Luca Agnelli Interview

Luca Agnelli continues Familia's Italian connection, joining Luigi Madonna and Enrico Sangiuliano in the main room this Saturday 11th of February.

Head of his own Etruria Beat label, Luca also counts Drumcode, Soma, Truesoul and Desolat amongst his homes away from home, most recently being asked to remix Moby's 'Porcelain' for Adam Bayer's none-more-hype label.

We chatted to him ahead of his appearance. Get full info and tickets here.

Your biography mentions your house roots. What were these and how did that turn into a love of techno?

I started DJing in 1992 and at that time the artists that I loved were Frankie Knuckles, Lil Louis, Todd Terry, Kevin Saunderson, Laurent Garnier, Louie Vega and Carl Craig. But I also loved Derrick May, Jeff Mills, Joey Beltram, Robert Hood and others. I'm in in constant evolution, and that turned me onto techno many years ago.

You were on the cover of DJ Mag Italy in 2014. How much did that affect your profile both in your home country and abroad?

The cover of DJ Mag Italy gave me great personal satisfaction because it was decided by readers and clubbers. I don’t think it affected particularly my profile though!

It's been over ten years since you had your first release, and seven years since you started Etruria Beat. Did you study production? What are the biggest lessons that you've learnt in that time, both in the studio and in running a label?

I’ve never studied production, I learned day by day, track by track. I always tried to do what I felt in the studio. Regarding the label, I’ve always just produced the music that I like and that I thought was good for me.

Tuscany, where you're from, conjures up images of vineyards and fields, at least to the English imagination. Do you still live there? Is it a welcome escape from the world of techno?

Yes, I still live here in this wonderful Tuscany. It is a fantastic place to live and to relax when I can.

Even the name of my label, Etruria, has been taken from it. Also, the video to my remix of Moby's 'Porcelain' was produced around my house. Even in autumn it's a magical land!

You have a wife and son. How being a family man fit in with the life of a touring DJ? Does it make you more disciplined?

Sometimes it's a bit complicated, but with good organisation I can fit it in well! As soon as I can, I come back home to my family and my best moments are those when we can all travel together. Regarding discipline, I've always had it!

What three tracks  that sum up what you're likely to play at Familia?

Paula Temple - 'Gegen'

Slam - 'Sheric'

Oscar Mulero - 'Misophonia'