When and why did you originally set up your label, Cadenza?

Luciano: “Cadenza started around 2003 with my sister (who produces all the artwork), Quenum, and me. We decided to start working on one release together - Orange Mistake. We had such good feedback from this record that we decided to keep on rollin’.
Cadenza is a platform for creative people, with a principal idea to bring it back to the music. In my case I've always been protected and surrounded by music and I wanted to do something, to create a place where new people could bring their own sound and ideas.”

How would you describe the label output?

“Cadenza output is changing and moving, but we basically look for people and projects that define their own sound, have a strong vision and are committed to their work. That's how I would describe it.”

What's been your biggest seller?

"Other than Orange Mistake, it was the Salif Keita remix of Thomas Melchior & Luciano, Father."

Why do you think it did so well?

“Because it is authentic, in the right place in the right time. I don't have any formula for that, it's a feeling, that's what we create at Cadenza.”

What's the hardest thing about running a label?

“For me, the hardest thing from the beginning was to find and to put the right people together. Now it's perfect, we are all very close to each other and everyone find his role in the game.”

What's been the worst moment in Cadenza's history?

“I think was the beginning, as I started to do it on my own and suddenly I received a lot of demands and questions from customers and distributors. I'm not the right person to do that, I'm good in music, the creative part, but for all the administration it can be tough!”

Any advice for any budding producers looking to sign to Cadenza?

“I look for people with their own sound and Cadenza is a place where we work in long term relationships, so we do not sign on the first demo or CD, we follow people with evolution. Don't look for the brand, but look for the content.”

What are your plans for the next 12 months?

“We have a lot of new artist and new releases, I can't tell you all, but I can give u a little taste of it: Guido Schneider and André Galluzzi will release Cadenza 23, then Reboot, then the long-awaited Rhadoo double EP. Los Updates - which is the amazing Jorge Gonzales with his wife remixed by Ricardo Villalobos and others, Petre Inspirescu, and many many more projects.

What releases should we be buying on other labels and why?

“Buy what your heart tells u to buy.”

Any other bits and pieces coming up that you want to tell us about?

Cadenza - as a platform for our artists - is not only a label, we are also developing showcases, tours and events together with promoters all over Europe in order to bring the music directly to the people. So expect a lot more to come this year!”

Interview: Emma McAlpine