Simonpietro Malandra, aka Malandra Jr., began his career as a musician already from childhood when he entered the conservatory, After a few years started studying clarinet, graduating with honors, winning several awards, and playing in various orchestras and chamber ensembles, Malandra studied at the Accademia Teatro alla Scala, and right after started producing electronic music offering unique, sophisticated releases on label such as Diynamic, R&S, Still vor Talent, Atlant and, of course, Tenax recordings. His wealth of classical music makes him able to shape electronic music with an incredible result of melody, harmony, and rhythm, with shades of bucolic, tradition, and innovation, while his bass lines, in contrast, are very deep and pressing; he loves minor keys, and all this has earned him a spot as a teacher at the Tenax Academy for DJs and producers.
To celebrate the release of his ‘Clowns’ EP on DOA Electronic Music Records, Malandra Jr. selects his all-time top 10 electronic tracks.
1. Art Of Noise – Moments In Love
“This song is my childhood, my start, my entry into a different musical dimension. My mom was an owner of a radio station in the 80s, I was born on this vinyl…”
2. De’ Lacy – Hideaway (Deep Dish Mix Edit)
“This thin, minor line made me understand that dance music was not just stupidity and appearance. In those days, when I was a child, there was no YouTube, and we provincial kids had to listen to copied cassettes, with filthy music. I believe that from this, the pure underground touched the mainstream, so in the small country, it was something that changed everything.”
3. Matthew Herbert – It’s Only (DJ Koze Remix)
“Something that has come straight to my heart, the possibility of being able to phrase, of being able to experiment while remaining conceptual.”
4. Carl Craig – Sandstorms
“I listened to Detroit techno throughout my time in Berlin. I listened to jazz fusion throughout my adolescence….Craig is, for me, a perfect mix of these two schools. The first time I heard Carl Craig was in Chieti. He pushed this one. it was magical. A supreme art of arrangement that shocked me.”
5. Adam Beyer – China Girl
“I think half of the plays are mine. This track marks the end of my ambient/hip-hop-making period. I spent whole days, months trying to recreate this drum sound…a real kick in the mouth.”
6. Modeselektor – The Black Block
“Mercilessly pushing techno to the limit, with an incredible drop. Here, I understood what the drop was.”
7. Abdulla Rashim – Weldiya 1
“A master of hypnosis. The master of reverbs. I had already done some production, but listening to Abudulla Rashim, I immediately understood that the road was still very far away.”
8. Radio Slave – Grindhouse (Dubfire Terror Planet Remix)
“The perfect mix, the ability to filter voices, effects, noise, deadly drops … That’s how I started.”
9. James Blake – The Wilhelm Scream
“The idea occurred to me to create a live set with him, the most beautiful voice, and certainly one of the greatest talents in electronics. He has also accompanied me in many loves that have begun and ended.”
10. Conrad Schnitzler – Auf Dem Schwarzen Kanal
“Everyone should know the supreme master Conrad Schnitzler. His work has opened my mind and heart.”
Malandra Jr.’s new ‘Clowns’ EP is out now via DOA Electronic Music Records. Purchase your copy here.
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