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Picotto Lovers. Great Interview. ***
Loads of info.... Great Read
http://www.clubplanet.com/content/popup/cover209a.asp
| quote: | "I don't feel scared of changing my music, nor my style. When it's time to change, I do it. Instead of wasting time thinking about what other people think, I concentrate on the creative side of music. I play what I like, not just a kind of music." --Mauro Picotto
If you don't already know about Italian DJ/producer Mauro Picotto, now's the time to get acquainted with this diversified, techno madman. He's known for his ruthless, devouring sets that get even the shyest wallflowers moving. There is no particular style that Mauro has; it ranges from trance to techno with climaxes that come back with intrepid cadences that hit you before you know it. Even Mixmag commented on Mauro's eclectic sound, "Melodic trance? Pah, Mauro spits on your melodic trance."
Landing a hot spot at #8 in DJ magazine didn't come by chance. Mauro was seen playing at renowned venues such as Twilo, Privilege, Gatecrasher, Space (Miami), Cream, Ministry of Sound, Godskitchen, Space (Ibiza) and Pacha. He’s been rocking festivals such as Godskitchen Global Gathering, Nature One, Dance Valley, Homelands, Berlin Love Parade, Sensation, Innercity, and Gatecrasher.
He's been nominated and won "Best International DJ" five times in the year 2001-2002. He won the titles at the Danish Dance Awards (two years in a row), Ericsson Swiss Dance Awards, BBM Irish Dance Awards, and the DJ Magazine Spanish Dance Awards. He also took over the show at the German Dance Awards and won Best Producer, Best Radio Hit and, once again, Best International DJ. He beat out well-respected DJs Carl Cox and Paul Van Dyk in the TMF awards in Holland.
Mauro is definitely a busy man. He had his hands full when he ran his own Pulsar night in the UK and toured globally. But now he's juggling a God’s Kitchen residency at Eden in Ibiza plus playing numerous summer festivals. Despite all the hectic touring, Mauro is taking some time out of his busy schedule before the year comes to an end to take care of his US audience in October.
CP: October’s tour is right around the corner, what does this tour entail and what are you looking to accomplish?
MP: The tour is a logical procession, I’ve done several mini tours of Canada and the US, incorporating clubs like Twilo, Giant, Space, Avalon, The Guvernment, Buzz, and so on. Normally I incorporate my US dates with South American parties. However I felt it was time to do a bigger US tour. We get a huge amount of e-mails from US fans and requests from US promoters but finding the time to honor them has been difficult due to my world-wide schedule. I see this tour as a launch pad to more regular tours and appearances in the US.
CP: America and the UK have different scenes surrounding clubbing. Do any of these differences have an impact on your style?
MP: My musical style generally remains the same irrespective of what country I’m playing in. Personally I think the US club scene has a better infrastructure than the UK. In the UK, the clubs are all segregated into musical genres with clubs promoting a singular style of music. The market is obviously smaller and this causes heavy competition and politics between the clubs. I’m sure there are cases of this in the US, but the crowd and clubs do seem more open-minded. For example a club in the US could have Timo Mass one week, me the next and Sasha the week after, this would never happen in the UK!
CP: Your style of music is very diverse, some call you a trance DJ and some call you techno. For the record please clarify what you see yourself as
MP: I don’t class myself as either, I prefer to call myself simply a DJ. I do prefer the techie sound but if I hear a good quality trance record then I’ll play it, no problems.
CP: In the studio you have help from Ricky Effe, who also is touring with you in October. What is his part in working with you?
MP: Ricky Effe is my studio engineer, I’ve worked with him for nearly seven years now. He is also a producer in his own right and has recently started doing his own live shows.
CP: New York awaits your return in October, as they haven't seen you for two years. Why wait so long between visits?
MP: Twilo was my first US club date, after its closure I had many offers from other clubs and promoters from NYC but I turned them all down. I waited until I found the right to club to return too. I feel the Arc is this club and I’m really excited about returning to NYC. Assuming it goes well I would like to return to NYC more often.
CP: Any US releases coming soon?
MP: To be honest I don’t have a US label at the moment. The company that was associated with BXR/ Media has gone bust but I don’t feel they were the right label for me anyway. I am currently working on a new album and will be talking to labels in the US about releasing it there.
CP: When you aren't touring what do you do in your personal time?
MP: Spending time with my daughter. I’m sorry, I know it’s not very Rock and Roll, but then I get enough of that when I’m on tour!
CP: Give us three words to describe yourself.
MP: Hmmm...Italian, determined and resourceful.
--D’Sanae
Email [email protected] for a chance to win one of 10 autographed CDs from Mauro Picotto's Live in Ibiza. |
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