Interview with Antillas

A career which spans over 2 decades; an open mind to different genres; the label owner to Armada Music’s ‘enfant terrible’ IHU Records; maestro of countless dancefloor anthems, club tunes and timeless classics. Whether you know who we're talking about or not, you’ve definitely heard his music. We’re talking about Luca Moretti, better known as Antillas. We hooked up with the man himself, for an exclusive Producer Loops interview. Read on to find out how this Italian DJ/producer got started, what his favourite gear is, and how he creates his own sample packs, and more.

Hey Luca, thanks for agreeing to the interview. So, how are you doing? What’s going on in the world of Antillas?

Luca: Hi and thanks for having me! I’ve been busy with releasing my new singles, working on new music and collabs and also with new tracks on my label IHU Records.

We know about the huge success you’ve had in the past decade, but we’re really curious to know; how did Antillas come into being? What were the very first steps you took into making music an actual career?

Luca: It all started when I was a teenager and landed a job at a local radio station. I wanted to bring my own twist to the show I was on, and started making what we now call mashups. From there, getting down to actually producing my own music was a natural step.

Like everyone, you must have had quite a few disappointing moments; getting rejected by labels and such. What kept you going?

Luca: Disappointment is part of the game, and putting yourself on the line always involves taking a risk. What kept me going was actually the no’s I received, as rejection actually pushed me to improve.

Some of us may now know that you’re the mastermind behind one of Tiësto’s biggest classics, 'Just Be'. Why did basically no one know it was you back then?

Luca: When I remixed Tiësto and other important tracks as Antillas, I was at the same time busy producing tracks and remixes of several genres (from pop to hip hop, from house to mainstream and what goes in between) and under different monikers (TripleX, Motivo, Wisdome, Mute, Plaything). I had the pleasure to work on projects from such artists as Lumidee, Simply Red, Snap, Panjabi Mc, Coolio, Kool & The Gang, Sean Paul, Beanie Man and more. So even if though I was still producing and remixing as Antillas, I didn’t really focus on turning Antillas into a brand until joining Armada in 2011 – I really get a thrill out of a challenge, and working on huge projects has always been inspiring and exciting.

When was the moment you realized; this is it, this is my big breakthrough?

Luca: Right when I started! I just loved music so much, and was addicted to clubbing, production tools, records, DJ gear and anything else that is part of our world. I think you need to really believe in what you’re doing to keep pushing and achieve your goals.

Throughout the years, your studio must have changed quite a bit. What are the biggest changes? Any "oldskool" gear you couldn’t do without?

Luca: My treasured Audioscope (Analog Spectrum Analyzer) is the only thing I couldn’t do without since all my music is now created with just a laptop and most of the time using headphones. I grew up in a studio with a mixer so big it took up most of the room, and used to have tons of outboards.  I have to admit that switching to a laptop was a bit of a shock at first! However, I only choose mastering studios that work with analogue processors, using both new and vintage equipment; analogue delivers warmth, depth and breadth in a way that no digital plugin can yet top.

Antillas tunes and vocals have always been a killer combination and you’ve has the chance to work with some of the biggest names in the industry. Which collaborations are you most proud of?

Luca: I am proud of all the collaborations I did, and it’s very hard to pick favorites. I loved working with all of the artists I worked and hopefully learnt a bit from every collab or remix.

Though you’ve been producing for so long already, you didn’t release your debut album ‘Human Frames’ until 2014. What took you so long?

Luca: Before deciding to put out an artist album with Armada, I worked on a variety of projects under several different aliases. As I said before, I wanted to experiment and try my hand at different genres. However, trance has always been my true love so I guess it was just a matter of time before I released a full album.

The album perfectly shows your diversity in sound, from electro, trance and progressive to the more poppy side of music. Is that the most important thing for you - to be open-minded and diverse?

Luca: This is definitely one of the most important things for me. I like how different sounds and genres can merge together into something new and unexpected. I am always eager to try out new sounds, plugins or effects and I try to listen to every kind of music.

If we had to explain to someone what makes the Antillas sound sound like Antillas, how would we do that?

Luca: Explaining your own sound is never easy, but for example I went through a diversity of genres with Human Frames, but can notice the same touch in all the tracks. I think this is the fil rouge of my work as Antillas.

You’re a label-owner, travel from gig to gig and yet still find time to be in the studio. How hard is it to find balance in that?

Luca: It can be tricky, plus I tend to be easily distracted – at the end of the day I think I work better under a bit of pressure but I also think I am learning to deal with a hectic schedule a bit better!

You often collaborate with Dankann, to great results actually! Once, in an interview you said that together you work like a ’well-oiled music making machine’. What does an average studio day with you two go like? How do you divide the production?

Luca: Unfortunately, Dankann and I never share the same room when we make music, since we live 600kms from each other. What happens is that I prepare an idea, Dankann develops it adding his touch and vision, and I then finalize it and permeate it with the sound that brings us together.

Now, since Producer Loops is the world's largest retailer of Sample Packs, we’re dying to know your view on the use of samples and loops. Have you, or do you use them, and if yes, which ones are your favorites?

Luca: I’ve been using samples and loops since the times of Simon Harris’s Acappellas which people may or may not remember. I also used to buy vinyls and CDs of the artists I liked and looked up how to try and sample tiny frames of drums or other sounds to build my private library. I then started to actually create my own sounds, processing them over and over, and it was a pleasure to hear other artists sample them. I currently don’t have a favorite sample pack and totally rely on my own library, which I created through the years.

Thanks for the great interview, Luca!