Paco S Less [Interview]

Paco S less, anagram composed by Pasquale Seguino. He, an Italian DJ and producer, is constantly evolving and looking for innovative sounds and vibrant waves for his tracks which, so far, have attracted the attention of many gurus of the Melodic Techno scene such as Erly Tepshi (black rose & Befree records) - Monophase IT (impressum & Afterlife), Aquadro (Revelation), and Tale Of Us, who supported him in two world events, such as Tomorrowland and Awekenings with the song "Watanka".

Paco began his production journey moving from small labels to the most important ones, such as DOA, Aida Records, Awen Records, Revelation Label, Sueslide, Outer Space Oasis, Lelantus, Superordinate Music and Wout Records. He participated in festivals such as the Decibel Open Air (Florence), opening the dance at the Zamna Stage and later at the Monsterland in Ferrara (Italy). Furthermore, in 2024 he ranked 2nd in the Techno Egypt competition and has released more than 25 songs including singles and remixes.

This week finds Paco making his debut on Wout Records with a well-received two-track shwocase 'Temperatura'. Progressive Astronaut caught up with Paco to learn more about the release of 'Temperatura', growing up in Italy, DJing and much more. Enjoy!

Hi Pasquale, thanks for talking to us today. Now that we’re into the second month of 2025, how has the year started for you?

Thank you for the opportunity. 2025 has started off quite well musically speaking — I’ve had two releases and a VA, all three of which made it into the Beatport charts and therefore also into Beatstats. That gave me a great energy boost at the beginning of the year.

Let’s look back on 2024, what gig of yours has stood out the most and why?

Well, 2024 was entirely dedicated to music production. I had moved to a new region, so I had to start everything over again from scratch.

Now let’s look at tracks, what is a track or tracks which have come out this year that has impressed you the most and why?

If we’re talking about tracks by other artists, I’d have a hard time choosing. But if we’re talking about my own and just in 2025, I’d definitely highlight the album Temperatura for two simple reasons: first, Temperatura entered the charts and stayed there for 23 days. Second, the track I'm Not Giving Up was featured for a month in David Guetta's playlist.

What is a song/track you’ve never stopped listening to since childhood? And why has it stuck with you this long?

One of the songs I started listening to as a kid — and still do to this day — is

Neverending Story by Limahl. There are certainly others, but this one is iconic for me. It was the soundtrack to a legendary movie, and its sound still feels current today. It’s a source of inspiration, even now, whether for indie dance, melodic techno, electro and beyond.

How did your early years growing up in Italy affect your music taste and direction into becoming a DJ and producer?

Since the age of 10 — so, the early '90s, specifically 1994 — I started listening to radio and TV charts, especially genres popular in Italy at the time like house music, progressive, and dance. Of course, I didn’t really understand much yet, but I was already drawn to the energy and the need to move. Around 12, I started buying vinyls with a group of school friends. The very first one was Around The World by Daft Punk. The B-side track Teachers blew my mind with how weird and wild it was.

Who from your country inspired you the most early on and why were they inspirational for you?

Italy has had so many artists who've carried our sound to the world. When I was starting out, I was inspired by Claudio Coccoluto, Joe T. Vannelli, Gigi D'Agostino (for dance music), and for progressive sounds I really liked Mario Più, Mauro Picotto, and Francesco Zappalà. If we talk about current names, the list would be very long.

What are some of your best memories from first going to clubs?

One of the most memorable and significant moments was when I was working with an event team and one night, the DJ didn’t show up. They gave me the chance to play — no setlist, not even my own records. It was wild. All the adults in the booth were watching this 15-year-old seamlessly mix track after track. In my head I kept repeating, “This is my chance, don’t mess it up.” From that night on, I became the resident DJ for that club.

What was your early learning process like? And what advice would you have for new producers just starting out?

I don’t feel it’s my place to tell emerging DJs what they should do, because everyone’s path is personal. But I can say what not to do: don’t get into this just because it looks cool or for fame. Music should be a passion. If you love it, don’t expect anything in return. Like a love story — if it’s mutual, something will happen. And even if it doesn’t, you’ve done it with heart. Also: don’t get discouraged by criticism or a lack of results.

What other moments besides Tale Of Us support have helped propel your career?

Yes, I remember that day perfectly. I received a video from Dubai — I didn’t believe it at first, but then I saw it on YouTube and cried with emotion. Thousands of people were jumping to my track at Tomorrowland. That was unreal. I’ve also been supported by Amare, Erly Tepshi, Monophase, Kevin De Vries, Stone Van Brooken, Aquadro, Toto Chiavetta and more.

You have a new EP ‘Temperatura’ out now via Wout Records. Tell us about it. Temperatura was a great release. We had strong results, and the idea of creating something Latin, sung in Spanish, had been in the works for over a year. It turned out to be a great idea.

Which track gets the biggest reaction in your sets?

Watanka still gets an amazing reaction, especially since Tale Of Us supported it. Also, two of my free remixes — Losing My Religion by R.E.M. and Like a Stone by Audioslave — have had great feedback.

Tell us about your studio setup.

My studio is humble. I mostly work ITB, but I do have a few keyboards and external synths that I rotate. I always use Serum, Diva, Hive, Analog, Operator, Vital, Nexus5 — and I’m a loyal Ableton user.

This is your first release with Wout — how did you discover the label?

I’ve always admired Wout for its quality and dark identity. In fact, we’re already preparing another release together.

Do you play often around Italy? And how do you approach DJing?

In 2024 I was focused purely on production, but we’ll be announcing summer 2025 dates soon. I like to prepare a setlist, but reading the crowd is everything. I’m ready to change the whole set based on the vibe — and that’s the magic of DJing.

What have been some of the hardest parts of your journey?

Carving out your place in this industry is tough — so much competition, and many DJs aren’t really DJs. It hurts real artists who spend hours in the studio. Plus, in Italy, venues often expect you to bring your own crowd — that’s not valuing the artist, that’s just business.

What does DJing offer you that producing doesn’t?

Music is art and expression. Every set is different, every crowd is different. That’s where the energy happens. It’s always emotional and never the same.

Has DJing changed how you listen to or produce music?

Absolutely. After doing producer training, I stopped listening like a fan and started analyzing. I now listen with structure, metric and form in mind — which helps me work better both alone and in collaboration.

Top five tracks in your sets right now?

Temperatura, Undercloud, Rock in Bando, Watanka, and Obscure.

If you’re not in the studio or DJing, what are you doing?

Haha — probably still working on music. I’ll be producing till the day I die.

Line-up of your dream event (5 artists)?

Not in order of importance, just for vibe: WhoMadeWho, RÜFÜS DU SOL, Massano, Kevin De Vries, and Enrico Sangiuliano.

What would you do if you weren’t a DJ/producer?

I honestly can’t imagine myself without music.

What’s something people don’t know about you?

Maybe that I wish I could share everything I feel inside with the world — but that’s not so easy to do.

What TV shows do you love?

Money Heist, Stranger Things, and From.

Aside from music, what brings you happiness?

The love of the people close to me, respect for others, and living — and helping others live — peacefully. That’s all I need.

What’s coming up next for you?

We’re working on another release with Wout and planning some collaborations with artists from other countries and continents.

'Temperatura' is available now via Wout Records: https://tinyurl.com/58dccrze