BLACKCHILD: “I’M SUPER EXCITED TO PLAY AT HÏ FOR THE SECOND YEAR”.

Thank you for this interview! We understand that your passion for electronic music was born thanks to your father’s record collection. Apart from that music you listened to, what is your first memory of electronic music?

The first important memory for me might be when Marco Carola played my song “A bit housy”. I didn’t know anything about the underground scene, I was just playing music and producing without any goal in particular, I was just doing it as a passion and later it started to become a full-time job! I really believed in it and now I’m seeing the results.

Cuttin’ Headz, Mindshake, Solod Grooves, Hot Creations, you have worked with some of the best labels in the scene, is there any other particular label you would like to collaborate with?

I’m focused on my label NAIMA now and I have my family Solid Grooves, my new family MINDSHAKE and I have also released on Cuttin Headz. That was on my bucket list and I’m super happy to release with them!

After the success of the first season, you are returning to NOW HERE this year, how was your experience last year and what do you expect from this one?

This season is going to be special! I’m super excited to play at Hï which, for the second year in a row, is the best club in the world! Last year was just crazy! I met Paco for the first time and from the first moment, there was a really good connection and a great respect between us!

From the impressive NOW HERE lineup, which DJ are you looking forward to hearing?

The line-up is incredible, full of good artists that I already know and have played with. Paco is amazing as he believes a lot in newcomers and gives them a space. On my first night at Hï, I’m looking forward to listening to Kidoo, who is opening the Club Room before me, and also of course I’m happy and looking forward to watching the boss and seeing how his sound is improving and where it’s going!

You have travelled with the concept of Paco to Miami (Miami Factory Town) and at the Off Week in Barcelona, how do you think is the ethos of the party is preserved beyond Ibiza?

I travelled with the concept to Miami and it was amazing! It was my first ever gig in the US, at Factory Town. There was an amazing energy, we really look forward to taking the brand back to Miami. The energy there is the same as Ibiza and in other parts of the world. In the end, the most important thing is always the music and the people, it doesn’t matter how big, good, or modern the venue is, the vibes are created by the music and the people … and a good sound system of course!

You have collaborated with Paco before, you have even remixed one of his tracks, how has your relationship with Paco grown over the years? And how it started?

I used to send music to Paco in the past, then he noticed me and asked me for some demos for MINDSHAKE. I did an EP with him and he also wanted to remix one of my tracks… that was like a dream for me! Collaborating with a great like Paco was a big goal for me. After that, we became good friends and we talk a lot. There’s a very natural relationship of respect, without any interests. Now we have a big EP together coming soon, with a super remixer and a couple of bangers!

We would like to know your relationship with Ibiza, when was the first time you were on the island and how was your first performance?

I came to play in Ibiza for the first time in 2019. I played at a pre-party for my family Solid Grooves, it was my first experience playing in Ibiza and it was a real dream come true. When Alberto (my current manager) called me and said ‘OK, do you want to come to Ibiza to play?’ I was like, ‘yeah!!!’ So that is where the journey started, then came my residency at DC10, Hï Theatre and the Club Room.

What is your relationship with social media? Is it an essential tool for any artist?

Social media is very important, today if you want to be a relevant artist in the industry you need to take a lot of care of your social media. It’s sad to say but in some cases it is more important than the music itself.

What makes Naples so special to be one of the most stimulating breeding grounds for electronic music?

Napoli is a very special city for a DJ – and Paco knows it well – especially when you are from there. We have big examples like Marco Carola who is the pioneer of what we do now and what we play. The people are so warm with the DJs and you feel like a superstar when you are there! For me, sometimes it’s really hard even to walk in the city as they always stop me for a selfie or just a quick chat. It’s a really special city!