Sandro Bani is a DJ, producer and remixer in the Italian and international dance scene since 2005. From Croatia to Spain, from Montenegro to Greece and Morocco, several clubs have seen him behind the console in front of thousands of people, sometimes sharing it with internationally renowned artists such as Fedde Le Grand, NERVO, YVes V, DJs From Mars, R3HAB, Nari and Milani, Brennan Heart, Headhunterz, DJ Sneak, Lucas & Steve, Datura, MANDY, Nicola Fasano, among others. Resident DJ for the Zrce Spring Break festival and Bobino Club in Milan, Sandro Bani has released music on prestigious labels in the dance scene including Do It Yourself, Glitter, X-Energy, d:vision, Ultra Records, Spinnin' Records, SIRUP, Blanco Y Negro and Samui Recordings. The fashion world has also courted him, inviting him to perform as DJ at Armani, JOEONE and Elisabetta Franchi fashion shows. He is Co-Owner, Co-Founder and A&R at Jackpot Records, and collaborates with Music Rails (digital distribution company). Complete bio here: https://sandrobani.it/biography
Best of 2023
1-a) Best track(s) from other fellow artists of 2023. Why you choose this particular track, please share with us the reasons?production techniques & crowd reactions on it.
Sandro Bani: I like many artists of the SIRUP group; I have always followed Nora En Pure, as well as EDX but also Mike Candys. Each of them has their own genre and being lucky enough to play as a DJ in various splendid European locations (Ibiza and Zrce for example) I have the opportunity to test their productions and bring their sound almost everywhere. Nora En Pure's productions are perfect for "afters", Mike Candys is more pre-guest at EDM festivals and venues, EDX lends itself very well to long sessions and its genre fits perfectly with my progressive house and melodic DJ SETS.
1-b) Best of 2023 personal productions and for what you reasons you choose these particular tracks, is it because of technical challenges, crowd reaction in the club or was it your most successful single/album?
Sandro Bani: In 2023 I produced three singles, the first two independently, the third with Sirup. I am very attached to the first single of this year "What About House" because it found unexpected success in my evenings; obviously as a DJ/Producer you always think that each of your productions deserves the #1 place in the rankings but this one particularly surprised me.
I have to speak for sure about the single with SIRUP "Sandro Bani - La Rara [PinkStar Black]". In August 2023 I had the opportunity to propose my sound in Ibiza, aware of this opportunity I wanted to create a song that talked about it. The mood is a journey through the current sounds that are often heard in Ibiza and the voice (of a dear friend of mine, she is a Spanish mothertongue) is a fundamental addition that consolidates the Ibizan spirit represented by the track itself. The release on SIRUP pushed this song in the most suitable way and even now, months after its release, it continues to be supported by international DJs: https://1001.tl/u0g9zux
2) Best Artist of 2023(DJ & producer). Tell us why you believe he/she is the best, the factors that have influence you to choose this particular artist. What you appreciate the most from that artist.
Sandro Bani: I love MEDUZA's productions, especially the latest EP, very clubby and even if the sounds are complex the writing of the songs is simple and has a sensational impact on the dance floor. I heard them live more than once this summer in Ibiza and they truly deserve that place among so many great DJs and Producers on the world stage.
3-a) Best Remix(es) from other fellow artists of 2023. For what reasons you chose this particular remix, i.e. production proficiency, technical reasons creativity and imagination of the remixer :
Sandro Bani: I don't think I'd classify it as a remix but as a remake. I grew up as a DJ learning to play with "techno-trance" and "progressive" vinyls from the 90s/2000s, I love Scooter. Just as they took up the melody and voice of their hit "Ramp The Logical Song", David Guetta also took up that melody in a splendid way a few days ago and with Kim Petras' voice he created a fresh and almost summer-hit despite the period. I already tested it several times in the clubs where I am resident DJ, it works and works very well!
3-b) Best Remixer(s) of 2023 with short comment, for what reason u believe he/she is the best remixer? Technical professionalism and technological proficiency? the elements that stand out in it.
Sandro Bani: I don't believe too much in remixes and I prefer unreleased ones and edits that each DJ creates on his own to make his DJ Set unique. The best remixes I have are a secret and many of these are bootlegs. Can I keep my "secret-weapon" secret right? :P
4) Best New Talent of 2023 (DJ or producer), for what reasons you choose this particular artist? Do you know him/her personally?
Sandro Bani: The club revolution has been made - in the last two years - by Label Afterlife and its artistic projects; in particular from Anyma who concretely translated the concept "video killed the radio star" for his amazing live shows.
5-a) Best electronic dance music album of 2023. Tell us the criteria behind the choice of this particular album and maybe highlight for the readers the best tracks from the album :
Sandro Bani: Anyma - Genesys, from the same reason I wrote before.. Simply fresh, revolutionary, unique and fill of energy.
5-b) Best electronic dance music compilation of 2023. Please explain the criteria behind this choice? is the quality and proficiency of the mixing process, imagination/creativity in the choice of the track listing :
Sandro Bani: I think I've don't listen to a compilation in too many years to be able to judge a better one for 2023..
5-c) Best artwork about single / album/compilation or promotional campaign of 2023. The criteria you applied to do this particular choice?
Sandro Bani: As far as I know, every day in Italy, iTunes/Apple Music releases around 120-140 products. The game is to help to be found among these products thanks also to the artwork. I have always loved PROTOCOL's designs, I really like the latest releases by Dillon Francis on Label Astralwerks. The Armada Subjekt pantone colors are very beautiful and recognizable in the store. Even with my Label - Jackpot Records - we managed to greatly revolutionize our artwork for 2023, making them unique and impactful in DSP research. In my opinion there is no artwork that is better than others, there is artwork that breaks the mold and gets noticed before others!
6) Best electronic dance music label of 2023. Please explain the reason behind your choice? what you particularly like or appreciate about this particular label?quality of tracks, great rooster of artists, personal connection?:
Sandro Bani: Afterlife for the reasons I mentioned before. Thanks to Anyma project and not only.
7) Best music composition software and hardware of 2023 with short comment. Why you believe this particular software/hardware deserves to be named as the best? great new features, easy to navigate, compose & produce? The advantages of this particular software & hardware that makes it to stand out.
Sandro Bani: I've worked with many DAWs; I started in 2007 with CUBASE, then moved on to Logic, understood the potential of Ableton, hated the FL arranger and returned - to date in 2023 - to work with Logic and Ableton. In my opinion there is no one better than the other; each producer has his own production and sound style which leads him to work in the best way he prefers. In the end it's all convenience and the sum of today's DAWs is still very aligned and incomparable even just to the quality of 2-3 years ago. (PS, I love GENELEC’s and PIONEER’s studio monitor sounds)
8-a) Your Best personal DJ Gig & DJ performance of 2023. Where and when did you perform there? any funny incidents happened during particular performance; great crowd reactions. If there is video or sound recording please provide the link.
Sandro Bani: As a Resident DJ there have been difficult evenings that thanks to my know-how and experience of almost 20 years in the console I managed to turn positively.
As a Regular Guest DJ, nothing beats the Zrce Spring Break in Croatia at Noa (Club no.28 in the world by DJ MAG 2023). Here is my aftermovie of the event.
Funny episode? Nobody believed that on the last day of that amazing festival I would play in kilt =):
8-b) Best DJ set from other fellow DJ (actual or online) of 2023. Why you believe is the strongest and best DJ set? great mixing/track selection/development of the mix:@sandrobaniofficial WHEN A DJ WITH KILT DECIDES TO MOVE THE CROWD FROM LEFT TO RIGHT.. THIS IS THE RESULT 🤩 . #edm #festival #musiclover #musicfestival #zrce #zrcebeach #zrcebeach2023 #zrcespringbreak #sandrobani #thebeardeddj #kilt #beard #bearded #kiltdance #dj #djlife #djlive #noabeachclub #noazrce #noaclub #djmagtop100 . #music @Afterlife ♬ suono originale - sandrobaniofficial
Sandro Bani: I listened to one of NOA's resident DJs live during Zrce Spring Break 2023. His name is NOIDE; he played after MANDY and his DJ SET was amazing. Music that’s difficult to find even with Shazam, all particular and unique versions and tracks.. really fiery dancefloor.. I would pay to listen to he again.
9) Best technical tips/production skills that you learnt in 2023 in relation to your DJing or music productions:
Sandro Bani: Just a process that allows me to finalize productions sooner. I put the idea and the basis there, I often look for updated sounds on Splice and among Logic's apple loops and then I make use of musician collaborators with years of experience in the world of composition to find ideal harmonics and sounds for my ideas. You are faster and more pragmatic this way
10) Best piece of personal or music business' advice you got in relation to your career in 2023 and has helped you to progress even further and can help others who will read this interview:
Sandro Bani: Don't be afraid to ask. Asking for advice, defense, help (in the production phase) from those who are ahead of you is often the key to turning a song and/or your future hit.
Dimitris: Do you have any concrete plans for 2024 regarding future releases, tracks, albums, collaborations, DJ gigs? Please provide us the juicy details.
Sandro Bani: I will end 2023 with 15 days in Val Gardena for the apreski at the end of the SASLONG (ski world cup slope https://sandrobani.it/val-gardena-apreski-experience-saslong-con-sandro-bani/). I am confirmed as Resident DJ for the whole of 2024 at the Bobino Club in Milan (https://www.instagram.com/bobinomilano); I am also confirmed as Regular DJ Guest @ Zrce Spring Break 2024 (https://zrcespringbreak.com/) at the Noa Beach Club in Zrce. I will be in Ibiza for the entire month of August 2024 but I still can't say the venues with which I will collaborate (stay tuned on my social networks, all with the tag @sandrobaniofficial and with the hashtag #thebeardeddj => https://linktr.ee/sandrobaniofficial ). I obviously hope to continue releasing new singles with the group SIRUP.
Dimitris: Your message & wishes for 2024.
Sandro Bani: May all your dreams (musical and otherwise) come true!
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