The prolific Portamento boss unleashes an anthem
There are few American house producers as frequently charted and noted as Portamento Records label boss Nino Anthony. Well deserved with an arsenal of releases and remixes on some of the most renowned record labels in the industry including Erick Morillo’s Subliminal Records, Roger Sanchez’s Stealth Records, Laidback Luke’s MixMash, Defected and Ultra amongst so many others. Nino first hit the scene in 2006 with the introduction of his label, Portamento Records. Immediately securing it’s position amongst the leading brands in the industry, attention from the most respected names in house music soon followed, including American legends Roger Sanchez, Erick Morillo, DJ Dan and Richard Vission, as well as European giants such as Axwell, Fatboy Slim, Freemasons, ATFC, Funkagenda & Noir. Nino’s rare edge and ultimate versatility has often been pursued by industry professionals for collaboration and remix work, notably remixing Deadmau5’s track ‘All You Ever Want’ and Eddie Thoneick who offered his hand at remixing Nino’s very own release on Portamento Records. Now fresh for 2012 with Miami looming, this superb producer is raring to go with an absolute banger out on the dancefloor. Shhh? No way…
Words : Dan Prince
Hi Nino, welcome to DMC towers. A huge tune just released, ‘Aww Shhh’ coming our way on Funktion, talk us through the tune…
“The inspiration on this tune came from when I was listening to some older House records I had laying around and just remembered how dope the filtered house sound was when it first came out. I came up listening to guys like Richard F, Richard Vission, Bad Boy Bill, Hatiras and those cats and just wanted to take my sound on ‘Awww Shhh’ back to that filtered/funky house vibe, but with an updated bounciness to it.”
If we took you back to your university days to that bar and the night when your brother asked you take to over the decks as he swapped jobs to serve drinks for more money, what records would you have been playing?
“Haha, wow, you guys did your research on this! Back then it was 1997 and I had zero experience whatsoever as a DJ. One night my brother Domenic randomly asked me if I wanted to DJ because he wanted to take the bartender gig for more $. He told me to play what I want and what I want to hear, so that’s what I did and people loved it. The bar was a little dive bar that we actually turned into a dope, hot spot for the college crowd and packed the place every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. It wasn’t until end of 1997 that I heard House music and fell in love with it, so to answer your question, I was playing mostly hip-hop, and some funk stuff that night.”
So how did the love of DJing and then producing progress from there?
“After I started Djing there for a while, I became addicted to making people move and dance and it was such a cool feeling to be able to do that and watch people literally just be free for the night and let loose with no worries or stress. I finally saved up the money, bought some cheap Gemini belt-driven turntables and some vinyl and just started practicing every night for hours and hours. A friend of mine was into House music and let me borrow a Groove Radio Compilation mixed by the legendary Swedish Egil and I was hooked from that moment. Every spare bit of cash I had at the time (which wasn’t much) I spent on wax and built up a nice collection over the years.”
What were you studying at uni, what career ideas had you in mind?
“I had no idea what I wanted to do after high school, and my brother was already enrolled there. I would take weekend trips to party and it was great, so I decided I’d give it a try. It was either go there and party my a** off and have a blast, enlist in the military, or start in the real world with a job. Thank God I chose to enroll there, or I would have never had the opportunity to DJ. I owe it to my brother.”
What is your earliest memory of music?
“When I first started listening to House music around 1997/1998, the whole vibe of it was just amazing all around. It was very organic, funky and soulful and just had an amazing vibe about it. The sound was so new and fresh to me compared to the hip-hop that I grew up on and I was instantly hooked. My early influences were guys from the SF house scene like Miguel Migs & Jay J, to Erick Morillo, the music Kaskade was doing at the time, and anything Om Records or Naked Music released I bought. From there, I started listening to a harder filtered sound from guys like Richard Vission, Bad Boy Bill, Hatiras and that sound, but still maintained my love for soulful vocal house. My single biggest influence in House music is Erick Morillo and the early Subliminal Records sound. I have almost every single record Subliminal put out over the years, including their sub labels Sondos and Subusa. The early Subliminal era really caught my ear and is definitely my biggest influence in my music. I was very honored to release my track with Jorge Jaramillo on Subliminal years later called “The Funk Shop.”
Are you taking any new tunes to Miami and where will we find you spinning?
“Yeah I am definitely taking a lot of new music to Miami. Some of my own stuff that is not released yet, and some new stuff from a lot of the guys that I’m into right now musically. I’m really keen on the tribal/afro-latin/tech house stuff right now and that’s what I enjoy playing out. Guys like Franky Rizardo, Chocolate Puma, Copyright, Muzzaik, Prok & Fitch, Bass Kleph etc are rockin’ it right now musically. I’ll be playing the “Topple Track Takedown Miami” party with a bunch of talented producers. It’s at Nowhere Nightclub at 635 Washington Ave. The lineup is John Aquaviva, Amo & Navas, Phunk Investigation, PHNTM, Sebastian Lintz, Dj Tonio, Verdugo Brothers and Bartosz Brenes and myself will be doing a tag set. It’s definitely going to be an underground tech-house/techno party, can’t wait!”
Best Miami memory?
“There have been MANY great memories in Miami over the years, but the one that sticks out most is Morillo on the Space Terrace back in maybe 2003 or 2004 (a bit hazy). He rocked an amazing set in the main room after HCCR & Jorge Jaramillo opened. When Erick finished the main room, everyone and I mean everyone packed the terrace for the sunrise set. I can remember anticipating him coming on and he opened with Rachel Starr “Till There Was You” (Creamer & K Mix) and the sun slowly came up. Talk about an amazing morning! Definitely the highlight for me over the years.”
What is the best and worst thing about living in Las Vegas?
“Well, there are many great things about this city. Las Vegas has by far the best dance/electronic scene in the U.S. right now. There is a great Dj playing literally 6-7 nights a week somewhere on the strip. So that, along with the amazing weather and sunshine year round makes Vegas an ideal place for me. The only thing it’s missing is the ocean, but that’s what pool parties are for! The worst thing about living in Vegas, hmmmm. There aren’t too many bad things about living here. Some people complain about the 115-120 degree summer day heat, but I happen to love it. If I had to pick something, I guess it would be the fact that there is no ocean nearby, but we do have Lake Mead which is dope in the summer for an escape from the clubs.”
Is there a club side of your city away from the bright lights of superstar DJs arriving week in week out in their limos?
“Yeah for sure, absolutely. There are some dope after-hours spots like Drai’s and Artisan which cater to mostly locals, and most clubs out here hold their own industry night as well.”
Your Portamento Records burst onto the scene in 2006 and quickly gathered support from the likes of Axwell, Fatboy Slim, Morillo and Roger Sanchez. What has been your proudest release?
“A lot of proud moments with the label over the years, but two that stick out are the very first release we did which was my track “Dance All Night”. I was able to get Alex Kenji on the remix and he absolutely smashed the remix and took it to a whole new level. It did really well in the Electro charts and if I remember got as high as top 15 on Beatport. The second great moment was the track I did with Joachim Garraud and Chynna Blue called ‘I Will Love You Anyway’. I didn’t get a chance to get in the studio with them just because I live in the states and they were both in France at the time, but working with the vocal and Joachim on the beat was amazing! This coupled with the fact that we were blessed to have Eddie Thoneick rock a killer remix definitely made this a top moment on the label.”
What is your current top 10 you are spinning?
“In no particular order…
1. Nice7 ‘Point’
2. Rony Seikaly feat. Polina ‘Let You Go’ (Belocca & Soneec Remix)
3. Dunk N’ Aliens feat MIA & Inaya Day ‘That Place’ (Nino Anthony Sunset Mix)
4. Adoo ‘District’ (Modaal & Mike Newman Remix)
5. Roel Salemink, Audiowomb ‘What The Funk’ (Peter Horrevorts Remix)
6. Umek ‘Next Turn’
7. Ninoi Anthony & Mr Eyez ‘Who Are You’ (Original Mix)
8. Gregor Salto, Miguel Osyrah ‘023’
9. Nino Anthony & Yusef Tarzi present House Rules ‘Agitar’
10.Todd Terry, House of Gypsies ‘Samba’ (Matteo DiMarr’s Old School Meets New School Remix)
What is the finest record you have ever played to a dancefloor?
“One of my favortie tracks of all time and I still play it this day in certain sets is ‘I Go Back’ by HCCR & Robert Owens. That track just encapsulates everything I love about House music. A great vocal, dope bass line and an all around dance-floor mover. If you can’t feel that track, then you aren’t a fan of House music.”
You have been responsible for some cool collaborations, who have you enjoyed working with and who out there would you love to get into the studio with?
“I have enjoyed working with all the producers and vocalists I have collaborated with over the years. In today’s modern world, it’s kind of unfortunate that there isn’t a lot of actual “in-studio collaboration” being done because everyone has a home studio and it’s mostly about sending parts/vocals. I wish I could spend more in-studio time with people as opposed to just sending and swapping out parts/vocals etc, but that’s the modern technology-driven world we live in. I would love to get in the studio with so many people right now it’s ridiculous but if I had to choose a few producers in dance music, it would be John Dahlback, Chocolate Puma, newcomers Roul & Doors, ATFC or Kaskade. All of those guys are very talented and it would be great to see how they go in on a track from start to finish. As far as a vocalist, I think it would be amazing to work with Roisin Murphy. Her voice is so unique and when you hear it, you instantly know it’s her and is going to be an amazing track. “Sing It Back” is probably top 5 records for me all time and I love the stuff she is doing now as well. Outside of dance music, I would love to work with Diddy in the studio.”
You have released some mighty records on some of the biggest labels in the world, Subliminal, Stealth, Defected and MixMash – what is the best release from that little lot you have bright us to date?
“That’s definitely a tough loaded question haha. I am first and foremost a huge fan of House music. Each one of the tracks has been a huge blessing to land on those labels you mentioned, so it’s hard to pick a “best” release. I can however pick a release I was most proud of and it’s because it was my first “major” release. It was “The Funk Shop” I did with Jorge Jaramillo and Alexandra Marin that came out on Subliminal in 2007. I already mentioned how Subliminal has been my single greatest influence musically, so to see my name on wax with the Subliminal logo was such an amazing feeling, and my proudest release to date.”
What is your guilty pleasure song?
“Guilty pleasure song? Hmmm, only thing that pops out in my mind is anything from Beyonce or Rihanna. I am not into pop music by any means but these 2 females consistently put out great music.”
So we come back to your place after the club, what are Back To Mine tunes you spin us to carry on the groove?
“If it’s a very late night/early morning, I would probably play a deeper/soulful house set with a lot of vocals just to create a great chill vibe for people to relax, chill out and enjoy themselves after a long night clubbing.”
What is the best piece of advice to all our readers who want to get into the world of producing?
“The best piece of advice I can give is be willing to work EXTREMELY hard and be EXTREMELY patient. It doesn’t happen overnight and it’s a mistake to think that way and will only lead to disappointment if you do. It takes years to learn to produce and many many long days and nights in the studio, so be willing to work hard. Also, please don’t do it if $$$, success, fame or women is your main motivation. Dance music is getting so big right now ion a global level and now that it’s landing on television with MTV music videos, artists winning Grammy’s and becoming more and more mainstream, I hope kids coming up don’t get into House music to become rich or famous, or to be “cool”. I hope people do it for the sincere Love of House music and to add to this amazing culture and lifestyle.”
And finally, what studio wise have you got planned for us in 2012…
“I have a lot of great things in the works for this year. Production wise, my remix on Hotfingers (That Place) is doing really well, & “Awww Shhh” is shaping up to be a solid release on Funktion. Looking forward, I have a remix coming out on Housesession soon for Dj Fist, Rio Dela Duna & Dany Cohiba feat. The Black Widow callled “The Night Goes On”. It’s already being supported and played by Roger Sanchez, so I’m definitely looking forward to that droppin’. My track with Mr. Eyez “Who Are You” is going to be featured on the Tocadisco Dj Mag Cover Cd Miami edition. I also have a few collaborations in the works with Toronto based YUG & Shyann Lyonn on a track called “Hold Em’ High, some more underground stuff with Chicago based MC–Mr. Eyez, and a big room style piano track with Dave Rose all in the works. Further, I’m very excited to be starting up a new project with San Diego based Dj and producer, Yusef Tarzi. We are calling the project “House Rules” and we will focusing our sound solely on House music. No electro, no mainroom stuff. Strictly deep/soulful/chunky/groovin House music. We have a few tracks in the works thus far, one of which titled “Agitar”, is going to be featured on Bamboo Music’s 50th release Miami compilation, and that will be our first official release. Along with this new project, I will be starting up a new sub-label of Portamento Records. I haven’t decided on the name yet as it’s still very early in the process, but the label will focus soley on the House sound. Portamento will still be releasing tracks that are more big room and electro house, whereas the new label will focus on the House, tech-house, deep house, afro-latin, tribal sound.”
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