Hitting the Buzz Chart numero uno with his Western Disco remix
Words: Dan Prince
Mr Davoli, welcome to back to DMCWORLD and massive congratulations on a wonderful remix of the new Western Disco track ‘The Sun’. I hear you were repaying producer Steve Evansson back for his remix of Ride On Time that he did a few of years back as part of the 20th Anniversary?
“Yes, that is exactly it, he did a favour then, we had the opportunity to pay back our debts…and gladly so!”
Mr Evansson is a bit of a mystery, he lives and breathes studio production and has worked with people like Goldfrapp and Robert Plant – we first heard about Western Disco earlier this year with his remix of Petula Clark no less! He is quite a diverse producer then?
“Steve is a very talented musician, more inclined on the rock side of things, being a guitarist before becoming a producer…he always had a curiosity (and admiration) for electronic music, and now he’s getting more involved.”
We loved your reaction when the DMC Buzz Chart team contacted you to tell you ‘The Sun’ had zoomed straight to the top of the Ibiza Buzz Chart 2013 – you wanted to e mail it to Steve who was on holiday in France – what did he say?
“First he said: “BLOODY HELL!”.
Then….“mmmhhh”
Then again:…“Yes man!!”
Well it is great to see Black Box at the top of the charts again, what is coming out next from the Davoli studio…?
“We have taken the dust off the Black Box brand couple of years back because of demands in remixing other people tracks…couple of those were ‘Tessellate’ (Essential New Tune) and ‘Something Good’ by Alt-J. We’d like to do more in that directions, as we’re always been fans of rockbands and the likes…”
What is the current top 10 you are spinning?
Foals – Late night (Solomun Remix)
The Ramona Flowers – Lust Ampamp Lies (Joe Goddard Remix)
Monsta – Where Did I Go! (Dillon Francis And Kill Paris Rmx)
Kolsch – Opa
Laura Mvula – She (Sister Bliss Remix)
Two Door Cinema Club – Handshake (Amtrac Remix)
Parade – Score (Original Mix)
Klangkarussell – Sonnentanz (extended Mix)
Peking Duk – The Way You Are (Original Mix)
Dharma Protocol featuring Boy George – Coming Home
I interviewed Roberto Intrallazzi last week, one of the guys responsible for 90s Italo classic FPI Project ‘Rich In Paradise’ and still making great records today as part of The Cube Guys. As mentioned earlier, you were part of the prolific Black Box trio that helped set the world alight with ‘Ride On Time’ in 1989 – you were DJing under the DJ Lelewel name, Valerio was a clarinet teacher in the Music Orchestra in Bologna and Mirko was the keyboard whizzkid. How did you first meet and how did the idea to form Black Box happen?
“Me and Mirko met in Reggio Emilia in a friend studio. Mirko was hired to play a piano line on my record as neither me or my friend could play it. Then he mentioned to me that he was interested in writing some demos in a home studio he had built with Valerio…our first record together was Starlight ‘Numero Uno’, then we worked on Wood Allen ‘Airport 89’, then we came up with ‘Ride on Time’…so we needed to get focused!”
‘Ride On Time’ is ranked as the 20th biggest selling single of the 80s yet the controversy concerning single rumbled on and on. It all began with the Loleatta Holloway sample on the original which caused mayhem before you pulled in your ex-girlfriend Katrin Quinol to mime vocals (who couldn’t speak English) before finally getting a then unknown Heather Small into do new vocals on the newly pressed ‘Massive Mix’. What is your take on the whole debacle 25 years on…?
“We didn’t know any better at the time, I guess we had to learn from our mistakes…on the other hand I think the controversy have helped in creating the curiosity in the public, since nobody else before was so naïve to do it that way…”
Heather Small who went on to find fame and fortune with M People was paid a flat fee for her vocals, can you remember how much she was paid?
“We actually were never told who sang the track. We received the acapella on a DAT and had to replace it within 24 hours…I understood from the statements that the new singer was paid a royalty as well, because BMG deducted it from our royalties. Since M-People were on our same label, I guess we can all make the connection with Heather…”
You toured extensively with Paul Oakenfold and Perfecto way before EDM changed the face of America for ever. You along with people like Sasha and Digweed were the forerunners of the European invasion – although there were pockets of greatness in the States in the 90s, it was nothing like it is today. Looking back, did you ever think to yourself that dance music would one day rule the roost?
“Hahaha! Oakie was telling me the future of dance music lays in America back in 1998…he was so ahead of everyone else! On the other hand I still prefer to play in front of the English audience, it gives me the most satisfaction…and I’ve seen and played every corner of the world.”
Do you think the EDM scene in the States is going well, many think it is going too fast with people throwing too much money at it?
“Well…the more commercial it becomes the less creative it is. The money is obviously distorting the essence of dance music, people are not doing it for the satisfaction, but for the money…or at least that is what I sense. However isn’t our society running on money these days? If I can compare the dance world today with the one in late 80’s, then it was very creative…there were not two records alike…now, well you got ears right Dan?”
Who are some of the producers around the world you are giving high fives to at the moment?
“Well.. my absolute hero, my man of the century is: Thom Yorke, I also seriously love Noisia from Holland…I also have a long lasting admiration for James Lavelle and the Chemical Brothers.”
Do you still buy stupid fast cars?
“Oh well…stupid as those cars I actually don’t drive them…I ride a scooter or a bicycle these days. But I’m like a little boy with his toys sometimes…I’m trying to buy a Lancia Delta Evo Martini which is not a flashy expensive car, but it’s so cooooool you need to wear a coat when you get near…it won 6 Rally World Championships for 6 years in a row…”
Tell DMCWORLD the incredible feat you could do identifying cars when you were 3 years old..
“Oh yes! Well I was actually 4 (or so my Mum says) when she discovered that I could recognize every passing car, just by listening to the engine noise (we were living near a main road) without looking…I have to say that cars then had a very distinctive and unique sound from model to model…now there are probably only 3 or 4 engine manufacturers and they all sound the same…”
A big party coming up later this summer, you are playing at the massive Clcokwork Orange Summer In The City Of Love party in London on September 7th at Area with Danny Rampling, Graeme Park, John Kelly, Trevor Fung and a million others. You were a firm favourite at their Ibiza adventures at Es Paradis, what do you remember from those days on the white isle – promoters Danny Gould and Andy Manston were crazy right?
“Hem…most of the people that were there now have jobs, family and kids…what happened in Ibiza stays in Ibiza right?? Saying that, I’m sooooo looking forward to this event in September, I’m getting a lot of interest, it will be good..I know it!”
One of my favourite things you ever said to me was…”I sing all the time. I sing in the shower, I sing when I am driving, when I am cooking and also when I sleep – that’s why I sleep on my own”. Is that still the case Daniele?
“Oh yes, but I fear the singing has now mutated into snoring…I was tempted to record my bedroom in the nightime with a mic to see what it sounds like, but I won’t be able to face the truth…I still prefer to think of myself as a good singer…”
We come to Sunday lunch at the Davoli house – what sort of artists would you play us for a nice mellow, funky Sunday afternoon…?
“Mmmmmmhhhh, hard to say as when I’m DJing I don’t make plans, I just improvise…so I would just try to sense what you guys would feel like listening, based also on the red vino effects on our moods. I would definitely propose to play some “Lianne la Havas”, then obviously “Atom For Peace”, but we all know we’ll slip into Marvin Gaye at some point right?”
What is the greatest record you have ever played to a dancefloor?
“Every season I have my favourite greatest record, but I recall the days(1990-92) when I started playing in London for the Mad Cats parties (at improvised venues like photo studios or hired pubs) and I use to finish my sets with
And finally, the first time we met was at the music conference in Rimini when you played at Peter Pan. My friend was talking so much in the back of your Mercedes you threatened to tie him up and put him in the boot of the car. Is it fair to say your hell raising days are over?!?
“No not really. I’ve become a very patient man, but from time to time I meet someone who knows where my panic button is and they press it! Boy, if you want to hear a bomb exploding, that is the noise I make…I’m Italian after all!!”
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