Protagonist of AUTORI-tratti in this second week of June is Turo – DJ, beatmaker, but above all author and host of his show on RBL: Soulquarius.
1. Tell us something about you. Who are you, where are you from and what do you do in your life?
I’m Alberto Marchesa and I’m an engineer. My main task is developing electronic devices, especially by the implementation of algorithms. I’m half from Turin and half from Palermo and I like to think that I’ve got the best from both Southern and Northern Italy, but the truth is I’m a very ordinary nitwit.
2. Which experiences pushed you towards radio as a medium of expression? How did you get to know about RBL specifically and why did you choose to join it?
By going to Bounce FM parties, I had the opportunity to meet several people, some of whom are an essential part of this community. As they proposed to host my own show… I immediately accepted!
3. Where does your nickname come from?
To be honest, the story of my nickname is definitely less appealing than you may think. In Palermo I’ve always been the foreigner coming from the North of the Country: some friends started calling me Torino or Turin and, eventually, it became Turo! I don’t know exactly why, but people seem to enjoy this nickname and I spontaneously thought of using it as a moniker… In this way, I also didn’t have to rack my brains to think of another one!
4. When you were a teenager you got into Hip Hop music and got interested in producing beats through the use of samples. How did you end up being a DJ and a beat-maker, and what impact did your passions have on your artistic journey?
At the beginning I got interested in beatmaking: I was fascinated by the possibility of producing music by being able to control all instruments. The choice of using samples was mainly due to the necessity of using sounds that would reflect those of important producers from the US. More or less there and then, I started my journey within music – the so-called “digging” – that enabled me to discover more and more sounds and moods. Even back then, my intention was to get closer to dee-jaying, but it seemed impossible because of the quantity of vinyls and all the necessary equipment I needed. The idea remained silent for some years. Once I moved to Turin, I came more into contact with the dee-jaying/clubbing culture and this prompted me to find a way to share with other people all the music I had discovered and that made me feel incredibly good. I got the equipment I needed thanks to a great deal in a store of musical instruments and, in the good company of Fabrizio Lanciarini, we started sharing our sound through the city… Even though I’ll never forget my first dee-jay set!
5. In what way has Soulquarius come to life? What aspects of your show do you believe reflect your personality?
Through Soulquarius I want to spread a soundscape formed by different genres and periods, maintaining a common thread, which features warm, embracing, lively sounds – characteristics that I consider part of my temperament and that, according to me, have inevitably led me towards this musical universe.
6. What has RBL given you in these years?
This experience definitely enabled me to experiment more, widening the choices from my collection and selecting records that, in many other situations, I wouldn’t happen to play otherwise. Moreover, it’s been an excellent way for self-analysis and for improving my technique.
7. Are there any shows on RBL that you particularly enjoy? If so, why do you like them best? Are there any conductors that you admire in particular?
I really enjoy Nader’s show, Champion Sound, where the origin of samples are investigated and small anecdotes are always provided. But also because, deep down, I envy the show’s name so bad!
8. Do you have a song that represents you or that sends a message that you appreciate? Can you share it with us?
There are surely tracks that, to me, are more important than others – nevertheless, the amount remains remarkable and it’s hard to choose among all of them. Super cherished tidbits or evergreen party anthems came to my mind. However, I think that, in these cases, it’s always better to restart from the basics. Therefore, I feel like sharing a song that I found in one of the very first vinyls I ever bought: a musical trip lasting 20 minutes by one of my favorite artists, Isaac Hayes. This song is called “By The Time I Get To Phoenix” and starts with a long monologue – a technique known as “rap” that became popular during the 1960s and 1970s, which did the groundwork for the following development of the Hip Hop genre.
AUTORI-tratti is the series of interviews dedicated to getting to know better the hosts from all RBL’s hubs.
Project curated by Valeria Alimandi Graphics by Chiara Manchovas
