InterviewsScene
Fabrizio Mammarella, an Italian selector, producer, and label owner, took on the role of lineup curator for this week’s Sequences event at Peti Kupe. He’s set to perform this Friday alongside Roman Flügel, the crew from his label Wrong Era, and Antonio Zuza. We had a quick chat with Mammarella, where he shared insights into his work so far and the instant chemistry that has developed between him and the club’s co-owner, Antonio Zuza.
Boasting a discography that includes dozens of clubbing anthems, remixes, as well as successful collaborations with Lauer (as Black Spuma), Rodion and Clap Rules, Fabrizio Mammarella is also the „one man band“ in Telespazio, an infamous side project focusing on experimental music.
Since his first release in 2004, Fabrizio has been constantly delivering hits for labels such as DFA, Permanent Vacation, Correspondant, Live At Robert Johnson, Les Disques De La Mort, Futureboogie and his own imprint Slow Motion Music / Wrong Era records, leading the Italian Dance Wave movement for over ten years. Fabrizio is also the head behind Emet, a record label centred on limited special releases crawling in the realm of weirdo electronic music, especially cut for the quirkiest and demanding dancefloors.
Fabrizio had played and hosted label nights at some of the best clubs and festivals around the globe, with regular nights in Berlin and his home country of Italy. He is definitely not moving in „slow motion“.
Through Slow Motion Records you promote modern Italian electronic music. How did you come to create this label?
We felt that back in the days there was the need to have a music platform for new upcoming Italian artists, and the well established ones we were following from the early 2000. We didn’t have any limitations of music genres so we released many different styles from Italian artists only: electronic disco, italo, techno and library music. In fact, we conceive Slow Motion more as a music identity rather than a music genre.
What would you call your greatest success in presenting Italian music to the world?
Definitely watching the artists that debuted with us, growing and becoming internationally respected and admired.
You come from Chieti, Italy, but you moved to Berlin a long time ago. Was it complicated to operate there in small Chieti?
I think living in a small city, where almost nothing was happening at the time, was a key element, it gave me the drive to build my own world by first making my own music, then starting playing in small parties and then making our own ones after meeting Franz Scala in 2005.
What were your musical influences in your early days?
Gigolo Records, Warp Records, Matthew Herbert, Chicken Lips, Metro Area, the punk-funk sound of the 80s in New York and so much more stuff.
You also own another label, Wrong Era. What is its philosophy?
Slow Motion has always been a platform for Italian artists only, but since we started receiving incredible music from international artists, we’ve started a sister label as a home for them. The sound is more electronic, EBM and industrial compared to Slow Motion.
Wrong Era will be presented this week at Peti Kupe, where you are one of the residents and occasionally curate certain evenings. How do you like it here?
Peti Kupe is just the perfect club, everything is top level, from the sound system, to the lights, the architecture of the venue, the music program and the crowd, so when they proposed to me to become one of their residents I was absolutely honoured.
It seems that you have created a certain chemistry with Antonio Zuza, with whom you perform b2b. Can we expect any new collaborations from you?
There was a sort of instant friendship when I met Antonio for the first time, there was a special chemistry between us, and that reflected itself when we DJ’ed together.
He has a wide music culture, so sharing ideas with him is very natural. We’re working on a studio project together, and we’ll release our music very soon.
You are extremely active in the music world. What are your plans for the future?
Making music, djing around, curating nights, managing the record labels and many other things around the music world.
What do you listen to at home to relax?
When listening to music my brain enters a state of analysis of sounds and it becomes super active so I cannot really relax. I listen to rain sounds when I cannot sleep at night.
What does your ideal day look like?
Wake up, make music, answer emails, dig for new records, dig for old records, do some office stuff, cook, sleep, everything in no particular order.
You can get your tickets for this week’s Sequences event through the Entrio system. Peti Kupe will transform its venue into the popular Sound Circuit concept, with the DJ booth placed at the center of the dance floor. The night will feature a special interplay of sound and light, showcasing Roman Flügel, Charlie (live), and Jonathan Kusuma from the Wrong Era label, along with Fabrizio Mammarella going back-to-back with Antonio Zuza.
