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ReCorpo [Interview]

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ReCorpo's project consists in the creation of sound impulses, which represent the mood of the artist himself, represented by the careful research of electronic and ambient sounds, which in turn intertwine with each other, creating melodic compositions. Recently, ReCorpo's music is in great demand, especially in collaborations and remixes. Currently ReCorpo already collaborates with labels, such as: ICONYC / Noir, Univack, Suprematic, 3rd Avenue, Polyptych, Host, Astral, Tächno, Nova Collective. The repertoire includes collaboration with artists, such as: SOMMA (Selected.), Allies for Everyone (ICONYC), Rich Vom Dorf (Tächno), Messeir, Reboq and more. We had a chance to catch up with ReCorpo following a remix for Polyptych Noir. Enjoy!

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

Hello everybody. The mood is always combative and creative. I'm always happy because I'm always looking for melodies that make me feel good, melodies that represent my creativity and towards which my way of creating music is directed.

Lately I have been listening to a dozen songs on repeat because in my opinion they are real works of art, but in particular I would like to emphasize three tracks from the YION label: 1 Peer Kusiv, Felix Raphael - Hold You; 2 Johanson, Yannek Maunz - Vertigo (Fabian Sprungk Remix); 3 Felix Raphael - Colors (BONDI Remix).

How’s your year been so far? And what are your plans for the coming week?

The life of the new "ReCorpo" project started in November 2021, so we are talking about a few months of musical activity, and these 4/5 months have been more than fantastic. In 5 months I released 12 EPs (between original tracks and remixes) and 4 EPs of these appeared in Beatport's TOP 100 Hype Melodic House & Techno and Traxsource's TOP 100 Progressive House and in 8 different charts supported by Beatport, Traxsource and Proton .

For the plan for the coming week is always only one, improve the quality and sound design.

Do you consider yourself a DJ or producer first? And which do you enjoy more and why?

First of all I am a producer; I always want to spend time playing with VST's, creating sounds, creating rhythms ... I never get tired. I also DJed a long time ago, when I had just met the world of electronic music in 2009/2010, and believe me, I would love to play my music to the public.

Do you think growing up in Italy had any effect on your career path into music? And if so how?

Certainly. It is precisely the culture of love for electronic music here in Italy that brought me closer to it.

Italy is one of those places where the novelties of music arrive earlier than, for example, the place where I was born and raised up to 13 years, that is in Siberia, there are more conservative and many genres are not understood. Italy is beautiful because there is freedom of thought and therefore this freedom gives rise to particular ideas of artists, and this is precisely what is the foundation of beauty.

What are some of your best memories from first going to clubs? Were there specific nights or sets that really made you feel you wanted to pursue electronic music?

One of many events, and perhaps the strongest, is the event of Lucio Aquilina in Pomigliano, a provincial city of Naples, when Lucio was still playing the Minimal House genre (in our territory we called him that). But in reality, the primary person who integrated my desire to make music was Gennaro Giamundo alias "Genny G", at the time if I'm not mistaken he was the resident of the Neapolitan group Angels of Love.

In short, the story is this: I worked in a bar as a coffee bearer, and Genny had an engraving workshop of his in front of the bar where I work, and many times, when I brought him coffee, I felt it while he made the music.

What have been some of your favourite venues to perform or attend events at in Italy?

Almost every weekend from 2010 until 2012 I played in a local "IPANEMA" in Somma Vesuviana, province of Naples. Another very important place for me was a "UMR" radio show, where I could play the genre that is now known as "PEAK TIME TECHNO".

Instead, one particular event that I will never forget as a listener and not as a DJ was the "Resonance" Festival which lasted 24 in 2011 - it was fantastic.

You previously released music under the VayFlor alias until recently. What prompted you to change the name and does your sound differ at all under ReCorpo?

Well, for me ReCorpo is the result of all my previous mistakes concerning music. Alias ReCorpo was born because all along the music path with alias VayFlor I always perceive non-satisfaction, something was missing in my music, the npn tracks sounded as I really wanted because I have never studied music and I made the tracks without basic knowledge, without taking into account the minimum rules of music. The final push to change everything concerning my musical career was the chat with an artist (I can't say his name because I don't have authorization, but he's one he releases with "Afterlife Records"), who after listening to my musica gave me some advice to be able to take my business to a more professional step. For this I decide to stop for 4 or 5 months, during which I worked on the quality of the sounds, on the sound design, the graphics of the posts on social networks (thanks to my graphic designer Roman Almazov etc ...). They were the hardest months but at the same time the most beautiful because I had a goal, I had a dream, to really become a quality artist and above all to have my quality music heard. Even with ReCorpo, today, I am always in that phase of research and improvement, but already with better criteria than the "VayFlor" project.

Furthermore, I think that the result of these errors today is of excellent quality because in 5 months I managed to sign EPs with labels, such as: ICONYC,

Suprematic, Univack, Nova Collective / 3rd Avenue / Astral / Polyptych / Host and others ... ; and I have already collaborated and made remixes for artists, such as: SOMMA (Selected.), Allies for Everyone (ICONYC), Rich Vom Dorf (Tächno), Messeir, Reboq etc ...

Coming soon Ep’s on Mango Alley, YION, Bull In A China Shop…

Melodic House & Techno is a relatively new classification of electronic music. It seemed to come from somewhat darker beginnings but has now blossomed into a very musical genre with a lot of the current trends falling back to Trance music in a way. What do you think about the evolution of the genre and how do you feel about where it sits today?

For me in the definition "Melodic House & Techno" the fundamental word first of all is Melodic. I divide this definition of the genus into two parts; the first part, as I said before, is melodic, where the music that I listen to and that creates must have many melodies and atmosphere, and when I talk about melodies I mean more notes or chords, so that the music creates the true sense of beauty when you switch from one note or tune to another, when the minor waves give you a little bit of that melancholy sense (I can't stand the tracks that are created on a single chord or note); the second part is House & Techno that is the kick of a light and straight sound and not a break beat.

As far as the evolution of this genre is concerned: I am not so wise, but I can say that over the year’s artists learn more and more the tools to realize their ideas, and that in the long run this will create an even more melodic change. The more you learn, the more you progress on the subject.

You have a new remix out now via Polyptych Noir, tell us about the mix and how it showcases your sound.

When I received the request from the Polyptych Noir label to remix the track "Page" by Brando (US), after listening to the original I immediately answered yes because I really liked the groove created in the track and also other sounds. I immediately came up with ideas to create for the remix. I perceived from the original track the motifs that she lacked, in my opinion, that is, the Asian motifs. I also gave the track more atmosphere with pads and leads.

Walk us through your production process on one of your tracks, whichever you think is more interesting.

I think one of the most interesting tracks already released is "Reflection (Original mix)" released with the Nova Collective label.

I state that I am a fan of musical elements, such as Stephan Bodzin's leads, pads, keys, and when I started making the track "Reflection" I was really overloaded with Bodzin's music. It was an experiment, the first test experiment of Bodzin-style bass making.

The process of creation, on the other hand, is very complex and long, I couldn't explain everything in a few lines. First of all the choice of sounds, from kick to HiHats, from Claps to Rims (I use many of them to create percussive games too), and obviously also the regulation of all these sounds. Then we move on to the creation of sounds in VST, leads, pads, plucks, bass etc ...

As soon as I have a good amount of sounds, I start experimenting with creating the melodies and gradually building the track. In short, I almost never have ideas already formed in my mind, it is a rare thing for me, I rather create step by step, adding elements as I write the track.

Every now and then I go live while I produce my music on the YouTube channel (ReCorpo), so if anyone interested can check it out.

What does your set-up like? Do you favor physical gear over digital? And what studio tools featured heavily in the writing of your recent releases?

For now my so-called "studio" is very small. Among the fundamental things for the creation are: the Focusrite sound card, the headphones, I have the Beyerdynamic DT 990/880/770 series which allow me to maximum hear "noise disturbances" and improve my sound, a NEKTAR keyboard at 49 keys and a MidiMix controller.

For now almost everything is done with VST, but in the future I will expand my studio with analog instruments. The first will be Korg Minilogue and Sub37.

Polyptych is a label you’ve worked with one before in March of this year, what makes the label a good home for you music?

For me, professionalism and courtesy are in the first place.

Surely in this context it also has the value of the label itself, that is its position in the music market (I mean Beatport). I am also looking for that label that also gives visibility to my productions. I care that my music is heard, and I think every artist cares about that.

When I start collaborating with a label I also try to participate not only with the original tracks but also by doing the remixes.

Generally speaking, do you find it more difficult to come up with original tracks than remixing a track from another artist?

It is more difficult for me to create an original track from 0. For me to make a remix is easier because roughly the main idea already exists, and as a remixer I just have to "embellish" with my elements. Sometimes, however, it happens that the remix made has almost no resemblance to the original track.

What’s the task you enjoy the most when producing and what is something you’d rather have taken care of by somebody else?

Well, surely it is that of sound design, the creation of sounds and melodies and integration of these in the track. The thing I hate the most is mastering, in fact the labels take care of this.

What’s a piece of gear or software that always gets used when you’re writing a track?

I work mainly in FL Studio, but sometimes also in Ableton.

Among the VSTs I always use to create sounds are: Diva, Pigments, Mini V3, Oxium, Serum, various piano plugins for Kontakt and various plugins for Kontakt that allow me to create atmospheric FX.

How much road testing or 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?

The track is ready when I decide. In our life we cannot satisfy everyone because everyone has their own way of living, thinking, understanding and above all everyone has their own taste. So I get lots of positive and negative feedback, with lots of advice or preferences. Of course I take into consideration everything that is told to me and I keep it in mind when I make the track, and I always thank the fans and friends or those people who give me feedback, but I think that on the other hand every artist has to express their inner world and not that of others.

Among the people I can name the few who give me enormous feedback are: all ICONYC family, Rich Vom Dorf, Messier, Paul Anthonee, Mango, about: river, D-Nox, Nova Collective, Madloch, Integral Bread, Michon, Spieltape, Mark Tarmonea, Luna Semara ...

If you could set up an event with a line-up of five artists of your choice, who would you book and what set times would you ascribe to the artists?

  • Yannek Maunz
  • Mark Tarmonea
  • Felix Raphael
  • Stephan Bodzin
  • Howling

This is an ideal line-up for me.

What would be a musical extravagance for your studio you would pay for, if you were very wealthy?

I always try to spend money with a serious criterion by buying only useful and necessary things.

What’s a book you’ve read or film you watched that has left an impact on you, and why?

If we always want to stay in the musical context, then Stephen Herek's 2001 film "Rock Star" of the year. The plot of the film (said in a very coarse way) is a perfect example of how difficult it is for a simple artist to achieve goals in the music market.

What’s a superpower you wish you had and how would you use it?

Immortality. I would have time to learn how to really play the piano.

If you could travel anywhere for one day, all laws and limitations void, where would it be?

I do not know. I live in Italy, in a country that has a place of indescribable beauty. Places that I recommend to everyone. But, maybe I would go to the Caribbean.

In your opinion, what’s the biggest risk you’ve taken and what made you do it?

As I have already said, that first of all I think and then I do. So all choices are well thought out.

Apart from music, what makes you happiest?

Great mood of my loved ones, good sunny weather, and spending time with my second half.

What does the remainder of 2022 hold for you? Anything you can share with us?

As I said earlier, my music with the new alias "ReCorpo" is constantly growing. Already 4 EPs have been in the TOP 100 Hype Melodic House & Techno charts by Beatport and TOP 100 Progressive House by Traxsource, and supported in the charts by Beatport, Traxsource and Proton. Soon there will be other releases of both EPs with original tracks and remixes, with labels, such as: Mango Alley, ICONYC Noir, YION, Bull In A China Shop etc ... I will continue to work on the quality of my music and on the design.

I hope that my music will be heard more and more and that I will be able to have fun with it more and more.

Also, for the summer my first video dj set for YouTube will be released, where I will play my live music.

ReCorpo's remix of Brando (US) for Polyptych Noir is available now: https://bit.ly/3rI8Ypr

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