On this 4th Monday of May, RBL shares with you all Dario Whatafunk’s interview, one of the hosts from the German hub of RBL Berlin.
1. Tell us something about you. Who are you, where are you from and what do you do in your life?
Hi, my name’s Dario. I’m 37 and I was born and raised in Turin. For about 7 years I’ve lived in Berlin, where I’ve started working as a teacher in a kindergarten. Since when I was a boy I’ve followed my two big passions: music and painting.
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?
It all happened very casually. I was in the right place at the right time. About a month before the German hub of the radio started broadcasting, a very close friend of mine – who was a collaborator of RBL Berlin at its very beginning – invited me to meet the other members. Back then, the founders of RBL Berlin needed new radio shows to schedule. They asked me if I wanted to join them and host one myself, so I didn’t hesitate a second. The world of independent web radios had always fascinated me, so I wouldn’t think twice. After just a month the first episode of Whatafunk Worldwide Radio Show went on air.
3. Your love for Funk music is so deep that you’ve nicknamed yourself after it. How did you discover this music genre and how did you become passionate about it?
I’ve come to Funk through my first love, Hip Hop, searching and discovering which samples my favorite producers used to use. I immediately fell in love with George Clinton and with Parliament Funkadelic, as well as all elements from their background, such as graphics and iconography. I came up with the nickname ‘Whatafunk’ in 2007, more or less, while I was looking for a nickname I could use to sign my paintings, which would soon be shown at an exposition. I liked the way it sounded beyond any possible meaning. In my nickname the reference to the word ‘Funk’ doesn’t only refer to/suggest the music genre, but it underlines even more something raw, brutal: the perfect adjectives to describe both my paintings and the music I love and play.
4. Your goal is to spread Funk/Groove iconography worldwide through your paintings, DJ sets and your own program, Whatafunk Worldwide Radio Show. How do you accomplish this mission through your show?
I’ve always found it fascinating, that theatricality tending to megalomania, typical of many funk artists: they tend to celebrate themselves, their crew and their music – it’s a very popular attitude also among Hip Hop exponents. Especially through my radio show I like to play with this attitude. In my bio on RBL’s website, I made a joke out of it too, claiming I am a prophet accomplishing my mission in spreading Funk around the world. Actually, my show’s concept is simple: entertain the audience and let them have a good time for an hour through powerful grooves, between new releases and classic ones, from Hip Hop to Funk and from Jazz to Salsa.
5. What has RBL given you in these years?
It made me meet many interesting people – many of them became great friends – and experience unforgettable moments, such as when we participated to Karneval der Kulturen in Berlin, for which I had in the first person built and painted the wagon where we played in front of thousands of people. And it keeps making me discover new music when I weekly dedicate time to create the best playlist for my show.
6. 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 must admit that RBL’s schedule gets better year after year. There are many shows that I like, but there are 3 that I’ve mostly listened to in these last months: 87.90, L’appuntamento and Sunday Brew. But there’s a show that deserves a special praise, even though it’s finished for a while now – it’s Afterhour: two hours of unbridled entertainment that I’ve always enjoyed very much.
7. Do you have a song that represents you or that sends a message that you appreciate? Can you share it with us?
Answering these questions reminded me of the beginning of the adventure with RBL Berlin. I’ll greet you all with a track that reminds me of that time – since we’re also about to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the hub – and this song perfectly represents my show first-year’s mood/the mood of my show during its first year: Dr. Funkenstein by Parliament. Enjoy!
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
