Pirupa: From Punk Rock to Tribal Grooves

Image: Pirupa

When combing track lists and comment boxes to find that pearl you've just heard, Pirupa is a name that's more than likely to fill in the blank. A workaholic in the studio with a continually developing palate, the Italian beat maker continues to infiltrate record boxes with scores of releases on high ranking labels.  

First blipping the radar with hard lined groovers like 'Party Non Stop' (below) that still racks up masses of airplay, the skilled producer has explored the murkier crevices of the house and techno spectrum with his more recent production.  

Dropping two EPs of late, with a further to follow on Carl Cox's Intec Digital, Pirupa certainly the defies the cliche 'quality not quantity'.

With an imminent set for Nic Fanciulli's Saved Records showcase at Fire London on Saturday 31st January, our man Ben Smith caught Pirupa fresh from touching down after his appearance at BPM festival to talk business. Catch their conversation below.  

You're playing in London later this month for Nic Fanciulli’s Saved LDN, are you looking forward to that, have you had some good times playing in the city before?

I've been living in London since January 2013, and I've played in almost all of the main clubs in the city such as Fabric, MoS and Egg among others. As always it's great fun because I've got lots of friends who come to listen and support me every time I play here. 

It's the first time for me playing at a Saved party with Nic Fanciulli and his crew, it's very exciting for me as I've got various releases with them and Nic is a very good DJ besides being a good person.

You've had a prolific run of releases, the Can U Hear Me EP was shortly followed by the Session One EP later last year. Are you a workaholic in the studio? How much of your time is spent producing? 

I spend lots of hours of the day making music because I really like creating something of my own. It relaxes me and it's very stimulating making music after having travelled and played over the weekend.

I get inspiration from places I've visited. Usually trips transmit to me a lot of things and I often make music at the airport or during my flights, and I gladly put down some ideas when I'm around for my gigs.

Your approach to music is fairly varied, you've dabbled with deep and tech house in the past and seem to be evolving it into the realms techno, what direction do you see your music heading?   

My sound has changed a bit over the last months, it has become more dub techno, in fact next releases will continue to be in the same vibe of the Moan EP, but I don't hide that. I wish to come back and make something more house, but we'll see as times goes by over the next months. I've got lots of projects to finish and can't wait to release them in 2015.

We're loving your latest Session One EP, there's some interesting production techniques, take us through the making of that? What was your aim when you started writing it?

Yes, this EP has been really interesting, various colleagues wrote to me with praise on how it was made and how it was sounding well.

'Tribal Session' is the main track of the EP, I got some inspiration from old works by MAW and Danny Tenaglia with persistent tribal grooves and hypnotic percussions getting in here and there. It's the track I've played the most from this EP and it's the one which works best with the dance floor. Check out the entire EP below. 

'He Is High' is a super dark dub track inspired by my Magna Carta residency last summer at Sankeys Ibiza - the basement of that club inspired me as its very dark with a very strong sound system. The last track, 'Heartbeat', which is the best in my opinion, is the most techno, the tough chords and synths are inspired from old Detroit.

And there's a quality remix in there as well from Sable Sheep, how'd do you go about selecting your remixers, how are you acquainted with Sable Sheep? 

The guys at Moan chose the remixer, and I was happy with their choice as I believe he's one of the strongest producers at the moment in the scene.

Have you any new stuff in the pipeline that we can look forward to?

Yes, a couple of days ago my remix for AFFKT was released on Kling Klong, and in February I'll have an EP out on Intec, Carl Cox and Jon Rundell's label.

As I told you previously, the sound will be still darker techno and sincerely I'm very happy to release again on Intec because it's one of those techno labels which I constantly follow, the EP comprises of three tracks and it will be called 'Raw Deal'.

We noticed you were at BPM Festival in Mexico this week. Tell us about that, is it your first experience of the festival and how was it? 

It has been my third time at BPM, as always it was such a great experience. It's for me part of my annual holidays where I can relax at the seaside but at the same time play at parties and meet with colleagues.

I stayed at Playa Del Carmen and Tulum for 15 days and it was very relaxing, there were lots of nice parties such as the Innervisions one at Blue Venado, which was on top of the others in my opinion.

I did a party with my label D-Floor together with Leon and NiCe7 at Santanera, it was a great success as the party was sold out and lots of people couldn't get in. I hope to be there next year as it's an experience to be lived - perhaps the most beautiful festival of all.

You seem to be well travelled, Argentina for New Year is quite a distance from your native Italy, do you have any plans to return to Italy for a break and if so what do you do with your spare time away from the studio? 

I'm in Italy at the moment for a week, spending my days with family and friends as I'll be back in London in a couple of days and back to work.

When I'm in the studio I spend my time listening to music as I really like to be constantly updated, then I reply to emails, go out with friends around the city, and from time to time I go to the gym, haha!

I should find a new hobby, I'm thinking about starting to study music again since I used to play the guitar when I was younger as I came from a punk rock background... nothing to do with electronica! 

Finally, with it being the New Year, we want to know what your new year's resolution is and how do you plan to stick to it? 

It will be an intense year for me, a lot of work, lots of music, lots of new travels, new nights and new people. Never let down one's guard and always overshoot!

Ciao!

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