How was 2017 for you?
Kil Ref: In a long-standing DJ path there are some important transition moments. 2017 has been such a one: it was sometimes tough, but actually led me to be more productive and to maximize time and to improve results in my productions, label management and booking operations. I’m an artisan DJ/producer from Roman outskirts, my assessment of persistency in the environment keeps on being based on a simple data: soon as the harvest is in, I’m a migrant worker. And the best harvest may be upon me then.
Highlights?
I managed to do five releases, more than I thought, on my own KR/LF Records. The last and biggest one, a trilogy, is due on December Saturn Phases; some fast touring around very nice underground clubs, including an awesome gig at Suicide Circus in Berlin for Metamorphosis where I played in a dark fog and the coldest of my life along the ski-slopes in Livigno; then my upcoming new show on Rinse France; [seeing] Depeche Mode live in Rome from the first rows close together with my wife; a new surprise birthday party and all the love I take and give everyday, even on the littlest things.
Lowlights?
It was a trying, hard period. I often built towers and saw something made them falling down. I had a loss and sometimes money were really few: but I still stood up and learned hard and uphill would be the road I must be going right to the top. Then the world — the society — is changing for the worse: people are becoming so glib, racist and violent. All seems to be devoted to appearance and its opportunities. But I keep optimistic and follow the light. Life is just like music, it’s a kind of dynamic cycle, a crazy beautiful sinusoid and everything will be changing again.
Song of the year?
Depeche Mode’s “Cover Me”
What’s your New Year’s resolution?
I learned we don’t actually need to wait for acting and choosing. I’ve just planned some new music, shows, label showcases around for 2018, fighting every inch of the way. But what still means more to me, right today, is to keep on living music beyond the business side. It certainly is useful and sometimes necessary, but it worth it primarily to following sounds as “spirits in the material world,” making music for enlightening and warming souls across the universe. Using music as the universal language “spoken and understood by all,” a feeling to melt together all the people around the world, regardless of their races and religions. And still sweating when DJing, because DJs have the tough task to make people dream and escape to infinity.