“Why should you listen to us? It’s an offer you can’t refuse…” The Element & Musumeci introduce themselves.
Who are you?
Musumeci: 42-year-old traditional Sicilian guy. I dress in black for folk reasons, I grew up listening to the best music my parents could play to me… Something didn’t go so well at some point I guess. My dad still asks where he went wrong and why I’m not an information technologies expert.
The Element: 42-year-old traditional Maltese guy. I dress in black to avoid a wrong mix between colours, I’m colour blind. Music saved my life from being a doctor. Well, probably it saved somebody else’s.
Why should we listen to you?
Musumeci: You don’t have to but if you’ve got a few minutes to read these lines about us maybe you have a little more to listen.
The Element: It’s an offer you can’t refuse.
What have you released so far? What else have you got coming out in the next future?
Musumeci: 2015 has been really busy, I have been releasing music on my label Engrave Ltd as well as Connaisseur Recordings, Diynamic, Bedrock, Compost Black Label, Aeon, My Favorite Robot and OFF Recordings. For 2016, I have already a new EP planned on Engrave Ltd, a collaboration track with Lehar for the special Connaisseur 10 Years Anniversary compilation, a remix for the new EP of The Element and two releases with my side project Human Machine on Connaisseur Recordings and Exit Strategy.
The Element: 2015 is already special for my work as a producer. Early this year, I made my debut with a remix on Plattenbank and now the EP on Connaisseur Recordings with Musumeci. In early 2016, I will deliver a new EP, which is almost ready. I also have lot of ideas and tracks I’m working on, so be sure you will hear more from me in the near future!
What song sums you up? Why?
Musumeci: Wilson Pickett – ‘In the Midnight Hour’. Romantic, nostalgic, in love.
The Element: Nino Rota – ‘Love Theme from the Godfather’. Honest, straight, epic.
What or who is your biggest influence and why?
Musumeci: I’ve been DJing since the late 80s, so in all these years I have been influenced by a lot of music and producers. I have to say, concerning electronic music, all the early days of Chicago and Detroit scene, as well as the Body & Soul era, where Danny Krivit, Francois Kevorkian and Joe Claussell were blending the sound of the world in a unique musical experience. Every time I look back on those days, I always find freshness and great energy to refill myself.
The Element: I’ve been DJing for a long time and I listen to music non stop. I appreciate anything that has soul, strong melodies and abstract dark atmospheres. My main influences are from the 80s: new wave and Kraftwork took care of my musical education. The UK rave scene of the early 90s had an important role in my introduction to electronic music too.
Where can we hear your music?
You can hear most of it on our SoundClouds. Of course, if you prefer listening to a live set you can catch us around Europe or at our residencies, Cirq (Venice) and Cosa Nostra (Malta). We can also suggest you check our family radio show, The Sound Of Connaisseur, every Monday from midnight to one on Ibiza Global Radio.
Where will you be in five years’ time?
Musumeci: In five years… I think I’ll be exactly where I am. Week-time daddy job at home, travelling for DJing on the weekend maybe a little more often, enjoying doing music with my friends. It’s too early for being first Sicilian on Mars I guess.
The Element: Speed boat world champion and first Maltese on the moon. Of course still a DJ!
Tell us AN interesting fact about yourself
Musumeci: I’m super allergic to peaches and I can solve a Rubik’s Cube in 30 seconds. I’m waiting for the days aliens come to bring me home.
The Element: I love pumas, lions, zebras and any other wild animals.
The Element & Musumeci’s Demiurgo EP is out now on Connaisseur Recordings. Musumeci: SoundCloud, Facebook, Twitter. The Element: SoundCloud, Facebook.