With Lucas Rossi having new music out this week on Balkan Connection we catch up with him for the latest episode of 12 Questions.
1. How old are you, where are you living and how long have you been producing and Djing?
For starters, thank you very much for the invitation, Im 28 old, im from Cordoba (Argentina), im dj since 2011 and producer from 2012
2. Where do your musical roots lie, what are your first memories of electronic music and when did you know you wanted to pursue it seriously? Are there any particular productions or artists from the past that really made you think to yourself ‘this is what I want to do.”
Well, I think my first approaches to electronic music are in the 90’s listening to djs and producers like Mauro Picotto and Dj Dero who were very popular at that time, I also have memories of listening to John Aquaviva too, then I got to know other styles like house and trance, listening to Tiesto, Ferry Corsten among others and then evolve to the sound that characterizes me today that is progressive house, in 2005 heard for the first time one of my references of today that is Hernan Cattaneo And I loved it, from there I went deeper into that sound and I got to know a lot more.
As for if I wanted to follow him seriously … well, the truth is that I never thought it, at first it was like a hobby but when I started to produce and to have the support of important djs like Hernan, Nick Warren, Martin Garcia, Fernando Ferreyra among Others the situation became more serious, began to produce more to get to important labels, try to make me a place in the local electronic scene (which luckily and thanks to hard work today is a reality) and in a few years everything is was giving so that today is something “serious”.
I have many tracks and artists in my head that made me think that this is what I wanted to do, aside from the artists I named before, I can also mention Pryda, Henry Saiz, Marc Marzenit, Sasha and John Digweed as important pillars in my past, and now that I remember I think the sound of Pryda on tracks like Muranyi or Melo was the one that I finished catching to decide for this style of music.
3. How difficult was learning to produce for you in the beginning? Did you take any Audio Engineering programs or production courses to help you out or are you pretty much self taught? And did anyone give any advice early on that really helped?
At first it was very difficult, start alone, watching tutorials on the internet and from there spend hours and hours in my house sitting in front of the computer tried to do something, many times I was frustrated not being able to do it and did not use the program for 2 or 3 Weeks until new ideas came to me or I wanted to continue watching tutorials that for me were desperate (I’m not very patient in that sense) I always preferred to be self-taught (in my own way), I took some classes of musical production but in the end I ended up leaving them For personal time issues, so today I continue to explore the world of production alone.
With the passage of time I met many Argentine producers who gave me advice to be able to make more solid my tracks, the truth is that they are many, I do not name any for fear of forgetting some, they know well who they were and until the day today I am very grateful to them.
4. What parts of the production process do you find the most difficult and what comes easiest for you? When you do hit a creative block what helps you through it?
I think one of the most difficult parts for me is to create the bass line on a track, until today it’s the hardest thing for me, then there’s the mastering part that is also something that I do not get along with very well I’m still learning.
What I least cost when making a track is the basis of percussion, I like to create tracks that contain a delicate groove and some details to mishap.
It helps me to listen music, lots of music! I try sometimes to “copy” the percussive bases of a track but in turn try to give it my original touch.
5. What’s a normal day like for you? Do you have a job outside of electronic music? And what do you like to do when you’re not working on music?
Yes, I have an office job at a health company here in Cordoba. My days during the week are based on my work, 2 or 3 times a week I do physical activity and I also listen to all the music that comes to me and to be able to select for my next gigs and the radioshow. When I’m not with the music my family and friends are my choice always.
6. Apart from electronic music what other genres do you listen to and who are your favourite artists outside of electronic? and do these genres or artists have a direct effect on your own productions?
I really like the national and international rock like Pink Floyd, Radiohead, Coldplay, Pearl Jam, Luis Alberto Spinetta, Gustavo Cerati are some of my favorite artists. Of these artists I think the one that has had more relevance in some of my productions is Coldplay, their melodies are fantastic!
7. What was the first and last physical (CD, Vinyl, Cassette etc) piece of music you bought?
Well, one of the first cds i bought was “Hernan Cattaneo Renaissance the master series part 13 (2009)” and the last one was “Hernan Cattaneo Renaissance the master series part 17 (2012)”
8. Tell us something about yourself that might surprise people?
I was in a military high school for some years, it was by my own choice, a nice experience that left me many teachings
9. Which producers in your opinion get consistently overlooked?
I think that there are many producers that overlook, sometimes I get music from guys who are not known on the scene but what they do is very good, I think that those producers that are overlooked have to give them time, the time, will put them surely in a good place.
10. Which producers consistently inspire you? And where else does your inspiration come from?
Today my favorite producers are Guy J, Khen, Robert R. Hardy (just to name a few international) and national, I really like what does Nicolas Rada, Damian Mazzeo, Julian Rodriguez, Fernando Ferreyra, Artfaq, Guido Elordi, Sebastian Busto, German Angeleri, Mario Puccio, Maxi Iborquiza among others.
My inspiration comes from listening to a lot of music, it does not have to be electronic music particularly, for example Coldplay (as I said before) is a great inspiration for me.
11. There are countless producers out there trying to find their way and create their own unique sound, what advice do you have for them?
To take your time, I think that finding your own sound is one of the most difficult things there is. They should not be frustrated if something does not go well, listen music, can study or not, creativity is in oneself. Everything is a matter of time, he will guide you to the place indicated.
12. If the final DJ/live set of your career was next week what would your last track be?
My choice would be this.
Lucas’ remix of Marcelo Paladini ‘Blows of Life’ is out now on Balkan Connection, you can purchase the release: here
