A true lover of the unknown and very chameleonesque in his sets. Ambient, Disco, House, Techno, and everything in between. A purist story building selector.
Born and residing in Atlanta, USA; Tito is affiliated with local crew Cardio ATL and upcoming vinyl only label Atlast. A true lover of the rare and unknown, Tito has been obsessively digging for more than decade into the full spectrum of sounds from below the surface. He attains deep fulfillment from taking his listeners on a truly profound experience through mind and soul. A chameleonesque selector with various shades and colors to show. He has a catalog of releases to his name on labels including Miaw, Up to Loft, Samani , and Conceptual Records with upcoming releases on MOFF, Kanja Records, and Simple Things.
Tzinah Records: To start with, please, recommend us something to listen to while we go through this interview. It can be anything.
Tito Mazzetta: Primal Code – Annie’s Diaries
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMwOuO7CXdY
Tzinah Records: Could you remember when and where have you felt it for the first time that you were to become a music artist?
Tito Mazzetta: I’m not really sure when the time started. I was always exploring expression and creation with keyboards and pianos from a young age. I started producing music when I was 15 so I guess that would be around the time the seed started to sprout into something more tangible.
Tzinah Records: Why did you choose to create and play this particular type of music? Are there any artists that touched you deeply while developing your own style?
Tito Mazzetta: When I was younger I was always trying to chase and emulate a type of sound. After many years, I started to become more freely expressive both with what I choose to play and create myself.
I’m constantly searching for unique ways to shape my productions, whether it be with unique sound design or workflows. I need to be constantly evolving and refining myself. That is a never ending journey. It has taken so many years to develop my own process/mindset/techniques for making music. For me, digging is an explorative journey of different moods and perspectives, always searching for the unique and rare gems that make me feel a certain type of way. The actual djing portion is about piecing together those different types of moods into a coherent story that listeners can connect with and feel no matter what the style is. What I create is a self expressive and introspective process with less care about how it connects with people or not. It is a raw reflection of a moment within myself.
Some artists that touched me deeply during development and currently would be Rene Audiard, Moby, Four Tet, Ricardo Villalobos, DJ Sotofett, Francesco Del Garda, John Dimas, Moomin, Move D, Ion Ludwig, Grace Jones, Thievery Corporation, Topper, and Paul Kalkbrenner.
Tzinah Records: Please, briefly, describe for us, the current state of the underground music scene in the place you come from. Is it any good?
Tito Mazzetta: Here in Atlanta, we have a rich scene that is constantly growing. There are many people pushing different spectrums of underground music properly in the Atlanta area and I always try to support as many different groups who are passionate about music and the artistry of it.
A couple years ago, Atlanta was more of a desert with just a couple things going on during the weekend. Now there are a lot of options with international artist being booked multiple times a week in different venus from a variety promoters/parties. Locally there many talented DJs and producers from all spectrums of styles and the harmony between everyone is starting to grow nicely. There is definitely something special starting to happen here and it’s exciting to be part of the cities growth in this area.
Tzinah Records: Without giving out too much about your secret weapons, please tell us how does the magic work in your production routine. Software? Analog? What does your DJ set-up imply?
Tito Mazzetta: My Production routine is very aimless and structured at the same time. It has taken more than 12 years to get these processes going but now it feels like something tangible. Since money has always been a limiting factor i have had to do most things inside the box (software and ableton). I use various VST plug-ins (Soundtoys are my favorite) to create that illusion of three dimensional and organic analog feel. I always seek to create something that is unique and otherworldly to myself. I will go in a overdub type fashion into most elements and live automate different parameters to give that natural improvised feel to things. For me creation and my extensive quasi-superfluous process is a healing therapy. I become 100% emotionally permeable and let the process take over. It always starts out as a jam session and then i see where it takes me in an exploratory flow. I often use a field recorder to get sounds of nature or from random objects and see how i can turn them into something different. Once i get some interesting type of sound then the overall picture starts to form in my head but even then it may go somewhere completely different. I allow myself to be a slave to the process and where it takes me. A parallel between digging and making is the complete state of vulnerability, I allow myself to be in, to either absorb a songs essence or create my own. My DJ setup is usually cdjs and turntables. My sets mold depending on the space, energy, and vibe of the moment. I might have a direction but it can veer off depending on what i feel from the outside in. I love to make people dance all the while seeing how far i can take them down the rabbit hole.
Tzinah Records: What are the aspects of your daily life that are influencing the shape and sound of the music that you currently make?
Tito Mazzetta: Nature and all aspects of life have always influenced the shape and sound of the music I make. It is a sonic interpretation of emotions from a particular moment that is influenced by everything going on around me in my daily life from serene bliss, despair, love, family dramas, joy, sadness, insecurities, and existential pondering.
Tzinah Records: Which underground house DJ or producer would you love to take out for a summer picnic? With which artist (from any music genre) would you spend 24 hours stuck in an elevator?
Tito Mazzetta: Hmm this a hard one but I would love to take Olga Karool out for a summer picnic. On an elevator it is probably easier to answer who I wouldn’t want to be stuck with but if I had to choose right now it would probably be Melodie just because I have met him before and he seems like a tranquil and calm enough person to be stuck with for 24 hours.
Tzinah Records: Have you already played in your most-dreamed about venue? Which one is that?
Tito Mazzetta: Yes! I had the honor of playing at the Electric Pickle in Miami a couple of times and those nights were all very special to me.
Tzinah Records: What motivates you to be an active part of the underground movement?
Tito Mazzetta: What motivates me the most is trying to create a synergy through bringing creative and beautiful people together to form a unified mode of expression. It is that process – coupled with the discovery and creation of depth and texture – that really motivates me. Something that makes people feel as if they are escaping … or coming closing to what they are searching for, a feeling that they won’t get anywhere else. I feel that people’s perceptions have the opportunity to be elevated and even grow from experiences like that. I even believe it can help society as a whole. For me, music is about constantly chasing that mystical moment of enlightenment. That is what motivates me and why I love being an active part of underground culture.
Tzinah Records: What’s your favorite type of breakfast?
Tito Mazzetta: A simple panino with prosciutto crudo and maybe some mozzarella di bufala.
Tzinah Records: What do you do when the music is not playing?
Tito Mazzetta: That’s a very rare part of the day for me but – when I’m not, I love to spend time in nature, hang out with friends and family and play soccer.
Tzinah Records: What’s the story behind your Tzinah Family Podcast? How did you record it and are there released or unreleased tracks?
Tito Mazzetta: I have to work on playing my own music in DJ sets. It has always been a way for me to show a perspective of a certain mood or moods in the most relevant and personal way possible. I recorded this live through cdjs at home. This was my first take and I think that is always the best way to go (unless it goes very badly). Like life things are not perfect and once you can accept that you can really be happy. In the Tzinah Family podcast I try to tell a centered story in the realm of ethereal, atmospheric, cosmic and euphoric types of minimal to put listeners in a slowly throttled dream like state.
Tzinah Records: Are there any of your plans/upcoming projects that you would like to share with us? Where can we see you play next?
Tito Mazzetta: For right now, I have been working tirelessly on many projects. I currently have 21 tracks that I have finished and am hoping to find homes for soon but all in good time. I have some individual tracks coming out on various V/A’s on RAZOM, Soblazn and local label VLSC Records. I am always playing here in the city at different parties showing different sides of myself. I am hoping in 2019 that i will be able to book some gigs overseas.
Tzinah Records: Supposing you come back reading this interview in 10 years from now; could you try saying something to your future-self?
Tito Mazzetta: Keep going, don’t lose focus, and never give up.