Paride Saraceni is this perfect example of a new generation of artists who are serious about what they do.
Simple fun is not what drives them, but pure enthusiasm and devotion to the detail is.
We asked him a few questions and here is the interview filled with honest feelings.
We know you are young, but have been around the scene something about 7 years, how did all that begin?
Hi there, thank you for your invitation on Techno Station.
It all started when I was 15, in Switzerland, where I moved from Italy with my mother and my sister some year earlier. Before then music was totally unexciting for me, but it only took some boring afternoons at home after school to discover it, and I guess that the major thing that got me into it were actually video games, particularly GTA San Andreas and Vice City as music was such a key descriptive component in the realm of these fictitious scenarios set in the 80’s and 90’s. Since then I discovered how music can be a soundtrack to a specific moment and how it can enhance the experience of that moment.
So it was during the game and so it is in real life, but it took me to see it from that perspective to realize it.
Since then I started going out to clubs with friends in Geneva and immediately after, I begun throwing home parties which were all themed to re-construct an ’80s movie scenario, fancy hawaian shirts and cigars were almost a must at our parties, which later evolved into the actual Casbah Project, a 1-night-only event I run with my team and friends in italy every Summer. But going back to my 15 years of age: soon after I discovered dance music I got to know classic house Music, which then lead me to discover Techno and Minimal Music, which at the time was what sparked my curiosity for music production along with performance.
I had no background neither knowledge or contacts in the music field, just curiosity, passion and the support from my family who has always allowed me to express my creativity in all fields. Not knowing anyone within the music business to host me at parties or to release music on some labels, I just started to play records and produce some very basic music in the rooftop of our house in a small town called Prangins.
Here a video of my first publicly available mix, a 10 minutes one which I made with the best tunes I had at the time, i think for some kind of competition
From the first track I produced I would have never imagined to make it this far at all. You should have heard it, it was terrible, but somehow things evolved, I learned many things during on the way and today I sometimes struggle to believe that I am now working with some artists whose music was regularly in my CDs and sets, I am talking about Dubfire, Adam Beyer, Christian Smith, Carl Cox, Roger Sanchez, Uto Karem, Maya Jane Coles, among many others. It’s really unbelievable for me to acknowledge that now I even happen to have lunch with some of them.
Which gig was the best in sense of emotional output? Maybe it was at Egg London, or some home party 10 years ago.
This is a hard question, every gig is special in its own way, most of the times it all depends on who is with you or around you. I think that so far the most emotionally-charged gigs were surely my very first booked gig, which was in a small club in Germany in 2011. I was so happy for this very first booking and I remember I played for 6 hours. At the end even the promoter was so happy he tipped me on top of my fee.
More recently, some emotionally-charged gigs were surely at the Casbah Project 2014 in italy, where I gathered my friends to develop a structure for the party on the beach. The whole preparation as well as the party were just magic. it was an incredible and friendly atmosphere throughout that week which I will never forget.
Also I had some strong emotions at Orsa Maggiore in Italy, where I felt really welcomed by my own italian people; and at Womb Tokyo in January. I was really moved when I realized how just out of curiosity I ended up playing on the other side of the world. I was contacted by some people who really enjoyed my music and that was what got me booked and got me to travel that far and to play in one of the world’s most important clubs. I could never feel more blessed and be more thankful as well as happy to have been able to make something that someone on the other side of the world appreciated so much to call me over.
I do also recall an amazing party in Geneva about 8 years ago where I played a warm-up set at Java Club, but I then missed my train back home and ended up staying the whole night with my classmates and my friend Massimiliano Agnelli, the resident DJ of the club. What was so special about that party was that since it was around graduation time, there were a lot of friends from shcool in the club, as well as some other of my friends who were not related to my other school friends. Some of which I was surprised to even see in that club that night, and I think that this joining of two worlds was something that gave me a lot of joy. A lot of friends from different places coming together in one night, who has experienced it may know how great it feels!
What do you love and hate in what you do?
I think I love everyday that I am able to say I made something new, in relation to my previos works of course; as well as I am able to overcome my uncertainties and fears through Music which for me is a very intimate process and a way to convey my inner self to an output. Every song I make has a story and a secific mood, simply because that is the mood I am living. I am recording my feelings. I also feel for this reason that I struggle to have a linear flow because of my persona and my surroundings. Not every day is happy and bright and this is reflected in my music. What I love is also that good and bad are part of the same realm and both offer different tones on how we shall perceive our daily lives. Struggle can be estenuating but it also enriches our perceptions and our inner “bag”. I feel my strongest works were all built out of a struggle of some sort.
The only thing I hate is when my head starts to f*** with me and suggests me to do things in a non-natural way, may be for the sake of what it might be expected or not expected from me or for the sake of business.
I learned with time to accept my flow and unpredictability, and to accept things as they come and the way I feel them, without thinking “this sounds too much like this or too much like that” and to say no to what I do not feel… I have learned to say to myself: “I do not have a way, and this is my way”, the one that makes me happy about what I do, which essentially is the key to success. It has proven to be the key to my success on several occasions.
Favorite record of all times?
it’s impossible to answer, so much music has my heart I wouldn’t be able to tell one record only, perhaps the ones I can think of are “Walking On The Moon” by The Police, “Owner Of A Lonely Heart” by Yes, “The Man With The Red Face” by Laurent Garnier (also MK & Funkagenda’s version is awesome), “Sinfonia Della Notte” by Dennis Ferrer, Sinnerman by Nina Simone (both original and Felix Da Housecat Heavenly House Mix)
Favorite music to listen to at home or on the road?
60’s, 70’s and 80’s music, especially Marvin Gaye, The Police, The Doors, Capitain BeefHeart, Earth Wind & Fire to name a few
chill out and lounge music, I love in particular the Buddha Bar VI by Ravin (Sorry but this just is the best of them all), Thievery Corporation, Pulshar, Morcheeba, Soulstice, Makis Soulis. I sometimes also listen to some South American Music such as Cumbia, Samba and Bossa Nova, and ethnic music from various cultures and places such as Turkey, Egypt, Kazhakstan, Mongolia, Tibet, Laos, Mali, Congo etc.
Tell us about the new releases that are coming up.
As you may know I have just released a new EP on Tronic Music, “Just For One Day” which is currently in the Techno Top-10 on Beatport.
The first track is “Just For One Day” and it represents my personal take into a DJ’s lifestyle during the weekend, something quite new to me at this time as I have only recently started to travel more extensively for my gigs. The track is characterized by some intense chord-work and slightly melancholic voices. The Fast-paced rhythm wants to bring one’s attention to how the clock is always ticking for a DJ and it wants to represent how an artist’s time in a city or in a venue is always limited which it often makes us go back home with a soursweet feeling, due to our trip being absolutely fantastic, but ust for one day.
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“Good For All” is actually a bonus tool-track. the reason why it is so instrumental and with not many sounds, as opposed to the other works, is because I wanted to create a track that would leave more freedom to interpretation to whoever plays it, The Bassline is in fact studied in order to allow for plenty of combinations with other tracks, given they are with the same scale. Good For All in fact means that this track can be a good base to any other track.
“Fly With Me” completes the EP and it is tied up to “Just For One Day”‘s concept, but this time with a double meaning, open to interpretations: Flying during a party, perhaps to a magical destination as the track’s synths want to suggest?, or flying back home after that very short amazing stay? In both cases an artist is often still flying with his mind while on the plane, flying back home after an amazing gig.
This track also has some hidden lyrics in the breaks which say “And then you walk Away” which are key to understand the whole significance and message this EP wants to communicate: Everything is limited, fun is limited, time is indeed too. You have a great time with amazing people in amazing places, but after the party it will all vanish as if nothing happened. It is quite touching to experience the emptying of a club such as Womb Tokyo following an amazing night. That is why I sometimes prefer to walk away before the party is over.
In the coming months I will be releasing some new music including my new EP called “Heroes” on Snatch! Records, onto which I have already released my “Dissolute” EP two years ago and which released my remix for Riva Starr’s “Voice Of God” last year.
I really look forward to this one because the A-sider “Heroes” in fact, (which includes a re-sung vocal of “Owner Of A Lonely Hearth” by Yes) has already been around a lot since late 2014, played by Maya Jane Coles on several of her gigs including her set for Boiler Room, which has brought up a lot of interest in the track since.
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Good Luck!
