Techno music lovers, we have a doozy for you
If somebody told us to think about the typical Mediterranean country, usually the first things that come to mind are the sea, the sun, the warm summers and the excellent cuisine – on the contrary, it is quite unlikely to link it to its DJs. However, Italy is the cradle of some of today’s most sought-after techno artists, and many electronic sound-buffs may not even be aware of it. Suffice it to say that giants and legends such as Marco Carola and Joseph Capriati, but also DJ twins like Tale Of Us and Mind Against, all burning down the electronic scene, come from this country.
A flourishing electronic music scene
For the purpose of isolating themselves from the masses, these young giants began to make in the first place structural changes in their business. Dissatisfied with certain social phenomena plaguing their country and cities, they decided to show their thoughts and feelings through the music. No less importantly, they managed to awake in their audience the good vibes and the energy needed to stay up to the morning hours. Despite the variety of artists in the spotlight, common themes then emerged: a by-the-book upbringing of poverty, the buzz of hanging out on the streets, plus, of course, the all-pervading fascination for a new, challenging sound.
A guide to DJs
Thus, dear techno music lovers, we have a doozy for you. We have identified the most famous Italian names, few DJs from a country whose time is coming, without wishing to belittle other old acquiantances of some renowned world festivals.
Marco Carola
Naples looks like the birthplace of the greatest Italian DJs, such as the legendary Marco Carola. This global techno music ambassador and founder of one of the most legendary night clubs in Ibiza – the Music On – leads also some of the world’s best publishing houses such as Design, Zenit, Kuestion, One Thousands and Do.Mi.No, simultaneously publishing music for other famous labels – Minus, Plus 8,2M and Primate Recordings, amongst all. After twenty years of storied career, Marco is still one of the most popular DJs of our generation.
Joseph Capriati
Capriati has built his reputation as a universally popular and always sought-after artist. A naturally charismatic DJ with a huge production catalogue, Joseph is a performer full of authentic enthusiasm and, as shown by his over 150 annual gigs around the world, he was born for a mixing desk. This Campanian guy has been mixing since his eleventh year, and it’s no wonder that he is today one of the world techno headliners. He also collaborated with some of the greatest names on the rise, such as Adam Beyer, Marco Carola, Dave Clarke, Dubfire, Jamie Jones, Carl Cox and many others.
Luigi Rocca
In the past few years, the Italian electronic scene has been enriched by the incredibly talented producer and DJ Luigi Rocca, who is also one of the founders of the popular label 303Lovers. Luigi Rocca has built a successful career by performing at some of the world’s best parties and festivals, where his talent came to the fore. This allowed him to repeat his legendary performances across Europe, North and South America. In one of his interviews, he shared his thoughts about inspiration: “I like to watch people in the crowd and try to understand their mood, as well as to receive their energy to create a better connection with them while I perform. I think it’s important to create the right feeling, even before performing, when something like that can be done better.”
Sam Paganini
This Italian has been playing music since he was a teenager, and his sets are characterized by a powerful grudge or, as himself describes them, a “sexy groovy and dark techno”. If you are not already familiar with Paganini’s virtuosity with the DJ counter, make sure to watch some recordings from his set and listen to some pearls he has produced, such as the techno anthem Rave.
Cover photo by: Sonar Istanbul