Italy's CONGOROCK is one of my favorite guys in that electro group that made the sound quite popular the past year or two (along with MSTRKRFT and THE BLOODY BEETROOTS). On the FOOL'S GOLD label, they've referred to him as their "Italian electro prodigy" but given the recent shift in music, I had to find out where Rocco Rampino, aka CONGOROCK, was going to take his music this year... See the interview below...

Your location on Myspace is listed as Casalabangeles, Italy? Is that a hint you're considering a move to make your location Romangeles, California?? I feel like my hometown and California look really related. They both have good weather, nice people, a chilled-out lifestyle and (most of all) THE BEACH. I grew up in places like Casalabate when I was a child and during summer I would spend ALL day long by the beachside for 3 months straight, once I was done with school. It's something that influenced me a lot as person and musician too, and that's something I miss so much while I am currently living in a big grey city like Milan. Goin to California was like discovering a place like my hometown but with a more exciting music scene.

You've sited punk as one of your major influences while making music. What influences should we look for when we see your style over the next year? I.e. what direction is it evolving? I've actually been listening to African and ethnic records in the last months so maybe my next EP will sound like that. Lots of "true" percussion and less distorted sound. I am experimenting a lot with this these days and the next stuff will be done in a big studio with a big producer whose name I can't say right now, but I am really excited and curious to see where we are going.

So you just had your album Runark come out via Fool's Gold. What's next? Are you working on any remixes/ EPs? Yea I am working on my second EP on Fools Gold in these days and a bunch of remixes for FUKKK OFFF, SPAGNA (italo disco goddess) and japanese act Sonpub. Also I am trying some beats for rappers too, but I have too figure out if that's just for fun or not. So far I only have some rap vocal lines from CROOKERS producer Bot.

How much collaboration do you do when working on your albums? Or are you more solo when it comes to the tracks? My first EP Runark was produced in Bassano del Grappa at Bob Rifo's (THE BLOODY BEETROOTS ) studio. He has been a friend since the beginning of Congorock and has always believed in me so I owe him a lot. I made a couple of tracks and 5 days after A-TRACK asked me an EP for Fools Gold so I decided to finish my rough tracks at Bob's. Right now I am working on new tracks with another Italian international producer but everything isca work in progress so I can't reveal anything else, sorry!

What are the newest tracks you've added to your set? I am diggin a lot the latest NIC SARNO and HIS MAJESTY ANDRE's tracks. I am really proud of it since they are also my best friends and neighbors. Nic's remixes for Brodinski and Steed Lord are crazy. Also Andre's new original secret tracks are pretty epic.

You're often associated as being a part of the Italian crew that's rocking the world right now (with Bloody Beetroots & Crookers etc.). What do you think you bring to music, being from Italy, that's different from the other countries like France, UK, US...? I think both The Bloody Beetroots and Crookers brought something new to the scene. We all started being fans of someone else (and I still consider myself their biggest fan) but somehow we all created our own sound after a while.. There are a lot of ripoffs and last minute lurkers even in Milan right now, so I can definitely say the style consolidated by itself. For sure everything coming from Italy sounds more baroque in comparison to others. The "less is more" thing is not valid down here.

When can LA next expect you for shows? We heard you have a mini US/Cali tour coming up in July. Yes!! I am coming back in late July for some shows around San Francisco, LA, San Diego and so on. Check the myspace for details and last minute gigs!

How much to you prepare for sets? Super-thought out or do you just vibe off the crowd? I do lots of edits according to how I wanna make tracks work together, but I always keep a safe original copy of everything. Editing tracks can make a real difference while trying to give your taste to the set but improvisation is a crucial thing for djing.


Last question- what are some of the clothing brands you're rockin these days? I love Mishka! - I just did their Keep Watch Vol 9 mixtape. Check it out on their bloglin :)

CONGOROCK's Cali schedule thus far is below. After seeing him play the MSTRKRFT Fist of God tour, I really recommend checking him out.

Jul 25 2009 8:00P LIGHTS DOWN LOW   SAN FRANCISCO

Jul 28 2009 8:00P CINESPACE                LOS ANGELES

Jul 31 2009 8:00P BETA                         DENVER, Colorado

Aug 1 2009 8:00P SPIN                          SAN DIEGO