MATTIA TRANI: “IN A WORLD DRIVEN BY HYPE, GALACTICA IS BUILDING A PROJECT ROOTED IN IDENTITY, COMMUNITY AND LONG-TERM VISION.”

You’re one of Galactica’s resident DJs, but also one of the original minds behind the project. How did Galactica first come to life, and what was the initial vision behind It?

Galactica was born from the idea of creating something bigger than a traditional event. From the beginning, the vision was to build a complete universe where music, visuals, energy and people could become part of the same experience. We wanted to create a project with a strong identity but without limitations — something open to evolution, contamination and different artistic directions while always keeping a powerful connection with club culture and rave energy.

Galactica feels like more than just an event series — it has its own identity and universe. From the beginning, what did you want this project to represent?

Galactica represents freedom, evolution and connection. From the start, we never wanted to build a closed concept linked to only one sound or one trend. The idea was to create a platform capable of evolving naturally with the artists, the crowd and the energy of the moment.

At the same time, we wanted people to feel part of something bigger than a party — almost like entering another dimension for one night.

From your perspective, what makes Galactica different from so many other concepts operating within today’s electronic scene?

I think the biggest difference is that Galactica has a real soul behind it. A lot of projects today are built only around hype or social media impact, while Galactica was built around identity, experience and long-term vision. There’s a genuine emotional connection between the project, the artists and the crowd.

Another important aspect is versatility. Galactica is not afraid to evolve, experiment and embrace different sounds and energies while still maintaining a recognizable identity.

As both a creator and a resident, you’ve experienced Galactica from the inside out. How have the energy of the events and the connection with the crowd evolved over Time?

The connection became much deeper over the years. At the beginning, people were discovering the project. Today the crowd truly understands the vision and feels part of the Galactica universe. There’s a very strong energy exchange during the events.

What makes me proud is seeing how organically the community has grown. You can feel that people are emotionally connected to the experience, not only to the lineup itself.

Galactica also exists as a label. How important is that musical side of the project, and how do the label and the events feed into each other?

The label is extremely important because it allows the Galactica identity to exist beyond the events. Through the label we can support our resident artists, release music we truly believe in and continue building the project’s vision through sound. The events generate physical energy, while the label gives continuity to that energy worldwide.

The two sides constantly inspire each other. We also have an open vision focus by the sound: we release what communicate something unique for us , not only trends and dancefloor mainstream tracks.

At a time when many club brands seem driven by immediacy and impact, Galactica appears to be building something with a stronger sense of identity and long-term narrative. How important is it for you to create culture beyond the event itself?

For us, that’s essential. Creating culture means building something that can leave an emotional impact and inspire people beyond a single night. Today everything moves very fast, but projects with strong identity and authentic vision can still create long-term value.

We want Galactica to represent a mentality,the place to be , not just an event brand.

On a personal level, how has being part of Galactica influenced your own vision as a DJ and producer? Has it allowed you to explore a different side of yourself Artistically?

Galactica had a huge impact on my artistic evolution. Through this project, I found the right dimension to fully express a newer side of myself — a version that feels more open, powerful and emotionally direct, while still keeping my identity authentic. It allowed me to embrace a more mainstream and global energy in a way that genuinely feels exciting and natural to me.

As an artist, sometimes you need the right environment and platform to unlock a new phase creatively. Galactica gave me that space. Honestly, without Galactica as both an event platform and a label, I’m not sure this new version of myself would have fully emerged the way it did. It pushed me to think bigger, take more risks and evolve artistically without fear of breaking boundaries.

Looking at this season specifically, what kind of direction, atmosphere or message do you want Galactica to communicate through its events this year?

This year, more than ever, we want Galactica to communicate passion, sacrifice and total dedication to the culture we’re building. Behind every event there’s an incredible amount of work, pressure and energy from the entire team. We are investing everything into this vision — from our Tuesday residency in Ibiza with massive lineups every week, to events in Malta, festivals around Europe and our connection with iconic places like Cocoricò.

People often only see the final result, but behind it there’s blood, sacrifice and years of believing in something bigger even during difficult moments. Atmosphere-wise, we want Galactica to feel intense, immersive and emotionally explosive. We want people to feel that this is not something artificial or manufactured — it’s real energy coming from people who truly live this culture every single day.

More broadly, what do you think club culture needs right now in order to remain relevant, authentic and emotionally powerful?

I think club culture needs authenticity more than ever. People are tired of experiences that feel empty or overly manufactured. They want real connection, real energy and projects that have genuine identity behind them.
I also think the scene needs more openness and less rigidity. Music evolves constantly, and club culture should remain a space where different influences and ideas can coexist naturally.

Having been part of Galactica since its earliest days, what do you hope people understand — or feel — when they hear the name Galactica today?

I hope people feel energy, identity and emotion. I want Galactica to be associated with powerful experiences, strong community and a feeling of total immersion. Something that goes beyond trends and creates real memories for people.

Today Galactica is growing internationally, including places like Ibiza, but what makes me especially proud is that Galactica is an Italian project created by an Italian crew with a global vision. We deeply respect and love every country, culture and scene we connect with, but at the same time we’re proud to represent a new generation of Italian artists and creatives trying to bring their identity worldwide. There are not many Italian crews pushing internationally with this kind of vision, energy and long-term mentality, and for us that means a lot.

What does it mean to you personally to keep pushing a project like Galactica at a time when everything in music and nightlife seems to move so fast?

It means believing in vision and identity in a very fast-moving world. Everything today is immediate and temporary, but building something meaningful requires patience, consistency and passion. For me, continuing to push Galactica means continuing to believe in creativity, community and emotional impact.

And honestly, seeing an Italian project grow globally while maintaining its own personality is something I’m very proud of.