The Cube Guys

DMC tunes into two of Italy’s most important ever producers Roberto Intrallazzi and Luca Provera. We know Roberto from back in the day from Italo House legends the F.P.I. Project whilst Luca has been wowing the dancefloors around the world for years alongside the duo’s legendary production work. Two brothers in rhythm speak to DMC…

“Roberto, Luca welcome to the DMC World. Two quite different stories before you got together musically in 2005. Roberto, you were one of the forces behind the mighty F.P.I. Project who brought us early ‘90s classics such as ‘Rich In Paradise’, ‘Everybody’ and ‘Risky’ whilst Luca you came into clubland later and decided to learn the recording studio inside out before embarking on a successful DJ career. How did you first two meet and why did it take 5 years for you to decide to start recording together?

“We were musically born from different roots, experiences and decades. This increased our musical identity  and we consider it our secret weapon of our team and production union. We decided to team up from the first day we met each other, but we officially opened our studio together in 2005.”

What music were you both listening to as kids that got you switched into dance music in the first place?
Roberto: “I was addicted to listening to melodic pop tunes from the 70s and 80s. These were the main influences of my career.”
Luca: “I started to listen to some classic stuff like The Temptations, Donna Summer and Stevie Wonder from my father’s vinyl collection. I was illuminated by house music the first time I listened to LNR’s ‘Work It To The Bone’. It really changes my life.”

What do each of you bring to the studio – who does what?

“We use the studio as a real melting pot of our ideas and feelings. There aren’t any rules how we produce music together, we just bring the love of music and the imagination of making something fresh and new every time.”

What are the current Top 10 tunes you are playing…

1.
UAP
BIMAC
THE CUBE GUYS MIX
CUBE RECORDINGS

2.
THE CUBE GUYS
LA BANDA
THE CUBE GUYS HOUSE MIX
STEREO PRODUCTIONS

3.
SOPHIE ELLIS BEXTOR
STARLIGHT
THE CUBE GUYS MIX
EGO

4.
THE CUBE GUYS
TORERO
ORIGINAL MIX
STEREO PRODUCTIONS

5.
SIN MORERA
HEARTBEAT
THE CUBE GUYS REMIX
NERVOUS RECORDS

6.
LISSAT & VOLTAXX
THE SUNKEN BELLS OF IBIZA
JON RUNDELL REMIX
GREAT STUFF RECORDINGS

7.
DUAL T
LOCA ELLA
ORIGINAL MIX
SMILEY FINGERS

8.
THE MODEL
STILL IN MY HEART
BRETT JOHNSON’S 4AM REMIX
CROSSTOWN REBELS

9.
INTRALLAZZI
MEXICO
THE CUBE GUYS MIX
CUBE RECORDINGS

10.
LANDMARK
SUPERMAN (SHINE ON ME)
ORIGINAL MIX
OLE MUSIC

Who are your musical influences?
“We are highly inspired by musicians and DJs that give their atttention to create something new, different and emotional. We have always respected DJs like Danny Tenaglia who create something like eight hour musical journeys with peaks and breathtaking moments during their sets. That’s exactly the best way to spread and join emotions with the crowd.”

How would you describe your musical style?
“Super -Sexy- Fresh- House- Music! With influences from latin to jazzy tunes, mixed with vocal and tech elements, passing thru tribal vibes… all mixed and effected up!”

What has been the anthem of the summer for you?

“Our track ‘La Banda’ is def the most played track from us and for many superstar DJs…we are very proud of it!

What has been the best club of 2011 and why?

“We have played in so many different places all around the globe, but everytime we know we are going back to the Circus Afterhours Group in Canada we are very happy. It is always fun and emotional. We consider it our second home town!”

You have remixed some mighty artists. What has been the most satisfying remix?

“We have remixed some brilliant artists such as Coolio, Ultra Nate, DJ Chus, Roger Sanchez, Sophie Ellis Bextor, Bob Sinclar, Suzanne Palmer, India, Romathony, Robbie Rivera, Moloko, Shawn Christopher, Ralph Falcon, Fish Go Deep, Alex Gaudino, Ricky L and Yello. However,  if we had to choose the most satisfying… well…’The Cure & The Cause’ done for Fish Go Deep group on Defected.”

What advice would you give to aspiring producers wanting to make it in the music industry reading this?

“Forget standards and be innovative. Create your personal sound and don’t close your mind to just house music.”

Roberto – the start of the 90s saw the world go Italo House mad – everyone was playing those hands in the air breakdown monsters. What are your best memories from back then…?

“We were completely part of a musical revolution back in those days and everybody knew it. We had new technologies like the first samplers as new tools to make hit music, these day we are full of new drastic ideas and philosophies.”

How do you think your style changed after that musically Roberto?

“I started to follow the USA house music scene, people like Masters At Work. I just tried working with really hot musicans to take house music to another level.”

Luca, you are at the cutting edge of technology development in the DJ/producer market, can you tell us what the future holds in the next 10 years?

“The technology is changing every day, good or not we need to accept this. If I had to predict the future for DJs, I see a DJ booth full of electronic controllers only, the DJ will just carry small hard-disks full of music and personal set ups…for lights and videos also!”

With the news that CDs will be dropped from major labels in the next 5 years – is the life of the CDJ numbered?

“I don’t want to be too drastic, but in a few years we will rename the CDJ the USBDJ – or something like that. The CDJ hardware will be reinvented like a perfect stand-alone controller and data player.”

Will it all come back to the turntable as the choice instrument of the DJ?

“We all love turntables, but I think it will remain a nostalgic piece of story for anyone who really feels the art of DJing. I’m surprised to hear and see how technology is changing our rules.”

Boys, so if we come back to yours after a club, what 10 non house Back To Mine tunes do you play us to chill us out?

1. Soft Cell ‘Tainted Love’
2. KOT ‘Finally’ Danny Tenaglia Piano Mix
3. Donna Summer ‘I Feel Loved’
4. Cj & Co ‘Devil’s Gun’
5. Depeche Mode ‘Personal Jesus’
6. Sweet Cream ‘I Don’t Know What I’ll Do’
7. Front Page ‘Love Insurance’
8. Melba Moore ‘Pick Me Up I’ll Dance’
9. India ‘To Be In Love’
10. FPI Project ‘Rich In Paradise’

What are your thoughts about the current state of the music scene, some say it is the healthiest yet?

“Music will never die, that’s the main answer. We all need music for living, we feel the market will be strictly digitalized. We need to follow different musical directions to continue to make money from this industry. Music nowadays reflect our society, fast and furious!”

What are the plans for your music in 2012?

“The main challenge is to continue to produce tracks that bring emotions not only to our crowds, but also to the easy listeners out there also. Our main focus is always the melody applied to not on club tunes, but also on radio friendly tracks. Music is the key and the melody will open the doors!”