Arturo and Alberto have known each other for many years. Their friendship began thanks to their shared passion for the trance scene, as they were among the few DJs in their hometown experimenting with spinning trance records.
In 2019, Arthesia (Arturo) and DalNulla (Alberto) decided to combine their forces and their love for Trance and Progressive music. They aimed to mix their different tastes and styles, with the desire to create fresh new music that goes beyond the sum of their individual skills. Arthesia Vs DalNulla was launched.
Their first official release was "Indaco," a summery and progressive track released on Alter Ego Progressive in September 2019. It was soon followed by the high-energy 132bpm track "Don't Look Back," released on Mike Push Studio.
Since then, they have released several other tracks spanning across the smooth sounds and lower bpm of the Progressive genre, as well as the faster rhythms and banging sounds typical of Trance records. They landed on incredible labels such as: Perfecto, UV, Pure and many others…
In 2020, they also started a monthly radio show called "Reaction Radio," providing one hour of quality progressive and melodic sound. The show airs every first Thursday of the month on Trance Energy Radio at 17:00 GMT.
Starting from 2022, they changed their project name to "Deestopia" with the aim of unifying and simplifying their brand, while creating a new identity for their progressive and melodic sound. Their sets are characterized by progressive house, melodic techno, and deep trance sounds, encompassing both dark and melodic vibes.
Their latest track 4AM is out on UV Noir so we felt that is fantastic opportunity to have an interview with them and discover the reasons behind their ongoing success and recognition in the global dance music community. Enjoy their answers.
1-Dimitris: It would be nice to start by telling us your 3 most important achievements or goals fulfilled in your career so far that you very are proud of.
Deestopia: The first achievement was being able to express our passion for music by composing tracks. The second accomplishment was reaching labels that were once considered cult favorites, and we never thought our names would be printed on their covers. The third and most significant goal was seeing our tracks regularly supported by DJs and producers whom we have followed since our youth and who have always been legends to us!
2-Dimitris: Why and under which circumstances did you took the decision to start DJing or producing electronic dance music?
Deestopia: We started as DJs in our hometown, but one day, this was no longer enough to contain our passion for music. We felt the need to create something of our own, something that would reflect our tastes and our way of approaching DJ sets.
3-Can you note down the top 3 producers that have influenced your decision to get involved in the electronic dance music scene and you admire and respect them very much?
Deestopia: M.I.K.E. Push, Paul Oakenfold, Markus Schulz
4-Dimitris: It would be fantastic to talk about your track 4AM on UV Noir. Please tell us how this track came about and what was the idea behind it.
Deestopia: Our latest release is titled "4AM" and it is released via “UV Noir”, the label curated by Paul Thomas. The track is part of a project that had many different elements and sounds culminating in the creation of two distinct sonic journeys. "4AM" embraces the essence of the club realm, exuding a dark and mesmerizing ambiance with sparse melodic elements, making it an ideal composition to ignite the dance floor. This track is crafted with the dancefloor in mind, embodying the relentless groove and pulsating energy that keeps the rhythm alive as the night reaches its climax, precisely at 4AM.
5-Dimitris: How long it took you to produce it and can u describe the production process in simple steps?
Deestopia: Describing our production process is not an easy task since it varies from time to time. We like to consider ourselves almost like "craftsmen" because each work differs in most of its contents and follows its own story. We have never quantified the time required to produce a track, but it certainly takes several weeks to complete, according with the available free time.
6-Dimitris: Did you had any particular difficulties accomplishing that particular track or any specific technical challenges or obstacles that you had to overcome during its production.
Deestopia: We didn't encounter any specific difficulties in producing this track. Generally, the biggest challenges we face revolve around ensuring the track doesn't feel "static." In other words, it's about constructing a journey that has the right mix of tension and release, creating a dynamic experience for the listener.
7- Dimitris: Which music composition software or hardware you prefer and why? What is your opinion of the latest movement to produce music with more analogue equipment and with less or without any digital software?
Deestopia: Our DAW of choice is Apple Logic Pro X. We have a few analog hardware pieces such as Virus TI Snow, Moog Subsequent 37 and Novation Peak, which we use for specific sounds like bass and lead. However, in terms of percentages, we primarily rely on VST plugins. We particularly adore Alchemy (built-in to Logic), Diva, and Sylenth. When it comes to plugins, we are 100% in the virtual realm. We believe that modern software is capable of achieving excellent results.
8-Dimitris: Do you prefer instrumental dance tracks or you adore vocals? Please explain to us your position and if in your latest production you have vocals tell us how did you choose the specific singer and if it was great to work with her/him?
Deestopia: We love instrumental tracks, but we also appreciate vocals, especially when they are unique and not cliché. However, it can be challenging to find talented singers, and writing compelling lyrics requires a significant amount of time that we don't always have. Next month, we will release our first two vocal productions. The first one is an original creation featuring the vocals of Fra.Gile (Francesca Fagiani), an Italian artist based in Germany. The second is our glorious remix of "We Are The People" by Empire Of The Sun, starting from the cover version realized by UnClubbed with the vocals by Kim Wayman. It's truly spectacular.
9-Dimitris: If you really like to produce vocal tracks which vocalist/singer or lyricist on electronic dance music you aspire to work with?
Deestopia: We would love to produce a track in collaboration with Diana Miro, her voice is amazing!
10-Dimitris: Do you believe that artwork on your latest track is good and do you believe that artwork can attract listeners or record buyers? Can you mention the best artwork of a track ever released?
Deestopia: We don't believe that artwork significantly influences the sales or listens of a track. However, having visually appealing artwork is certainly more gratifying, even for us as artists. We have always been fans of the stylized covers like the ones UV used until about a year and a half ago. So, when we were able to have our own cover for "Iris," which was released on UV in 2021, we were absolutely thrilled!
11-Dimitris: Can you pick your top 3 record labels including the one released the track that we discuss in this interview and give us a short comment about them?
Deestopia: UV Noir: The best of the new sound of progressive house and melodic techno.
Pure Trance: A guarantee of quality, sophistication, and eclecticism, thanks to its founder, Solarstone!
Perfecto: An iconic label that we have been following since our teenage years. Paul Oakenfold is an idol to us! It also allows us to explore a wider range of sounds and bpm.
12-Dimitris:How much time do you spend promoting yourself in your social media and you see this as essential tool for self promotion and getting bookings too? Which social media is the one that seems to work better for you?
Deestopia: With limited time available, we prefer to invest it in music production, but we also allocate some time for social promotion because it's still necessary. We mainly use Instagram, Facebook, and SoundCloud to share our productions. Social promotion is quite important for image building and potential bookings, but we prioritize the quality of our productions.
13-Dimitris: Do you have your own radio show/podcast/twitch stream or Vlog(video blog)? If yes please give us a comment about it and how long it take you to prepare for it and if you are always excited to produce it?
Deestopia: Our radio show is called "Reaction Radio" and it airs monthly on Trance-Energy Radio. It's essentially a one-hour mix that showcases our favorite releases in the genres of progressive house, melodic techno, and deep trance. All episodes are later uploaded and made available for listening on SoundCloud and Apple Podcasts. Some episodes are recorded live, while others are mixed using Ableton Live. Regardless, each episode requires several hours for track selection and mixing. It's always a pleasure to prepare the radio show because it allows us to share our musical tastes with our audience and create a captivating musical journey. Additionally, it helps us stay up to date on new releases so that we're ready when called for DJ sets.
14-Dimitris: Please share your most funny and most serious incident that happen to you during your DJ performance?
Deestopia: As Arthesia Vs DalNulla or Deestopia, we have never performed a proper DJ set at a club or festival. However, before being together, we had some experiences. One particular incident is funny! During a gig, a speaker fell onto a CDJ. Luckily, the player didn't break, and the music kept going! It was definitely a unique situation that we managed to overcome, and the show went on.
15-Dimitris: . Are you happy with the way that royalties system works particularly regarding streaming revenue? Do you believe that artists get what they deserve from streaming providers/DJs playing your tracks in gigs/radio and selling music in physical formats like CDs/Vinyl or digitally.
Deestopia: It’s a tough topic! For sure to earn some “decent” money out of it the numbers of streams/sales must be really high. Probably the share for the producers could be higher, especially on the streaming platforms!
16-Dimitris: Please note for all the new talents that read this interview to get some inspiration from you any technical tips in relation to your DJing or music productions. Also any piece of personal or music business' advice that has helped you to progress even further and is worth telling to the new upcoming talents.
Deestopia: One suggestion we would like to share is to search for your own sound, your own style, and the music you enjoy producing. Following the trend of the moment may bring popularity (perhaps), but in the long run, we don't believe it's the right path. There's a risk that looking back, you might not even be satisfied with what you've created. It's important to stay true to yourself and create music that truly resonates with you. By doing so, you'll not only have a more fulfilling artistic journey, but you'll also have a higher chance of leaving a lasting impact on your listeners.
17-Dimitris: Is there a club classic that you would like to remix or rework in 2023? Do you attempt often to do your own bootlegs of classics?
Deestopia: We have several classics that we would love to remix. Typically, we do one bootleg per year, and we always strive to release it officially by contacting the label. So far, we have been fortunate because in June 2023, one remix, which started as a bootleg, will be released on New State Music. In 2022, we also released a beautiful rework of "After the Sunrise" on Alter Ego Progressive label. In 2021, we did a rework of "Pjanoo." It remained a private bootleg, but it brought us a lot of satisfaction. Big names like Greg Downey and Stoneface & Terminal have supported it.
18-Dimitris: Can you describe your music as certain music genre such as trance, house, techno or your music exempts these categorizations? What is your opinion about hybrid styles and the artists who are attempting to mix influences from various genres in their tracks?
Deestopia: The genre that best characterizes most of our tracks is "deep trance," known for its strong melodic presence and a variety of sounds, but with lower BPM compared to traditional trance music. As for experimentation, we believe it is a fundamental aspect in all artistic fields. However, the most important thing for us it obtaining something that we like!
19-Dimitris: Is your music business your full time occupation and are you able to make a leaving out of your music business (DJ/producer/label owner/teaching or mastering tracks)? If not what other jobs are you doing in order to support your income?
Deestopia: For us, music is first and foremost a passion to which we try to dedicate as much time as possible alongside our regular jobs.
Dimitris: Your message & wishes for Flux Bpm Online readers.
Deestopia: Greetings to all the readers of Flux BPM, and a big thank you to Dimitri for the opportunity! Stay tuned!
Thanks so much to the beloved Deestopia for this in depth interview. We appreciate your effort and time invested to it.
Thanks so much to Paul Thomas at UV/UVNoir for arranging this interview.
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