Interview: Reboq

As the winter season draws closer, Polyptych welcomes Reboq to the label for his debut EP. Based in the north east of Italy, Enrico Trevis aka Reboq has been involved in house and techno for over a decade. 2009 marked his production debut where he operated under a variety of monikers, earning support from world class DJs such as Roger Sanchez, until 2019 saw the birth of Reboq. With a focus on melodic house and techno, Enrico has compiled an impressive catalog for Reboq, ultimately leading to his Polyptych debut ‘Masked Feelings’. We had a chance to catch with Reboq for an exclusive interview just prior to the release. Enjoy.

Hello Enrico, thanks for joining us. What is your current mood and what was the last piece of music you listened to?

Hello guys and thanks a lot for the great opportunity! Actually im in a dreaming mood, chilling with a beer and listening Analogy by Stephan Jolk.

What are your plans for the coming week?

Next week will be focused on fixing some tracks im working on, from single sound to general perception of it, promoting my last release and searching something special tracks for an upcoming podcast im preparing.

Talk to us about growing up and living in Italy, how has it affected your musical taste and the music you make?

Italy is a bit weird about music. In the last 20 years we have suffered the closure of many small clubs, where however it was much easier to create musical movements or anticipate new trends. Those who remained were and are so great that they need to follow trends in order to survive with dignity, to the detriment of the musical proposal. Despite everything, however, we live quite well. We have beautiful locations that allow you to completely recharge, especially in an atypical period like the one we are all going through.

You’ve been DJing all around Italy for the last decade roughly. What are your favourites venues to play or attend an event at in Italy and why?

I find it very rewarding and engaging to perform in small clubs, because in any case it is closer to the dancefloor and to the people dancing on the tracks I'm playing. I can catch the eyes of the people to understand his feelings. Infact in my DJ sets I always try to create an ever-changing musical wave, starting from soft tracks and then rising with the rhythm. Unfortunately my favorite clubs are almost all closed, and those few left have moved on to a musical proposal that is not for me. Despite all my dream remains to be able to perform even for just one hour in a festival.

Can you name five tracks that were important in your musical development and why they are so significant for you?

before answering you I would like to give you this little introduction: my musical influences are many, starting from the house music of the early 90s. The nuances and musical evolutions of that period allowed me to broaden my personal perception of music, which is more and more in-depth up to the current level, having said that, here are the 5 tracks that have particularly marked me and that I will always carry with me:

Uriah Heep - Rain
Perplexer - ACID FOLK
The Prodigy - Smack My Bitch Up
Reboot - Caminando
Stephan Bodzin - Wir

You have a new EP out this week on Polyptych which contains two gorgeous vocal cuts. Tell us a bit about the release and who did the vocals?

first of all I would like to thank the Polyptych team for having believed in me and in Masked Feelings EP. I started working on it in December 2019. In reality neither of the two tracks contained the vocal. Everything started after buying a vst that emulated the legendary moog little phatty; after reaching the sound Im looking for, I created the bass line where i built everything else like a dress, always with the same instrument. Then I added some fresh sounds using other vst. I was so excited about the first track that the second came by itself in exactly the same way. However, that added value was always missing and I found it almost by chance in an old vocal folder. I selected the two that seemed to me more sensible, deep and touching, slightly modified in tonality but faithful to the original, as a tribute to the singer for the magic vocal harmonies, but whose identity I still don't know.

Was there anything which inspired you to write these particular tracks? And where does your inspiration come from generally?

I always had a melodic soul but as producer never made it to emerge. Then one day I finally found the courage to bring it out, even if I would have to close the musical journey I had done previously, getting back into the game and starting completely from zero. There is a little piece of heaven where often I go since many years. To convince myself and reflect on all the difficulties that I could find in this new path, I went there for a few days, and on my return I start to work, first on the Reboq project, and then on the tracks that later i sent to the labels. I usually take inspiration from silence and nature, isolated place and from some glass of red wine.

Why did Polyptych feel like the right place to release them?

I chose Polyptych because it has a very broad interpretation of the music. It is not static, each release has its own soul and the label have an high reputation. The projects are of great quality and all differ in style and interpretation. A continuous surprise. It's a great honor for me to join their rooster.

What’s a piece of gear or software that always gets used when you’re writing a track? And what featured heavily on your Polyptych release?

Well , for sure my Little one (emulator of moog littlephatty) where you can listen as well in both tracks , as bassline , pads plucks and obviously, lead synth behind the vocals.

How much friend feedback is done before you’re ready to say a track is finished? And who is someone you share your new music with first for feedback?

Depends by the song, or by the track. this because personally the two categories are quite distinct. On the market we find a lot of music; a good part of it takes up styles, sounds and metrics that after a while become boring, and after listening to them even for just a month they are no longer requested. The songs instead remain for much longer. I have 3 people to whom I send my productions. All with different perceptions and interpretations and every time they give me excellent suggestions without too many technicalities, respecting the original concept. The first person I send my tracks is the DJ / producer but first of all , a very close friend, Diego Broggio, winner of a gold and a platinum record in 2001 with the song Point Of View, by Db Boulevard

How have you been dealing with COVID-19? Your country was hit very hard early on in the pandemic. How are things now?

Im having a light approach . I'm wearing mask and wash hands where requested if I need to go somewhere. I'm trying to keep my mind free from negative vibes. Some regions of Italy are still in trouble but the general situations is improving day by day.

What is something you do now (regularly) that you did not before COVID-19?

AHAHAH! For sure washing my hands with something different from common soap.

Once nightlife eventually resumes globally what kind of effect do you think this period in our history will have on the clubbing experience?

I'm pretty sure on that : the peoples want music. The peoples need music. The peoples needs party together. I think, once everything about covid will disappear, there will be a big reprise for the clubbing scene. Just like a cannonball.

How do you see yourself evolving as an artist in the coming years?

I've always been cautious about this. I always keep a low profile and put the music first of all. Research, perseverance, commitment and a good dose of luck are necessary in a world that runs faster and faster every day '. My goal is to improve myself more and more, and maybe be able to bring my vision of music around the world.

Is there a movie you would have loved to have produced the soundtrack for? And if so why?

YES..Matrix, the entire saga. the whole movies are a mix of slow and fast scenes, dreamy and never vulgar, which basically have balance, love and harmony in every details.

What have been some of your favourite tracks over the quarantine period?

Ben Böhmer feat. Jonah - Hunting
&ME, Rampa, Adam Port - Muyè (Black Coffee Remix)
Tone Depth, HOSH - Express
Monolink - Return to Oz (Artbat Remix)

What is your favourite food?

Pasta obviously and I love Cheese , especially with honey

Iphone or Android?

I had 3 Iphone and from mid 2019 I'm still testing Android

What does the remainder of 2020 and early 2021 hold for you? Anything you can share with us?

On early 2021 I will have a collaboration with Polyptych boss Mikhail Stulkov on a single track I did where I propose him to make a remix version, then I'm working on some new fresh vibe and I hope to close with another great label before the end of this strange 2020.

'Masked Feelings' is out now via Polyptych: https://bit.ly/3leoEuu