From viral success to intense lows, we caught up with Italian duo Giolì & Assia. With their latest LP ‘Fire, Hell & Holy Water’ released on ‘Ultra Records‘ last week, we put them through their paces in our Q&A.
Italy has a long and glorious electronic music history. From Giorgio Moroder to Robert Miles and more recently 999999999 the country’s position is firmly established.
What can Giolì & Assia bring to the table? We first met the Italian duo at IMS and were impressed with their Beatport stream. With a style that blends techno, house, indie, and pop, they’ve combined the best of Italian electronic music with a wider community. Having fast-tracked to notable status, we managed to pin them down and put them through our historic Q&A.
Why music?
Because neither of us could imagine our life doing anything else.
If you weren’t making music what would you be doing?
We would have both probably worked in real estate.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Family first. It’s the only thing that really matters.
What inspires you?
Nature, love and sadness.
What’s the next big thing?
We are working on a documentary about our album.
Best club experience?
Istanbul is the best city for clubbing.
What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?
This is the only job we’ve both ever had.
How do you know when a track’s finished?
When you listen to it twice, without thinking “maybe I should do this, or that..”
What was your last day job and when did you realise you could give it up?
We didn’t do any other job besides this one.
Which song do you wish you wrote?
Queen – ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’.
What’s the easiest way to make it in the music industry?
Nowadays using social media, mostly TikTok to auto promote your own music.
What’s the worst track you’ve ever released?
We don’t know what to answer. We love our tracks!
Recommend us a film.
Interstellar.
Recommend us a book.
Select songs that create a continuous, seamless musical journey.
What or who is underrated?
Chihuahuas.
What or who is overrated?
Sushi.
What are you addicted to?
Our dogs and good food.
What do you lust over?
Enjoying more friends and family time.
What is your greatest regret?
Small things really. Nothing big.
What one thing would most improve your life?
Knowledge and time.
What’s the worst gig you’ve ever played?
There isn’t one.
Try to aim for your uniqueness, your sound, without being influenced by the trend of the moment.
Collaboration: rich creative experience or pain in the ass?
Rich creative experience.
What’s the secret to a great mix?
Select songs that create a continuous, seamless musical journey.
If you could only listen to one more track, what would it be?
Our track ‘Meaning Of Life’.
How do you relax?
Playing with our dogs at home.
What one piece of software/kit could you not do without? Why?
We produce with Logic, so Logic and some plugins like Kontakt, Keyscape, Nectar are fundamental for us.
Art or money?
Art.
Ronaldo or Messi?
Messi.
Strangest place you ever wrote a track?
A hotel room in Lebanon.
Must-visit record store?
Feltrinelli in Rome.
What’s your single biggest frustration in the music industry?
Dealing with self-centred and unscrupulous people.
What’s your favourite label? Why?
Our own label Diesis Records.
What’s the worst thing about making music?
Following the social media rules.
What’s your motto?
Happiness is only real when shared.
Name something timeless
Greek food.
Tweet us a tip. What’s the best production advice you can give in 140 characters or less?
Try to aim for your uniqueness, your sound, without being influenced by the trend of the moment.
Complete this sentence: At heart I’m just a frustrated …
Human being who doesn’t realize how ephemeral life is, and continues to pursue pipe dreams only to forget that one day we all die.
Can music change the world?
Unfortunately not. The world is dramatically changing music.
What are you listening to right now?
An unreleased remix of one of our songs from the album from an emerging artist we like a lot called &Lez.
What should you do before you die?
Enjoy life.
Giolì & Assia’s ‘Fire, Hell & Holy Water’ is out now. Catch the duo live this fall on their US tour:
- 9/17 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Steel
- 9/18 – Las Vegas, NV – Life Is Beautiful
- 9/24 – San Francisco, CA – Portola
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