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Welcome Riccardo, glad to have you on for a brief chat, and some questions about music.
What was the first thing that attracted you to the world of electronic music?
Back in the Summer of 1998, “Mezzanine” from Massive Attack, released a few months earlier, got my attention deeply. Despite, in the end, when for the first time I went in a music shop I bought the one released in the same year from the Verve, it always remained in my head. What a wrong, stupid decision not having bought it that day!
Do you remember any album or concert that has changed everything?
Honestly, there are so many things that is hard to named one. For sure, when I went to listen to Paul van Dyk, for the first time, at Cream, in Ibiza, in 2007, was unbelievable. As well as many italian djs from the early House scene like Flavio Vecchi, or Sasha, one of the founders of Progressive House genre. But also for the album, I have to name one: Sven Vath – An Accident in Paradise.
Back in 2006, I discovered rave scene from the 90s, and my first feeling was angry. Angry for been too young to attend it. The rave Techno, Trance and more from the 90s, especially from the first half, was unbelievable to me. The discovered was like a shock for me.
Since you got into this professionally, what helped you the most to grow as an artist?
Honestly? Patience.
Cause without it, many things couldn't happen. Seems a commonplace thing, but is always true.
For example: I run a label since 2014.
You have to do many different things linked with the business.
The way you understand the artists on your label. The way you talk to them. The way you teach, sometimes, how to interact with fans and crowd. Even like a parent, eventually.
How is the music scene in your city?
Italy, my country, never had a real scene, a real network for the music industry.
Milan, my hometown, for various reasons, some easy to explain, is the center of everything (except for few things where Rome is still the mainquarter) linked with the social life.
For sure, we got some clubs, festivals and artists very much renowed around the world (Tale of Us or Enrico Sangiuliano, to name a few). But everything has grown outside.
Lots of people from the circuit are very involved in politics, their approach is very active on it, sometimes like an activist, more than its real job.
For sure is good, is right to be involved, you see, for example, HOR, the radio from Berlin. But normally it is your choice, it is up to you.
In Italy is like a football match, you know? Everything's football match.
So you have to. So that's why there's not a real circuit, but many little, different reality.
And, another important thing:
italian industry is always been fascinated by the foreigner artists. More than italian ones. Few want to risk to support them. The brave are missing.
What are your favorite places to hang out in the city?
There is no one in particular, every place is good in a certain way.
To me there are few places that are more involved in what I do, like Circle Magnolia or, eventually, SAM - Sampling Moods, which is a place where will take place the next showcase of my own label on April.
They are a kind o laboratories for independent music scene (both electronic and other).
Have you had time to focus on making music, spending time with your family, or planning future projects during this past year of lockdowns?
That's a good question.
I had various occasions to make music, much more than previous years, but at the same time we lived a sort of "interlude" age, where you were able to do only few things, mostly what you do alone. So music it's been the biggest one. The more fixable. It's been a matter of balance (alone but with more time to do what you love most). It's been up to you.
How was your last project born?
I think many western people have no historical Memory
What do you want to convey in this work? What is the concept behind it?
This is an idea born to follow my previous work, back in 2018.
The first one was much more experimental, focused on CABALA, jewish myth and the ancestral concept of the oldest monotheistic religion still alive.
This second one is dedicated to the hystorical cristian community from Egypt, by many considered the real inhabitants: the Coptic.
Both were persecuted, both should be remembered, always, to raise awareness (egyptian in particular).
As for your studio, what is your setup currently made of?
A computer (MacBook Pro, last model with CD mastering available), Logic X, Ableton live X as DAW, but not in rewire mode, I prefer separate, some external plungins, AKG K 141.
Essential.
What's the one bit of kit you'll never get rid of, no matter what?
My head Phone. I don't give a f*ck for the rest. They are the must have anytime.
What would you say is the definition of your sound?
Hypnotic, Raw, Progressive, Psychedelic Techno.
What was the last record store you visited and what did you get out there?
A record store that is not exactly a record store, but a legal cannabis shop which sell some music, some T shits, and is about a tunnel 10 x 1 mtrs. Like my room (ahah). Is called Green Tunnel.
Artist Social Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/riccardonoe0
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riccardo_noe
Label Social Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/synthekeproject
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/syntheke_records