Italian DJ and Producer Gabry Venus has teamed up with dance music diva Inaya Day for his new single ‘When I’m Alone’.
Through their mutual love for house music they have created an infectious groove highlighting Inaya’s awesome vocals featuring live instruments including live sax, guitar and a Rhodes paino. Pure house music at it’s best.
We caught up with Gabry at the Amsterdam Dance Event to chat about the music, dance music culture and more.
T.H.E – Welcome. It’s a pleasure to have you here.
Gabry Venus – Definitely my pleasure, thank you !
T.H.E – Tell us about your new single ‘When I’m Alone’?
Gabry Venus – I consider the story behind this record kind of a music tale! I composed this song some years ago, brainstorming in the studio with my good friend Niko: on a bassline i dropped, she started doing a vocal jazz scat, and I loved it. I then asked a saxophonist to play that melody and it became a track we released on vinyl. Then this year i was feeling Inaya’s vocal on it, and I started writing some lyrics and then called her. She just loved the idea and the sound!
T.H.E – You wrote the track with dance diva Inaya Day. How did that collaboration come about and what was it like working with her?
Gabry Venus – Yes, as i was telling you it had been a pure artist to artist contact, and i think that’s magical. I was really feeling her voice for this track, and she really loved the music. Then, when she was ready to record in the studio, she asked me if I wanted to reach her in NewYork, but i was busy here in Rome.. I would have loved to be there, but honestly when I received the vocals, i felt it had been like I was in the studio: it was exactly how I imagined it! And i know she enjoyed the session very much as well!
T.H.E – You have kept the remixers on the single release Italian with legendary The Cube Guys and our favourite remix from the package by Jako Diaz. Was it intentional to keep it a homegrown production line up?
Gabry Venus – No, actually it was not intentional. I had chosen The Cube Guys even for a remix of my previous release, “Gold”, because as a dj, i know they really produce what the club needs, their sound and their groove never fail on the dance floor. Then we were having Jako Diaz collaborating in our Radio Show at Radio Globo and i was really loving his sound, so I wrote him proposing to put his amazing deep style on the track, and that’s exactly what he did!
T.H.E – What is your dream musical collaboration?
Gabry Venus – Honestly there are a lot of producers and artists i would love to work with… too many! So, I would say any musical collaboration that borns in this way i described before: naturally feeling it is good doing something together, feeling the vibes, drinking some good Italian wines, and then composing good music!
T.H.E – Can we expect more new original music from you in 2017?
Gabry Venus – Definitely yes! I’m already working on 3 different projects and even if i know that i should strategically cover some famous songs and have my precise style and sound, I can’t resist to always try different styles and genres. It’s quite a need to compose something new!
T.H.E – What do you think to the state of dance music culture in Italy right now?
Gabry Venus – I think that right now, probably more then ever before, we have amazing producers in Italy, in house music i mean. We really and proudly export amazing house music 100% made in Italy! About the “music culture” in general, i might say that people are constantly researching new tunes, that is good, but maybe media like traditional radio stations are not yet so fast in following what people ask for.
T.H.E – Your top 3 essential tunes?
Gabry Venus – I will tell you 3 records i’m playing a lot as they are sure weapons for the dance floor:
1. Marco Santoro – “Lies” (on Kryder’s Sosumi label)
2. every versions of “Que Pasa” from Federico Scavo (D:Vision)
3. Luca Guerrieri “Holding Me”(Claps).
Look… believe or not i didn’t want to mention only Italian producers, but these are honestly 3 bombs!
T.H.E – What has been the highlight of 2016 so far?
Gabry Venus – In music production having my summer release “Gold” being on the the most played tune by fm radios in Italy (with almost 200.000 plays on Spotify as well!), and about Live gigs, I would say being guest at Privilege Ibiza at the NoExcuses party with EDX, Nora En Pure and Antonio Giacca. They are 3 of my favorite producers and it was a lot of fun!
T.H.E – What have you been up to outside of the studio and away from music?
Gabry Venus – I have an amazing passion which I am committed to every free minute I have: I’m a
paragliding pilot! Believe me: it’s something that changes your life in better, and it’ s also rather inspirational on the artistic side!
Gabry Venus & Inaya Day ‘When I’m Alone’ is OUT NOW on Double Sound Records. You can buy it here.
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Interview by Ray Vonn
