Italian DJ and producer Valentinø has been steadily building his project from the ground up, shaping a path that connects club culture, label work, and festival curation. As the founder of Mantra Club and Mantra Recordings, his focus remains on creating a cohesive platform rooted in techno.
Photo credit: Valentinø – Official
Based in Genoa, Valentinø’s trajectory began early, influenced by his father’s musical background and a formative connection to instruments from a young age. Over time, that foundation evolved into a career that includes releases on labels such as Materia, Etruria Beat, Suara, Second State, and ARTCORE Records, where he debuted his ‘Baba Baby’ EP in 2024.
Alongside his studio output, Valentinø has performed at venues and festivals including Fabrik Madrid, Cocorico, Khidi Tbilisi, Tomorrowland Belgium, and Amnesia Ibiza, while continuing to expand his vision through new projects such as Enigma Festival and a residency at Bolgia Club.
In this conversation, Valentinø opens up about the growth of Mantra, the values shaping his artistic direction, and the mindset behind his long-term vision.
EG: Hi Valentinø, welcome to EG! Before we get into everything, where are you today, and what kind of energy surrounds you right now?
Valentinø: Hi EG, it’s a real pleasure to see you again! Right now, you’ll find me in my natural habitat: I’m in the studio, where I’ve been spending most of my weeks. I feel extremely productive, and my creative drive is at its peak; it’s the right energy to tackle this new year with important projects.
EG: Mantra has been part of your life for a decade. At what moment did you realize it needed to grow beyond the walls of the club
Valentinø: Expanding Mantra has always been my dream, since day one. However, I believe that only now are the concrete foundations for real growth in place: as the founder and creator of the label, I’m experiencing a moment of strong international visibility. Performing at prestigious festivals is allowing me to spread our vision worldwide. I don’t think there could be a better time than now to take the project to the next level.
EG: Building something outside the center of a city comes with its own challenges. What did that environment teach you about people and about music?
Valentinø: I want to share the reality that lies behind the walls of the Mantra. Before becoming the club you know today, this place was marked by complex management and a strained relationship with the justice system and local institutions. Being located on the outskirts of Genoa, the city council was extremely wary of what was happening here, but the choice of this space was anything but random.
I wanted to get involved deliberately: I prefer the challenge of a ‘difficult’ location to the convenience of the city center. My choice is selective: I don’t want people who are just passing through or who enter the club by chance. Those who come to the Mantra must do so by choice, purposely moving from the city center because they are driven by our identity. The risk of a club in the city center is precisely that of attracting an audience unsuitable for the format, whereas here we create a destination for those who truly share our vision.
EG: When you think back to your earliest connection with sound, what is the first moment that still feels alive today?
Valentinø: My first contact with the sound I’d call ‘eternal’ is linked to my father. Seeing the console and realizing, thanks to him, that those keys could give voice to what was inside me was my point of no return. I was only 14, but the feeling of discovery is still vivid today. That moment represents the genesis of my determination: it was there that I understood that music wouldn’t just be a hobby, but the language with which I would speak to the world.
“I firmly believe that today, in the techno scene, it’s crucial to transcend the concept of a single entity and create a comprehensive ecosystem”
EG: The first VA brings together very distinct voices within techno. What connects these artists beyond the obvious?
Valentinø: The choice of these artists was born, first and foremost, from the deep respect I have for them. Many of them are producers I’ve long admired, and their music has always been present on my USB sticks, accompanying me in every set.
However, I believe that what truly unites them, and what makes them perfect for our journey, is their artistic consistency. They are historic producers, internationally respected figures who have never betrayed their sonic identity. Having names of this caliber is not only an honor, but also proof that the project focuses on absolute quality and substance, as well as sound.
EG: There is a difference between running a club and shaping a label. What shifted in your mindset when you stepped into that role?
Valentinø: More than a change in mindset, I’d call it a necessary evolution. My goal has always been to bring something more to the club and constantly expand my vision. With the label, I wanted to give Mantra a true voice: a sonic signature that would be recognizable everywhere.
It’s not just about managing a space, but about exporting a musical aesthetic. I wanted anyone, anywhere in the world, to be able to listen to one of our releases and say, “This is the sound of Mantra.” It’s the ultimate way to make the project a total experience, starting in the club and extending wherever there’s music.
EG: When you are selecting music for Mantra, what are you really listening for beyond technique or genre?
Valentinø: When I put on headphones to listen to demos, I don’t follow rigid parameters: I let myself be carried away by the feeling. For me, a track must be a perfect balance of emotion, power, and groove. I often choose to listen to a song several times before making a decision; I need to understand if what I feel is a real connection or just a fleeting enthusiasm. However, when that spark ignites on first listen, it’s a visceral, almost inexplicable feeling that immediately confirms I’ve found something special.
EG: What do you think the techno scene is missing right now, and what do you hope Mantra can contribute to that conversation
Valentinø: Within the underground scene, few projects offer a truly 360-degree vision. I firmly believe that today, in the techno scene, it’s crucial to transcend the concept of a single entity and create a comprehensive ecosystem: a club that serves as a physical venue and point of contact, a label for sound research, weekly podcasts, and live streaming for digital distribution.
I wanted Mantra to be exactly this: not just a record label, but a true creative hub. My goal is to offer the artists who release on the label an integrated platform where their music isn’t just a digital product, but an experience that lives on the dancefloor and our media channels. We want to ensure expressive continuity that allows each talent to fully express their artistic vision, feeling like an integral part of an organic and structured project.
“It’s not just about managing a space, but about exporting a musical aesthetic”
EG: Was there a moment in your journey when someone’s support or belief changed the direction of things for you?
Valentinø: Without a doubt, the key figure was my father. He instilled his passion in me and gave me the tools to start when I was still a kid. Losing that support at 17 was the hardest moment, but it was precisely the trust he placed in me that pushed me to make my own way. That awareness led me to create a club, a festival, and now a label. If I’m here today, it’s because someone believed in me from the beginning, giving me the push I needed to become the man and artist I am.
EG: If you had to describe your journey so far in one word, what would it be and why?
Valentinø: My identity can be summed up in Determination. A visceral connection to music began at 14 under the guidance of my father. After his passing, when I was only 17, I transformed my journey into a solitary yet resolute mission: to give a home to the sound I loved. From creating a club to organizing major events like festivals and street parades, I’ve always worked to offer something different to my city. Today, with a studio that serves as an incubator for new talent and the launch of Mantra Recordings, I continue to look forward. My goal has never changed: to fuel the creative fire that drives me to constantly evolve.
EG: Outside of music, what keeps you grounded when everything becomes intense or overwhelming?
Valentinø: To be honest, my life is marked by the rhythm of music seven days a week. I spend five days in the studio, one at the club, and one dedicated to recovery. Music is a constant presence, perhaps even all-consuming at times. The only time I carve out exclusively for myself is the gym, in the evenings after studio sessions or while I’m touring the world playing: that’s where I release tension and transform negative thoughts into energy. It’s my way of resetting my mind and maintaining the balance needed to manage everything else.
EG: Looking ahead, what do you want Mantra to represent five years from now, not just as a brand but as a feeling?
Valentinø: Looking ahead, I see Mantra Recordings as a global benchmark for the genre, a solid entity capable of hosting showcases around the world and launching emerging talents that have grown within our ecosystem. On a personal level, I’d like to be remembered as someone who, starting from nothing and armed only with determination, managed to achieve goals that many consider mere dreams. I hope my journey and my project can become a source of inspiration for anyone who decides to believe in their vision all the way.
Matra Recordings’ Evolution Of the Club’ VA is now available. Stream and download here.
Follow Valentinø: Spotify | Soundcloud | Instagram
