Italy in the house keeping the Rhythm Alive
Hey David welcome to DMCWORLD. Your new tune ‘Rhythm Alive’ has smashed into The Buzz Chart, a real retro 90s vibe with an incredible video which you have spent $60,000 on with a cast of zombies on the dancefloor. What is the inspiration behind this fabulous visual treat…?
“The idea was to realise a very much different product from what you can see around right now. I like to create something that leaves its mark and gets people talking about it. Unfortunately, all videos around right now are focused on the same story: a beautiful girl or a DJ party…a say-nothing story with no emotions. If I can mention one of the big artists though that have left some creative expression on their path; the Swedish House Mafia’s “Greyhound” video is an example of what I really admire. Great and fresh music and a standout video. So…the idea I had was to merge 80’s/90’s sounds and write a vocal (together with Aqua Diva) which created a really 70’s rock atmosphere (like Pink Floyd did with “The Wall”). Relating to the current cinematography, everyone is making films with zombies, vampires etc…and we find the same characters in cartoons, tv-series (The Walking Deads, Twilight etc…) and video games (Resident Evil – Silent Hill…). I thought about lyrics which could be related to this world and after that, the video treatment and production were born. I always say that “Good Music Never Dies” and it’s the reason why we always sample great tracks from the past. From this idea the dancers in the video resuscitate and they get back to life when they hear the track I’m playing.”
Tell us about the remixes which are coming our way this week…
“Well, I loved the idea to get some producers I really respect. So the pack will include Federico Scavo, Chris Kaeser, Robbie Rivera plus Original Mix and Club Mix. Federico has done a very big house mix, I really liked the way he worked my sample. Chris made a more progressive mix, really progressive (not trance or eurodance) and really well produced. Finally an Electro mix from the legend “Robbie Rivera”.
So I think the pack is complete, I’m working with some friends to add maybe 1-2 mixes, but I think it’s already a great pack!”
Your music teacher at school played an important part in your early life. He told you that everything starts with intuition, an idea and a melody. How do you utilise that formula when approaching a remix or a new tune?
“It’s important that you can express yourself, so the first thing is the technique. It’s like speaking, you need a little bit of vocabulary and grammar to speak properly. My remixes start with listening to the original mix with closed eyes, in loop, for many times. I select some elements that are strong in the original (most of the times the vocals or lead melody) and start to compose something around them, then I try to find the right dress, the right kick and groove. Music (edm or club or pop) is really simple: music creates emotions. So I need to feel the right emotions to finalize an arrangement. Sometimes I do productions as a ghost producer (also for big artists) and it’s much more complicated because you have to realize something that you don’t have in mind. Imagine taking a picture that you see or you have in your head or try to paint something that is in other people’s minds.”
What is the current top 10 you are spinning?
“I’m playing a lot of bootlegs, starting with some really cool club tracks. Excluding all my mixes and remixes my top 10 right now is :
Tommy Trash – Truffle Pig
Swanky Tunes – Here We Go
Tujamo – There It Is
Federico Scavo, Alex Kenji – 1234
Topher Jones – Brohammer (Nari & Milani Dub Remix)
Afrojack – Annie’s Theme
Adam Rickfors – We Are The People Feat. Marylin
Swedish House Mafia – Don’t You Worry Child
Alex Martello, Harian & Alleston – Revolt
Porter Robinson – Language
Little known fact; you started your DJ career on the wedding circuit. Did you have to play records you hated just to please the people there?
“They were more like little parties really, but the fact is that I don’t like to play anything different from what I like as I respect all kind of music.”
You hail from Milan, an Italian city steeped in dance music history. However you made a comment earlier this year claiming that Italian radio stations and clubs are more interested in paying big money for fake celebrities from the likes of Big Brother rather than promoting great music. Is that still the case?
“It is…more or less. The fact is that in many clubs the event is focused on some tv stars (like top models) that take some photos with people for 30 minutes and then go home. They gain 30 times the fee of a well known international DJ . The day after, people can say to their friends they have a pic with “X” and post it on facebook. The fact is that in Italy nobody takes care of music selection, nobody tries something different. Of course, it’s a generic answer and some clubs are different. You can’t say that something doesn’t work if you don’t even try it, that’s my criticism.”
Who are the producers from around the world you are giving high fives to at the moment?
“A lot! Right now I think there are loads of good producers but really few give me the idea of being and trying to express something. I don’t like to mention friends, because it could look obvious and then maybe I forget someone, so I mention three that aren’t really close to me : Tommy Trash, Calvin Harris and Sebastian Ingrosso.”
A quote from you – “Everything I do and like is related to music” – everybody needs some form of release, there must be some pastime you enjoy away from music?
“Oh well, sure…I’m full of passion: Cinema (Film, TV series), Sports (both : playing and watching, I love football among others) then Photography…I like also doing some courses to improve myself, like going to school (more courses than school): the last course I attended was NLP “neurolinguistic programmation”) or watching/reading something about the world (I like documentaries a lot).”
You have had a brilliant year playing at some of the best clubs and festivals on the planet. Where has stood out for you in 2012?
“In Europe I’ve really loved to play at Ministry Of Sound and Pacha because it’s like entering a temple, but I have to say that this year a lot of clubs I was in were really over any expectation. The most particular was in Italy: Africana Famous Club. It’s a cave on the sea, and people really loved to party. It was the first time I saw the water under my feet playing into a cave. By the way…all the clubs I’ve played in were very good: nice places and good people.”
2009 saw you bring the world your tribute to Michael Jackson with your superb ‘Thriller’ mix, you’ve also set the dancefloor alight thanks to your ‘Ma Ma Se’ track which hit the top of the Beatport house chart. You are obviously a huge fan of Wacko, so…can you moonwalk?
“Yes, I’m a huge fan. I’ve got all the CDs, video tapes and everything about MJ. When I was a little kid I moonwalked. Right now I’ve just a big passion for MJ, nothing more. Most of the people don’t know how huge was his work in the studio, the recording techniques he used, his way to make beats etc…a really awesome artist and producer.”
You set up your label Starlight after learning the ropes as a billboard producer. What skills did you learn duding those years that have stood you in good stead today?
“First of all I understand very well what kind of work a producer expects from a label, and then…running a label has made me a better producer because I understand better the manager’s point of view. At school I’ve studied a lot of “music marketing” and “music law” etc… So I think that every experience helps you to be a better professional. I’ve set up Starlight to produce good music and give everybody a chance to produce music. We did some N.1 with unknown artists that today work with Fedde Le Grand and other big artists/labels. Your name is not important if you are good. Right now it’s really a lot harder to run a label than it was in 2009, I can only be focused on few artists also because I’ve got a little staff who manages the label.”
What was your anthem of the summer?
“During the summer for sure David Jones – ‘Darky’ supported by Thomas Gold, Tommy Trash, W&W, Chuckie, Benny Benassi and more. Out on Spinnin. Then I did a more commercial track (Fly Away) for the TV/Radios that reached top 5 UK Upfront Club Chart, Top 10 Buzz Chart France and Top 5 Germany (with Tiger) and official charts in Finalnd, Sweden (with Sony) plus licensed all over the world.”
You are big mates with Robbie Rivera – when was the last time you went out partying with the Miami Juicy legend?
“Well, it was some months ago in Miami. Robbie is a talented DJ Producer and he has a big energy and can play for hours with full crazy crowds in front of him, amazing.”
So your dream comes true and you get a call from Madonna’s people asking you if you fancied doing a collab with her in the studio. What kind of track would you make with her?
“You mean “if I don’t have an heart attack after that call?!?!? Joking aside…I would put a really big stop on everything and put all my energy to do my best. I would love to produce something that can be a legend, like she is. You can’t miss the chance to make something epic. She invented dance merged with pop, then she produced rock and everything with innovation… I mean… WOW, the only thing you can do is a big track!”
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