We’re on a world tour with Albi Scotti, my man…
We met Albi Scotti for a spritz a few months ago, and while sipping Aperol we asked him to join the Wood’d Vibes crew, our column of weekly mixtapes. Usually we ask musicians, DJs and producers to translate into music their idea of wood, tradition, craftmanship. And while Albi was trhilling to join, we were glad to have him here. So word to Albi, a man of music, great taste and amazing company. Cheers!
Ciao Albi, tell us who you are!
I am Albi Scotti, or Albiscotti for closer friends. I was born in Milano in 1981, but I live the rice fields in the countryside. I have always been a DJ. I am web coordinator and editor-in-chief of DJ Mag Italy. I host a radio show by the name of CaSSa Bertallot, on the web radio Casa Bertallot. I love music, life, always have been curious and, I hope, not much boring.
How did you start with music?
I’ve loved music since like forever, I was too young to remember. Then at 14 my mind was kidnapped by the early Italian rap scene and lately by dance music. Back in the days, in the 90s, everything seemed like science fiction to me.
Which are your main influences, and how they’ve affected your sound?
A lot. I am an insatiable music lover. Even tough electronic and club music is my main interest, I like everything that lights a fire in me. I think this mix is a great example of it.
What are you listening to lately?
Tons of Africa, as you can say from the mix. But also Vince Staples’ rap, Calvin Harris’ pop. The Milk, Neil Young, Katy Perry, Jacques Greene, Luke Vibert, Gue Pequeno, lots of house music.
Which was the main inspiration for this mix?
The many productions that are reshaping african music, beautiful and rhythm-centered. To me, rhythm, in Africa, is the essence of wood. So…Wood’d!
We are curious, what have you prepared for Wood’d?
As soon as Wood’d proposed me to do a mix, I’ve immediately thought about wood, which in music is the sound of percussions, of rhythm. I’ve thought about sounds from Africa and South America, the rhythmic genetics of music all over the world. Then I got into a world tour starting from Africa, and Dele Sosimi’s own Nigeria (even if he was born in London) reinterpreted by a great Italian enthusiast, DJ Khalab. I went to Mali and South Africa, then back to London with 4 Hero, Bugz In The Attic and Goldie, and then south again, in Camerun, with Oumou Sangaré. I’ve paid a quick visit to El Guincho, Spanish genius that immerses his music in Caribbean and South American grammar, to finally land in California, where the scottish Calvin Harris lives: he’s possibly one of the freshest minds in actual pop music. That’s my world tour, inspired by Wood’d.