Having already established himself as one of the more progressive names doing the rounds right now, renowned producer CATTANEO returns to the fold once again with his immersive new single 'Juno Fog'.
Teaming up with Berlin-based singer-songwriter YOSIE for his latest release, 'Juno Fog' makes for an incredibly warm and tender listen. With its rich and illuminating textures, sweeping atmosphere, and sublime vocals layered throughout, he continues to ascend with one of his most euphoric offerings to date here.
So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with him to find out more about his origins and what has been inspiring him most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
When I was a kid, one day I went to see an orchestra with my parents and fell in love with the contrabass. To me, that instrument was amazing, and I told my parents that I wanted to play it. However, it was too expensive, so I ended up playing the violin and studied it at the conservatory for 4 years. Later, thanks to an experience as bass player in a glam rock band, I managed to enter the conservatory as contrabass student and got my degree.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
When I was younger, I had two different souls – one loved classical music, the other one loved glam rock. I can’t explain why, but glam rock was my true passion. I loved listening to Kiss, Guns N’ Roses, The Dogs d’Amour and Cinderella. When I was 23, I started playing in a glam rock band. All songs were in Italian – a weird choice, but we had so much fun. That experience taught me a lot.
What was the first album you remember owning?
When I was a teenager, I used to borrow tapes from my friends to create my own mixtapes, so songs were more important than albums. In my 20s I completely changed my mind and started buying albums. The first two were the LP of “Unmasked” by Kiss and the CD of “Ill Communication” by Beastie Boys. I put them next to each other in my bedroom.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
This is a tough question, but I think it is “By The River” by Brian Eno. I feel like this song speaks to my soul, the combination of piano and voice is very intimate and simple, it takes me to a different dimension. I usually don’t play covers during my concerts, but I made an exception once for this song.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
I am a very methodical and precise person; order is fundamental to me. On the contrary, creating feels like chaos, so my ritual is tidying up my studio. I usually clean or arrange my instruments so that my internal chaos can be ordered. This thing alone helps me develop ideas, so I start composing and composing, until I feel some kind of torpor and numbness. This sensation makes me feel so good that sometimes I even fall asleep. When I finish writing, the order goes away, and the studio returns to its condition of chaos.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
Another tough question! In the last few weeks, I’ve been listening to Fennesz a lot. His approach as a producer has inspired me very much throughout the years, especially his way of manipulating sounds with distortions and loops. I think he was a real inspiration for many producers – at least he was to me. Another artist I’ve been listening to on repeat is Rival Consoles. The last single “Coda” captured me, just like other creations.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
I think I’d say Nils Frahm. I know it’s basically impossible, but even if I managed to open one of his concerts, I’m sure I would be terrified!
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
I think the most rewarding part is creating something from nothing. This is the aspect that captivates me the most and makes me feel at peace with myself and my chaos. Feeling good is my main goal as a musician, I believe it’s a feeling that can be communicated to the listener. Knowing that my music makes people feel good is really rewarding.
And what is the most frustrating part?
The most frustrating part is playing live. The adrenaline, being close to the audience, sharing music and moments with people are all things I love. However, there is a complexity that always troubles me and prevents me from enjoying it to the fullest. This thing is recreating the sensations I had in mind while I was writing a song. Communicating the same intensity of emotions, repeat the same creative act is difficult. I haven’t found a way yet to convey my soul without feeling anxious or limited. I always try my best.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
The best piece of advice I received as a musician was from Italian bassist and producer Franco Testa. He worked with several Italian jazz and pop artists. Twenty years ago, I called him, and I asked how I could create the perfect pop song, the one that radios and labels go crazy about. He told me this: “To be liked you need to pretend to be someone else. I don’t recommend it. Be yourself – it doesn’t matter if people like you or not, at least you won’t have regrets”. Even though it might sound obvious, that sentence became my mantra.
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CANNANEO's new single 'Juno Fog' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.