Long time DJ vet and New York City favorite, Italian producer Maurizio Colella (aka EDX) and Live for the Drop’s Julian Cassady had a chance last week to talk composition, production, and the future of three letter acronyms in electronic music. This is what keeps EDX waking up each “morning with a smile on my face.”
L4TD: If there’s one DJ that’s been able to see the growth of electronic music, it’s you. What do you think the consequences of this rise to popularity are? and how do you see the form changing?
EDX: EDM is becoming bigger and bigger, especially right now in the US. It was quite popular already like 20 years back in Europe. We had already seen Electronic Dance Music turn to radio and chart topping records. So I believe the next couple of years in the US will do really well. There will be at least 5 amazing years. I don’t know what will happen in the future, but I’m sure it will continue to grow.
L4TD: Fame is often criticized. As EDM has been embraced by America, so have artists like you. It’s so easy to become jaded. What do you do to stay grounded?
EDX: I use to play a lot when I was much younger in Europe. I use to do like 20 shows a month in Switzerland and I released about 30 compilations. Each one hit the charts in Switzerland, so I’m quite used to that. What’s new now is just how much more it’s taken off in the last couple of years. Traveling to all the continents, sometimes even for months. It’s much different, but it hasn’t changed my approach to the music. For me it’s not a big deal if I’m more popular or have more fame than I use to before. Its just bigger categories. I still wake up in the morning with a smile on my face. That’s it you know?
L4TD: Well they’re infectious. In the past few months we’ve had the pleasure of seeing you three times. Once for a packed stadium at the Electric Daisy Carnival in the Meadowlands Sports Complex (EDC NYC), once at Pacha NYC with Dirty South, and most recently at Santos Party House with the Hyperbits. Three completely different environments with three equally enthusiastic crowds. There are few DJs that can visibly engage with the audience on the level that you do. What productions help make that connection for you?
EDX: There are so many songs and genres that I really like that it’s hard to cut down the electronic music that I love to play right now. There’s so many actually. Two tracks that I really love right now is my own track, “Everything” with Hadley, and this other song by Sultan and Ned Shepard, called Walls. There are many good tracks out there right now. Happy songs. Things have changed in the past 6 months, from more minor sound setups to more major and it’s absolutely more difficult to have a great composition in major. So people don’t always use it and stick to more tracks in minor, because having a track in minor that speaks to everyone is much easier than producing a track in major that affects everyone and still affects everyone in a couple of weeks. Because major modes can get really annoying. But it looks like a movement right now of people really just getting into electronic music. A lot of these newly produced tracks in major are turning out really well and I’m really happy about that.
L4TD: It’s been a great year for you on all accounts and your productions have shown that. We’ve heard some ID tracks in your recent sets (specifically one with a Steve Mill sample), is there a release date? a name?
EDX: I will name it “Live Your Life,” or something like that. With the vocal sample in the break? This was actually something that I tried to do in major, where the point of composition was uncomplicated, not too many progressions, but still had that EDX sound. I don’t know when I’m going to release the record, but its not going to be for awhile. Hopefully a little later in the summer or right after, like the end of August.
L4TD: We’re always interested in a DJ’s setup. How do you like your V-MODAs and what do you use most consistently in the booth?
EDX: I like to play with USB sticks or SD cards on the Pioneers. I recently tried the new V-MODA M 100s – the new edition. They’re going to be released in a couple of weeks. I’m really happy with how the sound is with those headphones. They’re really doing a great job. I really like to have a 3 CDJ setup. A Pioneer Nexus 900. Thats my set up. 2 sticks… 2 sticks that’s it.
L4TD: Simplicity at it’s best. EDX and EDM are separated by an “X” factor, and that man is you. Thanks for taking a moment to Live For The Drop and we look forward to your return to the Big Apple.
EDX: You were one of only cities that was able to see me once a month now: May, June, July. Thank you very much for taking the time, thanks for raging last weekend, and I’ll see you soon New York.
Check out the new “This Is Your Life” and the remix pack released today (including Leventina and Dimitri Vangelis & Wyman mixes).
