The NY-based posse+label known as Fool’s Gold, the same label his first 12″ was released on, refer to him as their “Italian Electro Prodigy”. He hails from the country where Italodisco was born and subsequently cultivated a couple of generations of prolific dance music artists, and grew up in a veritable paradise on the Adriatic side of its southern heel. And, if there’s anything to the whole name theory then Congorock’s Rocco Rampini is basically a sure thing for at least partial world domination. Who has a name that good? I got the chance to toss a little Q+A at Rocco when he visited Montreal earlier this year. What follows below is a brief glimpse into the rich mind of Italy’s best new ghetto-house export. For more info on Congorock and why I asked him these questions, visit http://www.congorock.com/
Name, Rank Serial Number – Nome, grado, numero di serie
Rocco Rampino, Congorock, 0100010100
Who are you, where are you from, what is your life’s purpose? (Chi sei, da dove vieni, qual è lo scopo della tua vita?)
I was born 27 years ago in a small town in south east Italy, Lecce. Music instruments and records have always been around my house since I was born, so I think music has been my main interest in life since ever, because I lived it as a game first of all. I’ve be doing music with bands for around 8 years and producing/djing my own music as Congorock in the last three years now.
Dire: tell us about a defining moment in your life that made you realize you wanted to make electronic music? (era una grande festa, supremo canto, impressionante DJ…?)
The first electronic record I listened to was Ken Ishii’s “Jelly Tones” in 1997, but the record that definitely made me feel like start makind dance music was Basement Jaxx “Rooty”. I’ve never been a clubber when I was younger, everything was all about the listening experience, but some records were definitely crucial to my musical career.
Quando guardo al vostro online info, vari temi sembrano identifiable with Congorock: Space, Primal Instinct and the Future – would you say this is accurate? Would you say that these three ideas feed into what you see and do and create (everyday)
Definitely yes. One of my biggest influence was Detroit techno in the beginning, something that related tribal music with a futuristic aestethics. Of course lots of time has passed by, and some of those influence are not fascinating as 10 years ago, yet that one is a big reference for me everything I do as Congorock, music, video and artworks.
I also see a lot of bold, geometric imagery in your collections – what is it about these things that moves or captures you? ciò che muove tu su queste cose?
I have been playing for a lot of time in hardcore punk bands. What I really liked about that scene is that every record would have a lots of graphic and text content, there would be a lot of communication and signs in general. This is something missing in dance music since the real beginning, with only few exceptions. I think that a dance record can deliver more than just beats, yet the actual space available on a dance record is very little. So I like having images and writings with a strong visual impact. When I hold my Runark 12″ in my hands I am still exciting about how it looks. Dust La Rock at Fool’s Gold did a great job.
I read that you are into anthroplogy – did you study this? explain its significance to you. Would you want to travel back in time to see what things used to be like?
I like history a lot, rather than anthropology. I have a degree in Politics so I studied lots of History, not so much anthropology, yet you would find a lot of weird anthropology studies picture on my blog, but this is more related to my aesthetical interest to weird things in general. Anyways, when I travel I always try to visit museums and stuff rather than sitting in a hotel room. Say, tomorrow I am gonna see some native ruins in Arizona.
Jestofunk says “We must learn to live together” – Credete tu nel messaggio d’amore? Do you believe in the message of love and its ability to unite the world, o ti piace davvero il funky ‘Murk’ beats in what is a classic dancefloor tune?
That Jestofunk tune is massive. Still one of my favourite italian dance tracks. Ce Ce Rogers vocals are amazing too, very soulful. Lots of soulful music would have generalistic lyrics, I mean its very easy to talk about love and good feelings in a song, thats why most of soulful music ends to sound a bit cheesy nowaadays after 30 years of soulful house, yet the Ce Ce Roger voice gives me goosegumps even for the words he sings. Yes of course I do believe in love and cosmic peace.
I’m a big fan of Murk from back in the day, and this is one of my favourite old tunes – do you know it? Do you like it?
I really like this. I think I’ve never heard it before, one of my best friends own tons of this stuff – I must have a look when I come back home at my parents!
