24 HOUSE//ELECTRO//TECHNO
THE GUESTLIST NETWORK | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2011
Italy’s finest DJ/Producer Alex Dolby is Tech House mad, and has been making quite a name for himself since he was first rated at age 22 with the track ‘Psiko Garden’. TGN took the initiative to see what all the fuss is about.
ALEX DOLBY
Hi Alex, How are you doing? Good very good, thanks.. Wel- come to Italy!
Thank you! So tell us, how did you first start? I started my production which was supported by Santos, the best producer of my country and my best friend to. I met him in a record shop 12 years ago, and he invited me to listen to some music in his studio. Since the first time I entered his studio, I didn’t want to come out. From that day, I went in his studio almost everyday, sitting next to him, silent, not speaking at all for hours so not to bother him. I just watched Santos at work, using the machines, learning his way to work basically. It was just after a
long time that our friendship was born.
You played for the first time in London at Ministry Of Sound last November, how was it? It was an amazing night, one of the best ever with my friends Hernan Cattaneo and Danny Howells! People were appreciating the sound, and there were loads of fans as well who followed me di- rectly from my own town! It’s been really fun and thanks to them it was like being at home!
Talking about productions, what’s your favourite amongst yours? Well, people in Italy say you never forget your first love; “Psiko Gar-
So you were... 22!
Wow pretty young! That was the hit that launched you world wide. This brought you positive and negative things I reckon... Yes, that’s right! Sometimes I think it was a terrible problem because after you make a hit, you have to
den”, which was my first release. It’s been played everywhere all around the globe and people keep talking to me about it. It’s an evergreen for me!
Yeah I remember that hit, how long ago was it? It was 8 years ago..
create the same quality of work and it’s not easy at all! And you have to go and play with the “old foxes”. Nowadays it’s easier with software like “Ableton”, “Tracktor” and music websites like ‘Beatport’. In the past, you had to show you had the balls... And I have to thank Santos who helped me a lot from this point of view.
You seem to be very related to that period. When your production was more Progres- sive, what was it that took your music to the actual style of Tech House? Sometimes in life you need new input to push ahead, and after I made my first album in 2006, I was no longer motivated to produce
progressive, and the changes were natural. During that period, I met Timo Maas in a club in Rome. So I gradually followed him and his style. I’ve started to appreci- ate new sounds and finally I have found my own style of Tech House.
How was your 2010 for your own releases? It was good to manage to impose my new style and I’ve collaborated with Santos, Giorgio Roma, and many many more.
And about the new year? What are you expecting from 2011? It started very well with the Timo Maas ‘Balance’ compilation on which I appear with 2 tracks of mine.
Yeah I like the whole album, it’s amazing! Yeah, Timo made a very good compilation, it’s one of the best out of the ‘Balance’ series. But also this year started with Viva Music, Steve Lawler’s label release, that is already very high on Beatport charts. I’ve got other releases on the Rockets and Ponies label and my new album that I hope will be ready by the end of the year! Yeah, lots of work and very busy as always!
Julia Pezzulo
Etruria by Alex Dolby & Santos is out now.
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