Although you write the questions, you never really know what direction the dialog will take until you get the answers back. This makes interviewing for quite an interesting little job, if not surprising at many times. For me these dialogs are special, something resembling a yet unwritten story that keeps adding new happenings and taking new turns at every step.
I was very lucky to have on this instance an artist who I believe made the most of our eleven questions and kept the flow of the conversation just right and interesting.
Andrea Oliva is a name that you might have heard either in the close proximity of such labels like Cadenza Records, Viva Music, Saved Records or Be As One. With quite a couple of fine releases on these imprints and lots of gigging around the world, Andrea is now riding a very good wave!
Another possibility is that you might have heard Andrea being praised for his thoroughly Italian cooking skills.
Whatever the case, we thought we need to know more, especially as we'll be having Andrea over on our side of the Atlantic next weekend on the 29th for Episode II of Technicolour:Cinematographic House Music
Here's the uncut and open dialog that resulted from our interview with Andrea Oliva:
[code]: Hi Andrea, how are you and where does this interview find you right now?
Andrea Oliva: I AM IN IBIZA RIGHT NOW. I HAVE PLAYED THE WEEKEND IN BERLIN & USHUAIA IBIZA; NEEDED A FEW DAYS OFF TO HANG OUT ON THE ISLAND DOING NOTHING :)
[code]: How have you been riding the waves of 2011 until now? How has this year been for you?
Andrea Oliva: I WOULD SAY THE WAVES ARE HIGHER THEN EXPECTED! I AM HAPPY WITH EVERYTHING!
[code]: You’ve released constantly on such great labels for the past few years!
How do you define the Andrea Oliva sound?
Andrea Oliva: I THINK YOU CAN’T REALLY “DEFINE” IT, THAT'S WHY I RELEASED ON DIFFERENT LABELS, LIKE CADENZA, BE AS ONE, HIDEOUT, SAVED... EVERY ONE OF THESE LABELS HAS ITS OWN SOUND... I THINK I HAVE A BIT OF EVERYTHING IN MY PRODUCTIONS. I AM HAPPY THAT THEY DON’T SOUND ALWAYS THE SAME; KEPS IT A BIT MORE INTERESTING DOESN’T IT? :)
[code]: It sure does. We've read in your biography that your Italian roots are still very much present in everythign that you do. We heard you cook a “mean pasta” :). Do you feel that maybe some of this Latin heritage can also be found in your sound? And that it somehow led you to join the Cadenza family, a true expression of Latinity in electronic music?
Andrea Oliva: Oh yes I LOVE COOKING! Especially pasta! I doubt this is the main reason why i got into the Cadenza family (:)), but your idea is nice...I guess it’s more because of the music; they never tried my pasta but they will...
[code]: Cadenza family, watch out for some killer Andrea Oliva pasta coming soon :)
Tell us Andrea, how did it all begin for you? What made you want to become a dj?
Andrea Oliva: It was long time ago, about 17 years! My best friends which were bit older than me, showed me how to dj and i never stopped since. I just kept on going ...
[code]: How much of the local influence (Switzerland) drove you in your dj career? Is Switzerland a fertile ground for electronic artists?
Andrea Oliva: A lot i would say! We have amazing clubs, artists & labels here.
Check this out: Luciano, Deetron, Mountain People, Mirko Loko, Lee van Dowski, Michel Cleis and I am sure i forgot many many other well known artists. We have labels like Cadenza, Drumpoet Community, Purple Music and more... clubs like Nordstern, Hive, Cabaret, Zukunft, Supermarket, Kaufleuten, Mad.... WELCOME TO SWITZERLAND!
[code]: Considering all this, how would you describe your approach to writing music?
Andrea Oliva: Its freestyle! I love the fact that a lot of things happen by a kind of wonderful mistake in the studio. I love to jam around with the machines and sounds, all of a sudden you have something you weren’t looking for basically but it sounds nice and it gives you the idea to continue on and create something around this sound... and on and on :)
[code]: Who do you consider to be your mentors? Guiding you and inspiring you when you need most.
Andrea Oliva: I have tooooo many! My family, my friends, other artists, roadtrips...
[code]: Looking at your London show leading the second Technicolour experience, which are your feelings towards it and what will we be hearing in your performance in terms of sound and story?
Andrea Oliva: Realy looking forward! you will hear a lot of new music! Goooood Vibes!
[code]: What releases are you preparing for 2011 and how would you describe the sound of what’s to come?
Andrea Oliva: Just a few days ago I’ve released an EP on CADENZA LAB. I will have 2 other EPs soon released on SAVED and BE AS ONE for this year, then I did a remix for SOWESO/WE DIG MUSIC. The long awaited CADENZA RECORDS release will be out in January 2012! I am also working on a collaboration with an amazing artist plus I am mixing the official compilation for Nordstern Basel with lots of fresh music!
And just one more at the fine here:
[code]: Do you do your weekly shopping with Luciano? :)
Andrea Oliva: Luciano lives 2.5 hours away from where I live, a bit too far to do weekly shopping together :)
Thanks Andrea, it was a real pleasure to have you on the 1 on 1 chair.
Catch Andrea Oliva leading the festivities for Episode II of Technicolour:Cinematographic House Music on 29th of July at EGG Club London.
TECHNICOLOUR Episode II
29 July 2011
EGG Club, London
//////////////////////////
Following the excellent launch of Episode I of TECHNICOLOUR: Cinematographic House Music concept, we return to EGG on the 29th of July for what promises to be a bigger, better and more colorful event.
Full Line Up and tickets on:
TECHNICOLOUR FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE:
https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=216148148418086
RESIDENT ADVISOR EVENT PAGE:
http://www.residentadvisor.net/event.aspx?265998
this is a nice little piece. I am curious now to listen more from this guy. thanks! Have a great party next week-end!
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