Mauro Picotto Interview

Mauro Picotto Interview image

We catch up with Italy's number 1 export & man of the moment Mauro Picotto whilst at Miami's WMC to discuss his new Meganite residency @ Ministry Of Sound, his planned world tours and much more!

How was 2002 & New Years Eve @ The Dome?
"For me 2002 was really busy. Over the past few years I have seen myself get busier and busier. The dome was an experience, just the shear size of the place was amazing. Its such a well known place obviously with it being built for the millennium so its very high profile. I was on for the last 2 hours but it still seamed really busy for it being 7am."
Mauro Picotto image
You’re returning to Ministry for your own parties, Meganite - can you tell us about that?
"Basically Meganite is going to be like a mini residency all over the world. We have already confirmed dates in London, Glasgow, Dublin, NYC, Miami, Amsterdam and we will be looking at taking Meganite to Colombia, Tokyo, More cities in Asia, Eastern Europe and more major cities in Central America. For the past few years I haven’t really been able to plan my year out as I’m usually all over the world but with the Meganite residencies I know I will be playing in all of the mentioned cities maybe 3 or 4 times a year. It gives me a chance to build up a rapport in my favourite clubs and with the clubbers in those clubs."

Rumours are you’re heading towards the more techno end of the dance music spectrum, why’s that?
"For me I have always had a very hard edge sound. Techno is not a new thing to me and I wouldn’t class myself as a techno DJ, I’m just a DJ that plays the music that he likes and I hope other people like."

Any very special guests lined up?
"For our New York City launch we had last weekend (March 15^th) we had Christian Smith playing for us. For our night at the WMC in Miami we had a fellow Italian Marco Carola. For the Amsterdam night we have playing for us a true techno legend Kevin Saunderson and we also have Lucien Foort and for our UK launch we have Phil Kieran from Northern Ireland and a producer who is sure to be massive in the coming months Agoria from France."

You've travelled far and wide in recent years, but out of all the places you’ve visited, name your top 3 cities/countries and why?
"I honestly couldn’t give you a fair answer for that because I have many places I love for different reasons. One place I always love going to is Glasgow, I always get such a good reception there and the Scots know how to REALLY party. South America is very similar as well as they always give it there all and the weather is usually nice so that is a bonus. I would have to say my third would be Miami as its always sunny and its always just a nice place to go but to be honest I love all the places I go to otherwise I wouldn’t go to them. The UK is at the forefront of dance music so they people there are always very knowledgeable."

Anywhere you haven’t played that intrigues you?
"I have played in most cities in countries around the world so there isn’t really a lot left to be honest. I have been fully round the world about 3 times now. I supposed playing at one of the poles would be different but being Italian I like to sunbathe and I don’t think I could much of that if I was at poles."

What's your best Dance Music event of all time?
"I honestly couldn’t answer this as with most of the dance events I play I am just there for about 2 hours or so. The dome was the biggest place I have ever played and it’s a one off experience to have played in somewhere like that."

When you like to go out where do you go clubbing and who with?
"There are a few small techno clubs in Italy. My favourite would have to be Jaiss in Florence and I go with my recording partner Riccardo Ferri and Gabry Fasano who is the resident at the club."

Worst clubbing nightmare?
"Because I rely on airplanes and airport staff my nightmare sometimes comes true and my records get left sitting on the tarmac at the airport I have just came from and I need to end up playing with either a small selection of CDs that I carry in my hand luggage or I need to borrow records from the resident."

What inspires you musically?
"I get inspired by when I play my records to clubbers and I see them going crazy to it. That drives me to make more records that I hope people will enjoy."

What do you think has been the pinnacle of your career so far?
"I would say 2001 was my biggest year as I was away from my family a lot in this year and I was abroad an awful lot. I played in the UK nearly once every 2 weeks too."

Outside of the music business, is there anything else interests you?
"When I’m not away playing at gigs or making music I usually spend most of my spare time with my family. My daughter is just growing up at the moment and I try to teach her some English when I can."