Having just released the massive “2 My House” with Chris Nasty, we wanted to catch up with Italian maestro Benny Benassi to hear more about the collaboration, and what else is coming next from him.
Cira – You just released a new collaboration with Chris Nasty. What was different about working together this time around?
Benny Benassi – Chris is a friend! It’s simple. He comes into the studio with an idea that Alle and I like. We develop it together and hey presto… It’s very natural, the way it should be. So nothing different except the track.
Cira – What about your styles do you think works well together?
Benny Benassi – Chris is a riff-maker. He comes up with riffs and bass lines that suit my style so with Alle, we Benassify them.
Cira – Outside dance music, what other styles do you like listening to?
Benny Benassi – I’m enjoying the new wave of deep house producers. It’s quite far from my style so collaborations are unlikely but I appreciate the scene.
Cira – What are a few of your favourite tunes right now?
Benny Benassi – I listen to rock and pop music and even some jazz (but not very often) as well as dance music. I love any tune that makes me feel something. I’m always looking for an emotional reaction.
Cira – What do you think makes your signature Benny Benassi sound?
Benny Benassi – For the albums, we like to keep a balance between instrumental tracks that maybe have the signature Benassi electronic voice and tracks that are real songs. We have been enjoying working with singers from different musical backgrounds. It’s a kind of challenge… “How can we apply the Benassi bass to this?”
My earliest inspirations were eighties electro-pop. I started my career as a house DJ in the 90’s, in a club near where I lived – Reggio Emilia, which is a small town in northern Italy, had an amazing output of Italian house productions, so there was already a scene present.
My cousin (and producer) Alle is a classically trained musician, so from DJing, him and I decided to produce. Alle wrote the riff for Satisfaction, and then we worked together in the studio finishing it off and adding the vocal lines. When we cut the track, we knew it would do fairly well in the clubs and become a favorite with niche deejays playing early electro-house music. When “Satisfaction” exploded, that is when I became an “electroman.”
Cira – Can you tell us about your next project or projects you have lined up?
Benny Benassi – Alle and I are in writing mode. We’re experimenting with new songs and sounds. We’re also collaborating with other producers, so 2017 will be all about collaboration!
Cira – Out of your summer shows on the horizon, which are you particularly looking forward to performing at?
Benny Benassi – That’s impossible to say! I have a few favorite places though I love to perform at… most festivals, Pacha in New York, Ruby Skye in San Francisco and Ministry of Sound in London.
You can purchase your copy of ‘2 My House’ here.
