The first points of contact with repetitive electronic dance music in Milan and Bologna aroused the interest of the young student Massimiliano Pagliara; Autechre, Aphex Twin, Boards Of Canada, Goldie and Massive Attack were among his favourite artists. When he moved to Berlin in 2001, Massimiliano began to discover the house and techno cosmos. The legendary Ostgut, where he spent practically every weekend to the sounds of Andre Galluzzi, Boris, Tama Sumo, Ellen Allien, Marcel Dettmann and Miss Kittin and found his way to DJing through the friendships he made there, provided a significant impetus.
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What is now the DJ and producer’s daily bread was initially an unplanned but smooth transition due to the strong rush and artistic growth of the Berlin scene. As he says himself, the city and its people gave him the means and opportunities, even when money was tight, to pursue his new passion and make him what he is today.
Holiday in a different dimension
When it comes to the Massi sound, he says one thing is fundamental: groove! For him, nothing beats a groovy bassline, matching drums and a catchy melody that sticks in your head and leaves a lasting impression. Otherwise, he remains open to all genres and BPM boundaries, celebrating a cosmic downtempo set just as much as a peak-time techno set. »If it moves me,« he says, »I might play it or just enjoy it for myself at home«.
He also transfers this openness to his work in the studio, where he is open to experimentation and can vary depending on his mood. In contrast to DJ performances, where the pressure and external energy from the audience is higher, he uses the creative freedom in the studio to feel deeper into himself and produce mood-related tracks. »For many producers, the studio is a safe zone where you can feel more confident and take more risks. I can try things out and if they don’t work or I just don’t like it, I can just delete the project and start again.«
The same goes for his label Funnuvojere, which he uses to release music he personally likes and to promote exciting new talent, alongside his own releases, such as the new EP ‘Hookig Up’. The aim of his label is to make listeners happy with his releases and give them an escape from reality. He sees music as a means of distancing oneself from negative influences and entering another dimension.
On emerging trends and the ever-changing nature of the music industry. He says: “It’s important to stay true to yourself. Always follow your heart and do what feels right and best for you. I think that makes every artist authentic and helps them create their own style. For example, I love it when someone says something that sounds very ‘Massi’! It makes me feel like I’ve somehow created my own unique sound. And isn’t that great?
