Giuseppe Ottaviani.
If you were able to pronounce his name correctly, I will vouch for you that you are an avid dance music follower. He’s an Italian artist who started to release tracks on Vandit Records, Paul Van Dyk’s renowned label, in 2001, and since then can be considered one of the most talented producer and influential recording artist in trance music.
His musical education started at the age of four in Viterbo, a small Italian town near Rome when he first started to play the piano. Which made me wonder what on earth was I doing at that age? I am sure all of us created our own music during that age and even earlier in fact; most kids create their own music at age of six months and it progress to something more electronic by the age of 10 to 12 months — even if it all sounds like “Gagagooo… dabadabadoo…”
After music school in his early childhood and studies of classical music as a teen, Giuseppe discovered electronic music and started to spin his first DJ-sets at clubs and on local radio stations.
His deep enthusiasm for anything related to technology led to him beginning to use his computer to make and produce his own music and when he met Andrea Ribeca and Giacomo Miccichè in 1999 (two electronic music enthusiasts and also DJs) he quickly decided to start their own music project: NU NRG — Giuseppe’s starting point as a professional musician and producer.
Since that time Giuseppe Ottaviani has released club anthems like Dreamland, the “Spaceflower” EP, Butterfly, Casino, Connective and the smash hit Free Fall, as well as winning numerous awards like the Trance Award in 2004 and 2006 for Best Live Act. No wonder he is playing all the biggest festivals and greatest events while touring the world. Since 2005 Giuseppe Ottaviani began his solo career with immediate success. His solo productions like Linking People, Through Your Eyes and his compilation “The Vandit Sessions 4” received outstanding feedback from all around the globe. The tracks La Dolce Vita and Far Away on Paul van Dyk’s new album “In Between” again show his quality as one of the most creative artists on the scene. He also keeps on performing live with more enthusiasm than ever before.
Some of his latest releases: One Day… Where I Want to Go… Fallen… Sunward… Third Dome… No More Alone… White Empire… Thermopile… Unplugged… Our Dimension… Silver Sand… Changing Ways… Love Mission… Angel...
“Playing my own music live is something special, something that really touches me,” Giuseppe says. “In an electronic music concert, performing onstage allows you to get through to the people, they really breathe the music, you can establish a two-way bond with them and the music itself changes and reacts to the people. This is why each show is different, unique.”
Whatever the next year will bring for Giuseppe Ottaviani, it will be big! And bigger yet when he hits Manila’s shores for a taste of our clubbers. When is that going to happen? Well, we just have to wait and see; meanwhile you can watch out for his album release under Activ8 records and listen to his radio set on Bigfish radio that airs every Saturday 9 p.m. on Magic89.9FM in mega Manila and Killerbee stations nationwide.
For comments and suggestions feel free to e-mail me at rickydaker@gmail.com.
“Beat Generation” is the only column that features the electronica scene, DJ interviews, CD reviews, parties and events around the world, exclusively in Philippine STAR’s YS section every Friday.