Callea remix, with great harmonies and strings hook, for sure a dancefloor pleaser!”
Watch the Official Video:
Listen:{http://soundcloud.com/dvisionrecords/sets/chicco-secci-fabio-b-crosses}
I fell in love with your sounds when you were a resident in Ibiza at what was then called Ku…and now Privilege, the world’s biggest nightclub. Ibiza was your home for 5 years before your Stateside switch. What are the biggest differences between the white isle then and now?
“Well there’s many differences between Ibiza back then and today, first of all the crowd was totally different. In the eighties, whilst I was DJing at KU (Privilege), it was a mixture of hippies and celebrities from all over the world, all together, dancing the night away, flying with the different sounds the DJ was proposing through out hours of peace and love kind of atmosphere. There was only 5-6 DJs at the most, Pippi at Pacha, Alfredo at Amnesia, Chicco, Juan Carlos and Cesar at KU, Nello at Glorys…these DJs were battling night and day trying to get the most different sound one from another, in order to get the best credits and response from audience. So yes, the music was different, a sound that was later identified and named “Balearic Sound”. Today on the contrary, I think that, due to the fact that tourism has developed so much and the island is accessible with cheap flights fees, millions of people can go there and enjoy their vacations…for sure that is better for the income of clubs, hotels etc. But maybe Ibiza lost a little of magic feel…except for few places, today the music is very commercial, but I guess the business is much better? I really don’t like to compare, but the Ibiza I lived…was a dream into a reality show.”
What is your favorite rock n roll Ibiza story you still enjoy telling…
“There are so many memories…I don’t know if it is a rock n roll story but, for sure the best, is this one: At KU we were celebrating Harrison Ford’s birthday that night…coincidentally was my birthday as well. One of the owners, Santamaria, under my request, promised me that he would have come to the DJ booth with the “Indiana Jones” actor and as I was a big fan, I couldn’t wait to meet him…so when they showed at the DJ booth, immediately I told him that I loved his movies etc. He signed my shirt and he told me that he was really enjoying the music, so I gave him few mixed music cassettes (at that time no CDs yet). It was the year 1985…maybe 86’…now here it comes the best part of the story. It is now about ten years after, maybe 1996 or 97. I am in Miami Beach…Harrison Ford is shooting a movie in South Beach. One night he comes with his crew to the club I am DJing at…The Living Room. Everyone in the club is excited for having the celebrity sitting in the VIP area. At one point, a geneman comes to the DJ booth, telling me that he would like to get some of my music for Harrison…he says to me: Harrison likes the music…my immediate answer is: I know that!! He already told me that he likes it…The guy look at me with a weird face, like thinking…who do you think you are?… so I tell him right away…Could you please go back to your table and tell Mr. Ford that I am that DJ from KU Ibiza…the one he met on his birthday celebration ten years ago. The guy, a little bit astonished, leaves and disappears into the crowd…after five minutes, I see the dancefloor crowd opening in two…securities from left and right, and in the middle Harrison Ford walking towards me. I’m thinking…oh wow, what have I done lol!! He comes and he goes like: Really? Are you that DJ from KU ? I remember you, cause you told me it was your birthday as well…then he hugs me, I give him some music and he thanks me and leaves…wow, I felt like a superstar, with everyone’s eyes on me !! Haahah! A funny story…”
Hilarious! When you think of Ibiza, what 1 record springs to mind? ‘The Mask’ perhaps…?
“’The Mask’ has for sure some Balearic flavors…but the one that really reminds me of Ibiza is the first record I wrote right after the end of my Ibiza experience. It was called ‘Whip Of The Rhythm’, I remember making a version just with the piano and strings, being used in many different sets from the likes of Sasha and Pete Tong. Also, since I’m here, I’d like to mention Funk D’Void, a gentleman that sampled that piano and strings and claimed it was his work – and once it was found out that it was my work and not his…he had the guts to accuse me in a public interview of ruining “His” work, just because, this is what he said in the interview:
“Chicco is friends with Pete Tong, that’s why he could get the rights of the production…”Wow, really buddy? You steal my art and put some beat on it? And now it is your art ? Maybe you should have ask me permission for that…don’t you think so Mr. Lars Sandberg? Welcome to the real world! Sorry I went out of subject a little…but I felt the need to tell, especially when we are talking about the record that reminds me of Ibiza the most. That melody was really touching my soul.”
You moved to Miami 1993 for the complete vibe of the city. What is the best and worst thing about living on this dream South Beach city…
“The best part is the weather, the summertime atmosphere 24/7 365 days a year. The worst is the superficialities that surrounds the nightlife environment. But I believe that is the same all over the world, not only here in Miami. Is only up to the person to find and keep good relationships with the right people. Once you do that, you’re safe. I have a few good friends. I love it here!”
What are your plans for WMC this month ?
“The Music Conference is a huge event that brings all the best DJs and producers from all over the world. I can say I am very lucky to be resident for two of the most famous venues in Sobe: Wall at the W Hotel and Hyde Beach at the SLS Hotel…both venues will host very important events, I will be working at many of those productions.”
Whenever I interview natives of Miami talking about the Conference everybody say they welcome the thousands of visitors with open arms knowing full well that in a few days they will all fuck off home. Do you embrace the Conference or is it a pain in the arse…?!?
“Well, I would say…I am happy to see many friends that I miss seeing in a long time, but as well it is a big pain in the ass…when everyone tries to use you as their tour guide or something. Some people don’t understand, I live here all year long, I have my duties and errands to run everyday, as every normal person – the bank…meetings…groceries etc. I cannot be with them 24 hours a day, but they think I will, so yes sometime it gets to hard to make them understand…”
What are your thoughts on VIP/bottle service in clubs in America?
“It is big business, a huge one. I think it generates hundred of millions of dollars a year, in Miami Beach only…In Vegas must be even more. It is necessary if we want to host guest DJs of a certain level. Without mentioning any names, I can tell you for sure that without a VIP / Bottle service, no club would be able to afford guest DJs of the caliber that Miami or Vegas host on a regular base. Some of these DJs fee pass the hundred thousand dollars, how could we get them with just General Admission crowd?”
What have been the main differences to South Beach since you moved there, surely it was predominately hip hop and R&B back then?
“Yes lots of changes took place in the last 20 years here in Sobe…it was so hard in the beginning, I remember that I couldn’t find a gig, been an house music DJ. As you said there was only hip hop and some pop top 40’s, then some European investors came along and they started few venues based on house music style. The change was radical and people started to appreciate the different beat. At least here in Miami…in Chicago and Detroit house music was already a statement. But here yes, it took sometime. Now is huge, even though hip hop and r&b are always the first choice in music for the young crowd. But much, much less then before.”
What is the current top 10 you are spinning…
“I am not a “ Top 10 “ type, but when I play at SLS Hyde Beach pool party, I can see that they love EDM. So I mostly play that style with some good tech house in between. Then towards sunset I go more deep…a lovely way to end the party. When at Wall instead, I play more deep and tech house only, and some house hit of the moment mixed with a tech beat. In other words, bootlegs on the fly…my favorite tracks of the moment are (but not in a top ten order… and excluding mine of course…
Colors By Paul C & Paolo Martini
Allez Ally By El Prevost & D.Ham
Analog Times By Yousef & Blakkat
Cine (Mind Against Remix) By Vaal
Excell By Douglas Greed
Say What (Adam Beyer Remix) By Gary Beck
Der Stabsvörnern By Paul Kalkbrenner
Stop By Patrick Topping
La Verite’ By Cube Guys
Watch This By Trash You
You have DJ’d with every major spinner in the world, Tiesto, Sasha, Deadmau5, Roger Sanchez and the Swedes have all been in your company. Who though have been the best DJs technically you have had the pleasure to DJ with?
“I really don’t know how to answer this question…everyone of the above are super talented, is not a coincidence if they are the best, everyone has different mixing skills. I noticed more then anything else, the vibe they give to the audience, but technically they all are amazing DJs… from time to time I see them making technical mistakes as well, but who could judge them for that ? They made the House music scene of the last decade and even more. It makes me laugh when someone criticize a wrong transition that one of these DJs could make. These artists don’t have to prove anything to anyone.”
“Melodies open people’s hearts”. Discuss…
“Well the frase itself is a complete statement, Melodies do open people hearts in many different ways. Depending of the music melody we listen to, our mood changes…sadness or happiness are different feelings that take place in our hearts when listening to different types of melodies. Here we go, that sentence say it all.”
Looking back at your illustrious career, what is the 1 piece of your own production you are proudest of ?
“I have been proud of many songs and melodies written, they were like my babies…it is very difficult to choose one. But if I have to, probably my favorite child was, once again “Whip Of The Rhythm”, because I created that music right after my Ibiza experience… And ibiza, together with Miami, have been the best years of my life, the best emotions and memories…”
And finally, what is coming out next from you release wise ?
“Next in the works are a collaboration with italian fellow Simone Vitullo, called “Dancing Fools In LaLa Land”, a tech house track, and I would also say…with a little bit of Kraftwerk style flavor in it. And for sure, the follow up of Crosses with Fabio B, I don’t know if I can tell you what it is at the moment…but is a very beautiful song, Matteo Esse proposed that as a follow up, immediately we got very excited, and started to work on it right away. And that will be released of course on D:Vision records.”
Thank you Chicco, appreciate your time.
“Thank you Dan, it was a pleasure. And if you pass by Wall or Hyde Beach, please don’t forget to come and say hello…”
