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TONY LORETO:
THE KEYS TO SUCCESS…
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People, names, music or whatever… Life goes under an unceasing renewal process with those last months seing a whole bunch of faces affirming themselves while developping a strong identity. Currently based in Switzerland right on the other side of the French boarder, Naples-born Tony Loreto is no exception, adding his name to the list on those who’ve actively contributed putting Italia to the core of the said dance music, from Mauro Malavasi (Change, BB&Q Band, High Fashion), Kano, Advance and the likes during the disco days to Pino Daniele, Black Box, Jestofunk and the list goes on. Not to mention Giorgio Moroder. From his disco-influenced venture alongside Giaccomo Berarducci aka Jacko which would give birth to ‘The Spirit EP’ on Tony Records by the beginning of this year to his awesome rework of Andy Tamashi’s ‘The Meaning Of Love’ on Consortium, not to mention his collaboration with Abicah Soul on the remix package of Kenny Carvajal featuring Swalo’s ‘You Remind Me’ on Phuture Sole, seems like this was the perfect timing to welcome him on board…
Ciao Tony. Benvenuto a IDMW. Your name looks like a bit everywhere. How do you live this active period? Can we speak of a kid’s dream come true???
I guess I can say I’ve entered a very intense period in my life. I thank God as after all this time, I’m definitely livin’ like a dream come true which doesn’t help me from remaining quite down to earth…
I understand you’re currently based in Switzerland near the French boarder. Not the first place we would ever think of in regards to your activities. What has decided you to drop your luggage here?
Well I was born and I’ll die Napoletano. My passion for music was born in Naples. I came to Switzerland for sentimental reasons but I know how my native city is calling me…
From Deep Purple to Mary J Blige, Terrence Trent D’Arby and many others, looks like you feel like the need to add your own touch to music. What’s the starting point? I mean which elements do you use as the basis for building a remix? Then, per extension, which elements do you feel as essential as far as a song/a track is concerned???
Well let’s say first that I have no limit musically speaking. Meaning by that I don’t file music into different genres but either the one which makes me feel something – what I’ll then consider as good music – and it can be anything from reggae to rock, and the whole rest…
I always try to give a personal touch to my productions with the help of old school sounds which may somehow seem sort of hard at first sight, but are more to me the translation of a certain emphasis. I would say that what gives me the will to do a remix are little details, such as the particularity of a voice, the difference of approach…
Looks like the keys are a pivotal element for you. One comment?
No doubt. I guess I use them to give more emphasis – I love the melodramatic feel - and tentatively class to my work.
If there was a definition to your work/perspectives, would this be house, electro soul, neo disco???
House…
You’ve come quite a long way from your native Napoli. Let us know about your early days. What has got you into what you’re doing?When I was a kid, like from 10 to 12 years old – I used to go by local DJ’s such as DJ Bruno, Mike Zanfardino, Lello Air and Roby Maas to hear them mixing. Seeing them behind the decks has brought me back to the souvenir of the cassettes which were brought me of those first napolitan house parties when I was even younger. I knew I had the hots for this! This said, I would tend to think that I got my most of my upbringing exchanging ideas and impressions with other DJ’s at the record shop next door. That’s what gave me some understanding of the music…
Would you say as well that your Italian background has been for much into who you are? If so, to which extend?
No doubt how my roots are essential as far as what I’ve become is concerned and that’s probably what makes my particularism…
Italy has always been involved on the dance music front, since the disco days. With, on one hand, absolute classics from people like Mauro Malavasi & Jacques Fred Petrus (Change, BB&Q Band, High Fashion, etc) to Kano, Advance, Boeing to Pino Daniele, Jestofunk, Gianfranco Bortolotti… Then on the other absolute crap which would give shape to the so called Eurodance. One reaction?
Well, as earlier said, there are two categories of music. The one that blows your head and makes you move coz’ you feel like you have to as it sort of speaks to you. And the other that comes to you because you’re around which has you dance to it as a sort of natural reflex, otherwise you’d pretty much fall asleep !
20 years have gone since the arrival of the so called Spaghetti house embodied by acts such as Black Box. Do you have any souvenir from this period? Have you somehow been influenced by this period?
Of course I’ve heard of that period but I don’t think like it has ever influenced me…
Quite impossible not to mention Giorgio Moroder… One comment as far as he’s concerned?
Giorgio to me is a myth, meaning by that he’s among the biggest talents. Even nowadays, I can remain locked in my studio studying the way he’s worked…
Luis Radio, Alex Dimitri, Fabio Tosti, Mr Mama and the list goes on, no to mention yourself… Is it to say there’s currently the emergence of a brand new Forza in Italia?
Well, there have always been outstanding producers in Italy. I would tend to think that we hear more about them today because of the multiplication of the resources made available with the arrival of Internet.
Do you have relations with each other? Can we speak of some Italian diaspora?
Well, I have strong relations with Mr Mama, Alex Dimitri and Luis Radio resulting in various projects in the pipeline with them this year…
Let us now about this recent collaboration with Jacko which has given birth to the memorable The Spirit EP on Tony Records…
Jacko is a close friend and we really feel each other while working together. We’we worked on two tracks using completely different styles. ‘Doo’ has a real funky sound with funny samples of voices over a melody based on piano and strings. In the meantime, we’ve tried to inject a slightly more electro-influenced feeling on ‘Anthem’ although with warm sounds and that melodramatic emphasis I’ve mentioned earlier.
You’ve done a remix of Kenny Carvajal featuring Swalo’s ‘You Remind Me’ for Phuture Sole alongside Abicah Soul and I understand you’ll do another one for the same label (Phuture Sole) together. Let us know about this other experience… Do you guys have met or have you ‘simply’ worked via Internet?
I love workin’ with Abicah Soul as I can feel the existence of another facet of my musical style when working with him. This has been a wonderful experience which I’m lookin’ forward to renewing. I wish we would have met. So far we’ve been collaborating via Internet.
Forthcoming projects?
I’ve got an upcoming EP called ‘House Nation’ awaited on CityDeep, I’m working on a song with Jannae Jordan, a remix of ‘Each One Teach One’ by DJ Pope featuring Adrian Moore on Poji Records. And of course other releases alongside Jacko under the Tjinc production team banner. A remix of Byron Stingily’s ‘Revival’ and another one for Tony Records of Liquid People’s ‘Trouble In Paradise’.
When will we be delivered an album of yours?
I’m working on it. I can already reveal its title: In The Beginning…
Grazie mille… MFSB
V/A : The Tony Loreto EP House Is A Feelin’ !!! (Consortium Muzik)
JACKO presents TONY LORETO – The Spirit EP (Tony Records)
B-sOuL & ESTEBAN – Let The Drummer Play incl. Tony’s SS Remixes (Poji)
T.O.T. – So Addictive – Tony Loreto SS Remix – taken from The Best Of Cyberjamz (Cyberjamz)
KENNY CARVAJAL featuring SWAYLO - You Remind Me – Abicah Soul & Tony Loreto Remixes (Phuture Sole)
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