Born in Genova and the son of a professional DJ, Valentino Marchiori began his career at the early age of 13, quickly developing his own style shaped by dark atmospheres and melodic energy.
Photo credit: VALENTINØ – Official
Today, as founder of Mantra Club and Hide Festival in his hometown, he is making his mark not only as a club owner but also as a producer with releases on respected labels such as Overtime, Suara, Materia, Ellora, and Etruria Beat.
With support from world-class artists and appearances at iconic festivals like Awakenings, Tomorrowland, and BPM, Valentinø continues to push his artistic boundaries. His recent inclusion in ARTCORE’s ‘ARTCORE DUO II’ and his upcoming debut at Tomorrowland 2025 mark important milestones in a journey defined by passion, evolution, and a clear vision for the future.
In this conversation, Valentinø opens up about his creative process, building identity through music, and what lies ahead.
EG: Hi, Valentinø! Welcome to EG. It’s a pleasure to have you here with us. How have you been? Where are you right now?
VALENTINØ: Hi guys, the pleasure is all mine; I’m fine, thanks, charged for this intense year. Right now I’m in Italy, in Genoa, back from a gig in Greece.
EG: First of all, thank you for your recent contribution to our EG Techno podcast series. We’re excited to have you. What can fans of the series come to find in this mix? Is there a concept behind this one? How do you usually go about crafting this sort of mix?
Valentinø: In this mix, I wanted to include many of my own tracks, with the intent of offering a different experience compared to other podcasts. The goal is to make listeners start to recognize me and identify my style through my music.
EG: Now, congratulations on your inclusion in ARTCORE’s ‘ARTCORE DUO II’! You must be stoked to have this one out for some weeks now. What has the initial reception been like? What does this one mean to you?
Valentinø: This is a really big milestone for me, not only because it’s my third release on ARTCORE, but also because, once again, the track has entered the Beatport top 100. To make it even more special, this time I had the pleasure of collaborating with my friend Marhu.
EG: What can listeners expect to find on these new cuts? Is there a concept or emotion driving this particular record?
Valentinø: I’m going through a period where I don’t want to stand still, but I want to explore as many artistic possibilities as possible. In my music, I’m experimenting with different sounds, and in my productions, I will always try to include an element that distinguishes me, whether it’s a vowel, a melody, or something unique. At the same time, I want to offer the rapidly growing market different facets of my musical ideas. For example, in the last track released on ARTCORE, I decided to include the sound of a football match starting whistle, to immediately grab the listener’s attention.
“I’m going through a period where I don’t want to stand still, but I want to explore as many artistic possibilities as possible”
EG: And what was the selection process for ‘ARTCORE DUO II’ like? Did you have a previous relationship with Indira Paganotto?
Valentinø: Marhu and I are currently the primary artists of ARTCORE. We both share similar views on music production, which is why Indira and our team decided to let us release this EP, giving us the opportunity for our ideas to meet and create something truly unique.
EG: By the way, you are actually set to represent ARTCORE Records at Tomorrowland 2025. Congratulations! You must be over the moon. How are you feeling about this? What can your fans and festivalgoers expect from your performance?
Valentinø: Since I joined ARTCORE, I knew my life was going to change. This is just the beginning of a long journey, and my Tomorrowland debut will be an experience I will always remember. My goal is to be an artist who, with this opportunity, will do everything to get noticed and bring the name of the brand and its team everywhere, making everyone talk about it.
EG: Now, stepping outside of the studio for a bit. What’s a little-known fact about Valentinø? What else drives you outside of music?
Valentinø: It may seem obvious, but music is an integral part of my daily life. I run a club, a recording studio, and, for years, I have been a DJ and producer; all of this is part of my routine. Outside of music, though, Valentinø is a guy who loves sports, shopping, and spending time with friends.
EG: What do you see as the biggest challenge for the music industry in the next few years, and how do you think artists can adapt?
Valentinø: Here we touch on a delicate point: music and everything that revolves around it. It is clear to everyone that the music industry has undergone a radical change after COVID. Personally, I believe that in this historical period, the visibility opportunities for DJs and producers are increasingly limited. However, it is time to adapt, resist, and continue to believe that passion, quality music, and determination are what will guarantee success in the future.
“Music is an integral part of my daily life. I run a club, a recording studio, and, for years, I have been a DJ and producer”
EG: Looking forward, what can we expect from Valentinø in the coming months? Where can your fans catch you next?
Valentinø: The public should always expect something new and never take for granted from me, a continuous evolution and innovation. This will be a year of great achievements for me: I will have the honor of performing on the most prestigious stages in the world, such as Tomorrowland Belgium, Fabric London, Dream Beach Spain, Barrakud Croatia, Hi Ibiza, Awakening Amsterdam and many others.
EG: Thank you so much for your time, Valentinø! We wish you all the best for the future. Take care!
Valentinø: Thank you so much for allowing me to express myself. I hope to see you soon on one of these amazing stages. See you around, baby!
Valentinø’s ‘ARTCORE DUO II’ is out now on ARTCORE Records. Stream and download here.
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