Alongside his qualitative contribution to the series, we sat down with the much intriguing Wrong Assessment to discuss the relationship between club culture and politics, arts and science, and to know more about his new label AWRY, and his experience in Beirut with the vellocet crew… Enjoy the read !
- Hi Marco, we are glad to host you on Paradox. What have you been up to lately?
Hi Paradox crew, glad to be part of your series.
Lately I worked on new music, I organized the ideas to start my own label, AWRY, and I moved to one of my favorite cities in Italy, Bologna.
- From your biography we learn you have a scientist background. Is it what pays the bills at the moment? Having a biological science background myself, would love to know what particular subject you are working on?
I graduated in physical therapy and I run my own studio in Milan half of the week. I’ve always been interested in Neuroscience, particularly during the last 5 years. I’m fascinated by the mind-body correlations, studied with a scientific method. That’s why I quote psycho-neuro-endocrino-immunology as my main influences.
- How far are Science and arts related for you?
I think creativity based on technical skills are the common ground for both fields: a different range of technical skills are needed but without inventiveness and originality it’s hard to bring your own touch to what you are doing, contributing to the growth process of a certain field.
- Only few artists have found their specific sound and we really think you’ve found your own… How would you describe your sound by the way? What gears/vst’s are the most important to reach this specificity?
Thanks, I’m trying my best to come up with the most original material I can make and I’m glad that it’s recognized. It’s very hard for me to describe my own sound actually. For sure the keywords deep, hypnotic and minimalistic could be a good way to describe my style.
My music is mostly software based. Ableton Live and the u-he, Arturia, Fabfilter and Waves plugins are a must in my studio. I mix everything on a TL Audio analogue mixer and I use some Boss, TC electronic and Vermona pedals on the send/return channels.
- What would be the most important thing that drives your creative process?
Surely the mindset is the most important thing. When you are completely dedicated to what you are doing things come out easier. Also limiting the number of tools used for a certain specific project helps me to work faster on coming up with an idea for a new track.
- Are you always satisfied when you listen back to your old released tracks or do you feel something could have been improved?
Not always, for sure, but fortunately I don’t have regrets for any of the tracks I released so far. There are always those things you would love to change listening to your old stuff but anyway every EP I released were part of a period of my life and I’m anyway proud of all of them.
“Club culture was always connected to politics.”
- You made your debut performance in Beirut/Lebanon few months ago. What did you think about that experience and how do you feel the crowd is reacting to Techno in this kind of emerging scenes, compared to European scenes?
It was a great journey, for sure one of the highlights of my brief career! I loved Beirut and the Lebanese people. I didn’t know it, but the club scene there is not that emerging, Beirut is kind of the Ibiza of the middle east. Speaking about the Vellocet crew, I found a solid group of passionate friends running the party with a true spirit. The crowd was very curious, interested and ready to listen to different things. I found a general link between how things are done in Europe and over there.
- You shared on your artist FB page a statement from Swedish artist Varg about his socio-political vision on the Electronic music scene. How far do you think music in general and electronics in particular has to be political related?
Club culture was always connected to politics. From the first movements in the warehouses in Chicago, the Underground Resistance and all the early Detroit affiliates, the UK acid house and rave culture.. the common ground for all of these movements was to protest against the power, the system and the conservative society, sending a general message of tolerance and unity. For sure things changed during these decades and I think there are different ways to be part of this “business” but I tend to not judge that much other people interpretations of it and follow my own path. For sure there are too many booming divas and greedy agencies but the scene is also filled with amazing people working hard to give something to the people who want to enjoy the pure essence of this scene.
We could speak for ages about Varg’s post on the RA Instagram page, the best thing is to link it here and give everyone something to think about 🙂
- Let’s talk about the Techno scene in Milan. What would be according to you the most influencial artists that has shaped the scene? Do you feel the scene there has developed a specific sound so far?
The techno scene in Milan isn’t that big. There are a lot of artists from abroad coming by every weekend but the organisations didn’t make a good job on pushing the local talents, so most of them moved to different cities.
For sure Max_M was a key figure and a point of reference for everybody who wanted to get closer to the genre in our city. Whoever had the chance to listen to his sets knows the charisma he transfers to the crowd. When Max was playing you was sure that you couldn’t listen anything boring.
- Any special venue you recommend in Milan?
Masada and Macao are the best places where to go where you most likely find cool music, nice people and good vibes in Milan.
Masada looks like a living room and the parties goes on from midday till midnight. I speak about the “Acquario” and “Closer” projects, which are more similar to the genre I follow and I’m interested to.
Macao is a breathtaking venue where the parties last till the early morning almost every weekend and you can find lots of interesting livesets and performances.
Now I’m living in Bologna and I have to quote the Timeshift crew, which are bringing to this city lots of amazing shows from pillars of the scene, like Surgeon, Oscar Mulero or Regis, just to name a few.
- Seems like you’re launching soon your own label AWRY. What are the main motivations of creating it and the concept behind it?
It’s been a while I wanted to start with my own label but recent events made it possible to become a real thing.
AWRY means “away from the usual or expected course, amiss”, which gives already the general concept behind of it. Also the first two letters are mirrored in the initials of my artist name (WA). Awry is also a synonym of “wrong”, so once I discovered the word it was pretty easy to keep it as the project name.
Basically it’s an electronic music label based in Milan, run by me. The label’s focus lies in the production of artists whose works are based on a common ground made of deepness, hypnosis and minimalism.
The aesthetic aspect is curated by Louis De Belle, a talented photographer with whom I share a certain passion for uncanny imagery.
The first release will be mine and it should come out the 3rd of November. I already signed Ruhig with a Sciahri rmx for the second release.
- Any plans for a live PA in the future?
I’m already working on it. I think it will come to life during 2018.
- How did you came out with this mix for Paradox?
I put some of unreleased tracks from me and from other friends, together with some of my favourite tracks who went out during the last months and some anthems. Hope you’ll enjoy!
- What kind of non electronic music do you listen to usually?
I listen to a lot of different genres. I’m in love with the Odd Future gang since a while now, Earl Sweatshirt on top of it. I listen to a lot of Italian songwriters from the past, like Lucio Dalla or Fabrizio De Andrè whose Lyrics still give me goosebumps after thousands of listens.
- What new artists/labels would you recommend to check out at the moment?
There are too many to mention, so I will tell some of the Italian friends who I know personally. I already mentioned Ruhig and Sciahri, who I believe are two of the best newcomers we have in our country. I always supported my friend Alfredo Mazzilli who is delivering amazing stuff being super young. I’m in love with the stuff Inner Lakes is doing also. He released his debut EP a while ago but I had the chance to listen his unreleased stuff and it’s great. He’s also running his own mix and mastering studio in Milan called “Tapewave”. Mentioning a label I’d say Midgar from Jacopo, both graphics and music are always amazing.
- Can you give us a glimpse about your future projects?
I have several solo EP’s, VA’s and remixes going to be released during the next months on Planet Rhythm, Clergy, Dynamic Reflection, Illegal Alien and the LA based imprint Ascetic Limited.
Thanks a lot Marco, we hope to see you very soon somewhere, keep the glitchy vibe on!
Love and respect
Thanks to you!