There seems to be something in the water over on the continent – specifically Italy – where a disproportionate number of exciting electronic artists seem to be hailing from of late. Here, Defected’s Hannah Thomas digs a little deeper into the scene to find out where the Italian invasion has its roots…
If you’re in any way into electronic music, it’s almost impossible to overlook the impact Italian artists and club culture are having on the global dance music scene right now. Take two of the biggest records of 2012; Pirupa’s Party Non Stop took the clubbing world by storm and scooped the coveted accolade of Track of the Season at the 2012 DJ Awards whilst house heads were equally as ravenous for Flashmob’s instant classic Need In Me. Both were crafted by Italian producers, and it’s a trend that isn’t limited solely to music professionals.
August 2012 saw yet another invasion of the Italian clubbing massive on the White Isle, a trend that marks the busiest and most lucrative period for the island’s clubbing industry. This well documented summer phenomenon can, in part, be attributed to the hordes of Italian house and techno enthusiasts who make their annual pilgrimage to the Ibiza to pay homage to their heroes Tania Vulcano, Loco Dice and Luciano and of course Marco Carola, whose new Music On project at Amnesia was arguably the biggest success story of last season.His brave decision to move from one of the Ibiza’s most successful residencies at Cocoon to boldly go it alone – in what is a fiercely competitive climate by anyone’s standards – cemented his gladiatorial status in the electronic music world.
In short, it’s difficult to imagine as thriving a dance music scene without the influence of these Italian maestros, but why are so many Italian masters doing it better?
You only have to look at country’s superior musical heritage to recognise that music is an iconic and integral part of Italian culture. In a nation steeped in one of the most diverse histories in the world, music has always played a major part in instilling a sense of national and ethnic identity and pride. You can take this back as far as the peerless Italian composers such as Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina and Giovanni Gabrieli; truly masters of their craft in their own time.
Yet Italy has not always been so obviously synonymous with the electronic dance music scene, unlike the original clubbing culture hubs of Chicago, Detroit, Manchester, London, Berlin and Ibiza. Traditionally speaking, Italian destinations have been left off the jet-setting clubber’s dance music map, much in the same way that Marshall Jefferson and Frankie Knuckles spring to mind as original house pioneers rather than any Italian-born artist. But if you scratch the surface and delve deeper into the history of Italo disco, Italo house and Italo dance, it becomes clear that like their Roman forefathers, Italians were dance music pioneers in their own right and were carving out an electronic music empire of their own.
The late 1970s gave rise to the creation of Italy’s answer to disco. Fusing disco beats, melancholy melodies and electronic sounds, the experimental and futuristically-themed genre achieved a classic pop sensibility and gave rise to an increasingly popular nightclubbing scene. More significantly however, although it never made it big on the international scene and its popularity was mainly limited to nightclubs, it nevertheless influenced the likes of New Order and Kraftwerk, two of the most pioneering dance music acts of all time.
In 1982 and 1983 Kelin + M.B.O. – a side- project developed by Davide Piatto of Italo disco duo N.O.I.O – released records Dirty Talk, Wonderful and The M.B.O. Theme, all of which were influential in the development of early house. But perhaps one of the earliest and most significant figures in Italian dance music is composer, producer and songwriter Giorgio Moroder, one of the chief architects of the disco sound who famously worked with Donna Summer in crafting the all time classics “Love to Love You Baby” and – more significantly for the dance world – ‘I Feel Love’. Arguably one of the most influential ‘dance’ records of all time, it was famously lauded by Brian Eno as "a single [that] is going to change the sound of club music for the next fifteen years." Looking back, he was more or less right.
After these early successes came Italo house and its offshoot Italo dance in the late 80s and early 90s. Distinct from Chicago House and characterised by its more lyrical electronic piano chords and upbeat and euphoric sounds, it was championed by legendary DJ Sasha and spawned anthemic classics such as Asha’s JJ Tribute, Last Rhythm’s Last Rhythm, Kinny’s Keep It Warm and – perhaps most significantly for the popularisation of the genre – Black Box’s Ride on Time. Looking back it’s easy to dismiss this global hit as ‘cheesy’, but it’s difficult not to recognise its significance in bringing uplifting house music to the masses.
So that’s the back-story, but why is it now all that Italian artists are once again leading the charge when it comes to influential and far-reaching electronic music?
The Italian production Tale of Us duo first gained underground credence back in 2010 after their dazzling full debut release on Seth Troxler’s Visionquest imprint and their killer remixes of WhoMadeWho (Every Minute Alone) and Thugfucker’s (Disco Gnome). Through their Life and Death label (which was Resident Advisor’s label the month in August 2012) they have since acquired a certain notoriety for their intelligent, eclectic and deeply emotive musical formula.
Citing influences as far reaching and diverse as Joy Division, Maddonna The Smiths, Radiohead and legendary film composer Claudio Simonetti, its evident that Matteo Milleri and Carm Conte’s success is, in part, down to taking inspiration from popular genres; fusing simple elements that make huge pieces of music.
Yet, as their moniker suggests, their success is not only borne out of their pop infused sounds but also their efforts to ‘move people from the inside’. As Conte attests “the techno concept of clubbing is still alive and present but we want to tell stories and tales in our art, so we had to introduce more sounds and genres into the house vibe.” Matteo sums it up nicely: “In other words our music reflects the visions we have of love, life and death and that’s why it is a 'tale of us'.”
Likewise, an intimidating minimal techno discography, residencies at Circoloco at DC10 and unwavering business nous make fellow countryman Davide Squillace stand out as an equally important figure in underground dance music. His plethora of genre defining productions, perhaps most notably – Pieces of You and Wild Things – have adorned an endless list of catalogues including Resopal, Ovum, Sci+Tex, Supenature, Schallware and Nervous, whilst his innovation and unerring work ethic has meant he has also been able to setup and curate multiple labels.
When quizzed on what has driven him to create such a huge body of music he says “Inspiration is the basis of creativity, but I can’t pin down specific influences because there are a lot of them. A hi-hat from someone, a beat from somewhere else… it’s more about being inspired by a mood rather than a certain thing.” And his answer to the key to success? “Do what you love and make no compromises.”
Squillace’s countrymen Flashmob, Supernova and Pirupa are also demonstrative of what continues to make Italian artists stand out from the rest; this magical concoction of musical integrity, expertise, innovation and widespread appeal.
It was Flashmob’s dissatisfaction with compromising on the quality of their work and determination to educate themselves in the origins of house music that paved the way for their re-ascension to success, this time with a rejuvenated passion for their craft. Their sense of musical dignity and reaffirmed passion means that they are now as equally as credible on the underground circuit as they are on more mainstream dancefloors.
Florentine friends Emiliano Nencioni and Giacomo Godi aka Supernova are as equally as respected as artists and performers of the highest stature, following in the formidable musical footsteps of their Tuscan forefathers. Their classical training is something they feel allows them to “produce music they want without restriction”, while their theoretical knowledge and technical skill allowing for complete creative autonomy. The duo are able to steer clear of the generic loops and samples found in so much of the current output and focus instead on creating imaginative sounds and composing original melodies and sophisticated arrangements.
And not forgetting of course Pirupa’s relentless and unquestionable talent in producing instant hits. Now with three of the most downloaded tracks on Beatport under his belt, he has achieved in three years what most producers accomplish in their entire career, confirming his status as one of the foremost producers of his generation.
Quite simply, it’s impossible to deny the fact that the Italian contingent are musical maestros in their own right and are having as huge an impact on today’s dance music landscape as their ancestors did on the culture of the Western World. And it certainly doesn’t look like this is going to abate as we look ahead to what to expect from these guys in the coming year. For the moment, at least, It looks certain that Italians will continue to ‘do it better’ in 2013 and beyond.
Words: Hannah Thomas
Defected In The House Miami is out now
