Interview: Five Minutes with Mattia Cupelli

Mattia Cupelli is an ambient electronic producer and soundtrack composer based in Rome, Italy. 

His sound is a synthesis of neoclassical elements entwined in atmospheric electronic soundscapes. 

His latest single ‘Mono No Aware’ was released earlier this month to acclaim. The track is based on the Japanese concept by the same name and speaks of the awareness of impermanence – the bittersweet feeling of seeing things change.  Cupelli effortlessly expresses emotion through music, and on ‘Mono No Aware’ he renders a picture of nostalgia through the use of modern and traditional sounds.

We caught up with him for some insight into his creative process…

Set the tone for us. Why the arts? 

I want to give my voice to the world through music. 

Which comes first when you’re producing – the sound or the idea? 

To me, the sound is the most important part of my creations

What’s on your current playlist? 

Nils Frahm, Nicolas Jaar, Arca, Ryuichi Sakamoto 

What techniques do you experiment with to get your original sound? 

I just go through my gear but also add modern and digital elements

Was there a specific moment in your life where you thought, “this is what I want to do”? 

When I started to get some good feedback from the Internet about my music

What gets your creative juices flowing? 

I get my creativity from all kinds of art –  paintings, film and of course music.

Take us through your collection of gear, tech or software that accompanies your creative expression. 

I use a lot of analogue synths in my music like a Juno 60, a Prophet 8 rev2, a Moog Subsequent 37, and a modular system. I also use several kinds of digital software programs

How have you refined your craft since you entered the industry? 

I tend to reinvent myself with every project. And I avoid thinking about the industry rules.

Breakdown the news for us: what can we expect from you this year? 

A new LP!

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