Luca Mascolo, dj of Italian origin living in Switzerland and member of the Fantastic Friends Recordings label. Since his youngest age Luca has been passionate about music and hip hop dance, breakdance, around 20 years old he discovered electronic music, a universe which charms him and which he falls in love with, he mixes with the nightlife and likes to go to clubs like going to festivals until the day a friend suggested he learn how to mix and then he fell in love! shortly after he joined the Fantastic Friends label where he discovered minimal, micro house, he found his way by listening to Mihai Pol, Swoy, Ricardo Villalobos and many others. Since Luca evolves he has the opportunity to play at first in bars in his city, later he is called to play in clubs like D! Club, Folklor where AUDIO. He proved himself and since then he has toured in Switzerland, Germany, Portugal, Serbia, Italy… Luca is appreciated for these sharp, groovy and punchy sets with catchy melodies.
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Tzinah: To start with, please, recommend us something to listen to while we go through this interview. It can be anything.
Luca Mascolo: Moby – in this world
Tzinah: Could you remember when and where have you felt it for the first time that you were to become a music artist?
Luca Mascolo: I started dancing at 5 years old until I was 18 (breakdance, hip hop) I have always been in the world of music, it was a bit successful for me but above all nourished by good times that’s the most important thing
Tzinah: 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?
Luca Mascolo: I discovered electronic music at the age of 21 and at the beginning I experienced evenings with Berlin techno, then I discovered tech house, I was a big fan of Marco Carola and little by little I discovered micro house, minimal rominimal by joining the label Fantastic Friends Recordings and that’s when I knew that this was the music that made me vibrate
Tzinah: Please, briefly, describe for us, the current state of the underground music scene in the place you come from. Is it any good?
Luca Mascolo: I live in Switzerland and I would say that it depends on the region but in general things are going well we have good clubs which bring in very good artists
Tzinah: 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?
Luca Mascolo: I work on construction sites, so I listen to music between 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. I put on sets from labels that I like, as soon as I like a track I try to get it on bandcamp or something else, YouTube helps me a lot to find my happiness and during the week I go down to my studio to knit something
Tzinah: What are the aspects of your daily life that are influencing the shape and sound of the music that you currently make?
Luca Mascolo: I don’t have much that influences me, it’s the music that I like to make in good times and bad, I ignore external events
Tzinah: 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?
Luca Mascolo: I have several, for a picnic I will say Primarie, Silat Beksi or even CAP and in the elevator I will say Ricardo Villalobos
Tzinah: Have you already played in your most-dreamed about venue? Which one is that?
Luca Mascolo: one of my dreams was realized this year by playing at the Caprice Festival, there are a lot of scenes that I dream of doing. Only the future will tell us
Tzinah: What motivates you to be an active part of the underground movement?
Luca Mascolo: I like this movement, it gives me a lot between the contacts, the discoveries of other countries, clubs, festivals. I am a sociable person and that brings me a lot of happiness
Tzinah: What’s your favorite type of breakfast?
Luca Mascolo: coffee, croissant and music
Tzinah: What do you do when the music is not playing?
Luca Mascolo: when the music is not playing I enjoy being with my family, resting to be in good shape when she returns
Tzinah: What’s the story behind your Tzinah Family Podcast? How did you record it and are there released or unreleased tracks? Are there any of your plans/upcoming projects that you would like to share with us? Where can we see you play next?
Luca Mascolo: my real favorite was at the Tzinah Party at the Golden Gate in Berlin where I was lulled by tracks, each crazier than the other, for me it was really great! When I got home I listened to almost all the podcasts on the Tzinah YouTube channel and the idea of asking to be able to do a podcast came to me because for me it’s a real honor. Yes there are plans to bring Primarie thanks to Nicolas Duvoisin. For my part, I am in the process of setting up a few small residencies in small clubs and subsequently I would very much like to organize meetings where I will bring members of the Tzinah team and also be invited by them to share a good musical moment and user-friendly
Tzinah: Supposing you come back reading this interview in 10 years from now; could you try saying something to your future-self?
Luca Mascolo: you have come a long way, you can be proud of yourself