Defected’s Harvey Tatsu Jones speaks with Italian-born, Ibiza-dwelling DJ and producer Tuccillo to discuss studio gear and what to expect from his forthcoming releases on Holic Trax and 2020 Vision.
Despite the fine weather and idyllic surroundings, Tuccillo – full name Guiseppe Tuccillo - spends most of his time devoted to his table-length mixing console and 5-story synth racks. Having first visited the island under the guise of now defunct Italian label UMM in 1999, he made a permanent move in 2000 after being invited to start a studio with friend and long-standing Ibiza resident DJ Pippi. “I didn’t think twice” he reflects jocularly, “I packed up my studio and said goodbye to my mother. I had her prepare all the pasta and mozzarella I could carry.”
Ten years later with releases on labels like Third Ear Recordings and 2020 Vision, Tuccillo met Defected head, Simon Dunmore, during his residency at Pacha. “I was doing a warm-up for a Defected night playing right before Simon” he begins, “I just happened to put on a new track, ‘Sexophonista’, which I had put on during the afternoon, but I put it on again just to test how it would work at night. Simon heard it, and right away said he wanted it. He didn’t even hear the whole song – just the beginning and the break, and he said 'this is Defected.'"
The Pacha episode led to his Sandbell EP on Defected and even a warm-up for Frankie Knuckles. Subsequent releases on 8 Bit and Holic Trax have exemplified Tuccillo’s love for bouncing bass lines and his versatility in exploiting lounge vibes as well as tech house. In 2013 he and his manager, XXXXX, embarked on the groundwork for a new label called ‘Unblock Music’. Tuccillo explains, “The idea to make the label came to me because I was receiving so much music from friends and producers for edits and remixes. There was so much of it that was really good that we decided to release it ourselves or ‘unblock’ it.”
As Unblock Music teases releases from Robert Dietz, Tomoki Tamura, and Charles Webster, Tuccillo explains his plan for releasing a collage of genres and his love for Japanese techno, “The first release is my EP with Robert Dietz, and the second is with Tomoki Tamura and a remix by Djebali. The third one is Willie Graff, Charles Webster and I; it’s very deep and musical. The first two EPs are more power driven tech house, and Tamura really brings out that Japanese sound. I really like the Japanese sound. Producers like Hideo Kobayashi and Satoshi Tomiie are pioneers. There is a new, young producer on Holic Trax called Keita Sano. He’s amazing.”
With so much activity and a firmly established network of labels and artists at his side, one look into his tightly packed studio proves that the technical side of Tuccillo’s career is equally established. Armed with the first edition of Cubase, an Atari ST, an Akai S900 and a plethora of MIDI cables and effects pedals, Tuccillo started making music in 1993. Over the years digital instruments and effects have been incorporated into his set up, but he prefers to mix down manually and modulate loops directly from the hardware. Tuccillo explains the differences in approach to varying styles, “I don’t like staring at the screen for too long; I prefer running loops and trying out ideas manually. This is especially true for anything clubby like house or dub, but if I am working on a down tempo or chill track, I’ll use software more to get the details perfectly. My father was an aficionado and collected analog gear. He also played and collected guitars so that is where I get my obsession I think.”
With computers taking centre stage in most studios, the availability of digital instruments can seem endless. When faced with the hypothetical situation of having to name only his most essential studio hardware, Tuccillo – like most seasoned producers – has a soft spot for the classics, “For hardware, I would take my Roland Juno 106 because of its classic 80s sound. It’s perfect for making disco. The good thing about the 106 is that it has a ‘Chorus’ function that adds amazing texture and character to the sounds. I don’t know what would have happened with electronic music without Roland. I would also choose my 1976 Moog Polymoog. It does not have MIDI, and it’s a little crazy, but I love it. I also love my Yamaha DX7. It has the ‘Solid Bass’ patch – one of the most recognized bass sounds in house music. As drum machines I would take my sampler, the Akai S950. This one processed the sound in 12 bits so the sound is very distinctive. Kicks, toms and snares sound exceptionally fat.”
2014 marks fourteen years since Tuccillo’s relocation to the island. With the explosion of dance music around the world, the crowds and profits on the island have increased, but not all the news is good. The well-publicized oil drilling plans by the Spanish government and Scottish company Cairn Energy threaten the heartbeat of the island’s economy: its ecological health and dependent tourist industry. Despite international protest against the action, the decision to drill at this UNESCO World Heritage site is still under consideration.
Ibiza DJs have also felt the squeeze as more international artists come to compete for the seemingly unlimited - yet ultimately numbered - dance floors. Tuccillo’s reflections cast shadows over the future of the traditional Ibiza DJ, “When I first came I was 20 years-old and everything seemed fantastic. There were much more classic house parties and names like Roger Sanchez were huge. Things used to be a bit more freaky; now the vibe is more serious and more about making money. Now there is less of a scene for artists based in Ibiza. Promoters are now only focusing on big names from outside of the island. It used to be a mix between Ibiza residents and guests, now the guests bring the entire line up. So unfortunately we are losing the aspect of the Ibiza artist that used to exist. Ibiza DJs are now working more outside the island than on. ”
Despite the uncertainty Tuccillo remains positive, and his work is blooming. Concentrating his efforts in his new label and upcoming releases, perhaps it may be difficult for this island-dwelling Italian to stay worried for long.
https://soundcloud.com/unblock_music
Words: Harvey Tastu Jones
