Fresh from a moving release with Kevcody and Michael Ekow out on Black Book Records, we catch up with Marco Lys with a more in depth view through his musical journey and some behind-the-scenes info from his latest release, a rather funky & groovy track that will definitely get you dancing. The release also includes remixes by STRIPES and Us Two, each offering a fresh vision of the track while retaining the elements that made the original work so well.
Born and raised in Italy’s iconic Venice, Marco Lys has established himself as a true luminary in the electronic music scene. His unique style blends various genres, seamlessly fusing house, techno, and tribal influences into a captivating sonic experience that ignites dance-floors worldwide, with support of artists like: Fisher, Green Velvet, Chris Lake, Anotr, Seth Toxler, Marco Carola, Honey Dijon, Kerri Chandler, Tennis, Max Styler, Franky Rizardo and many others iconic ones. He is known for his infectious beats and innovative productions and has graced some of the most iconic clubs and festivals across the globe.
You can read the complete interview below:
- Hello Marco, nice to have you at Mr. Afterparty. Maybe we start with a short introduction about yourself?
Hey guys, thanks for having me! Really happy to be here. I’m an Italian DJ and producer, and I’ve been doing this for quite a while now… actually, decades! But the passion is still exactly the same as when I started.
- How did your music career begin?
I got into DJing and music production when I was 16. I was fascinated by how a DJ could blend one track into another so smoothly that it felt like one endless song. I was that kid standing next to the DJ booth all night, watching every move and trying to figure out all the secrets… instead of dancing or chasing girls! 🙂 At the same time, I was obsessed with understanding how tracks were made and wanted to create my own. House music was just being born back then, so I was lucky enough to experience that whole revolution as it happened.
- If you could point to some of your early inspirations, what would it be?
The late ’80s house sound is basically in my musical DNA. I was there when it was all happening, and that raw, fresh energy has never really left me. Lil Louis probably had the biggest impact on me, the hypnotic grooves, the jazziness, the minimalism, that perfect balance between simplicity and soul. You can still hear traces of that in the music I make today. “The Story Continues” is actually my take on one of his tracks, so the connection is very real.
- And when it comes to talent, who would be some your key references?
There are artists I admire not only for their talent, but also for who they are. I’ve been lucky enough to work with people like Chris Lake and Green Velvet, who have always known how to evolve while keeping their identity. Harry Romero is another huge reference for me. He’s an absolute beast in the studio, does everything himself and does it incredibly well. We’ve exchanged a few nerdy production tips over the years, which I always love! His sound is instantly recognizable, whether he’s making classic house or something more techy, he always stays true to his roots. I especially love the way he uses percussion and builds his grooves. Right now, I’m also really into talents like Italobros, my almost-namesake Jay De Lys, Easttown and Nick Curly.
- Your latest release on Black Book Records with Kevcody and Michael Ekow brings a fire house-led groovy rhythm to life, could you tell us a bit about the “behind the scenes” for this track?
The track came together during a writing camp at Armada Studios in Amsterdam. That was actually the first time I’d ever met Michael Ekow and Kevcody. We started jamming over a few ideas we were creating on the spot, and one of them had this funky vibe that felt different from what I’d normally do. I quickly built a groove and a riff, which actually ended up being the final one, and kept the structure simple so we could start recording vocals. Then Michael and Kevcody began improvising over it and suddenly the whole studio was vibing. The chemistry was instant. Within an hour, the vocals were basically done!
- If you could give some advice to upcoming artists, what would it be?
I would say: be patient and focus on building your own identity. Don’t try to copy what is working for someone else or chase every trend that comes along. It takes time to develop your sound, your career and your audience. Work hard, stay curious, play as much as you can, and most importantly, make music that you genuinely love. If you stay authentic and keep improving, the opportunities will come. And enjoy the journey, because it goes by very quickly.
- And looking out ahead, any key dates in the coming months?
Absolutely. Finishing euro summer of course with some Spain and Ibiza dates left and for example november is looking really exciting, because just after ADE I’ll be heading to Australia for a tour. Then, straight after Australia, I have some dates in the U.S., which I’m really looking forward to. I love to play in Australia and the US, 2 markets that have been so supportive throughout the years so cant wait to be back there.
