Alberto Stocco is an international DJ and part of an impressive musicians’ network Onis Sound Collective. In between performing with some heavyweight DJs from Âme, Christian Smith, Riva Starr to Oxia, Mihalis Safras, Giorgia Angiuli and Stefano Noferini to name a few, Alberto also studies Music Management at Solent. We caught up with him to talk about Onis Sound Collective, his experience and DJ’ing.
What’s your background, how did you get into music?
I come from Luxembourg, my parents are: Italian (Dad side) and Greek (Mom’s side) I grew up in a European environment and graduated from the European School before moving to study in the UK.
I’ve always been into music and really decided to get serious about at it and try to make a career out of it in my last years of school. Time has passed, I have more experience and I’m going in the right direction hopefully.
I’ve always been into music and really decided to get serious about at it and try to make a career out of it in my last years of school.
Why did you choose to study Music Management?
I chose the course because I thought it fitted my personal and inter-personal skills, I believe it is very useful to learn about the workings of the music industry from an academic perspective. I mean you can learn how to make music and network by yourself, but it’s an advantage to experience the musical aspect while learning about the technical side.
Tell us about Onis Sound Collective (OSC).
The OSC is designed as a networking group. It was created by my brother and me in November 2015. We launched with our first party at the beginning of 2016 but we already had a team of friends, my partner in crime Jorge, Carlos, Flore, Federico, Antonio, Borna and one of my classmates in school Leon.
We’re based in Luxembourg and the objective is to grow into a reputable underground label as well as a trusted group of active friends and professional contacts. We are lucky to have active members in Holland (Groningen, The Hague and Rotterdam), the UK (London, Southampton), and Luxembourg.
We’re based in Luxembourg and the objective is to grow into a reputable underground label as well as a trusted group of active friends and professional contacts.
What kind of artists do you work with and how can OSC help them?
Well I only work with artists that I resonate with to be honest, it’s the main focus because if you are not comfortable with the people you try to help and work with it won’t give concrete results.
I can help artists by giving them a first opinion, a bit outside of the box as I’m pretty different from all the people I’ve had the opportunity to meet until now. Of course I know people in labels, clubs and artists that are already quite established in the scene, so I can always give some tips or direct them towards some of my friends and contacts. Basically, just sharing with your community is caring. To get in touch with me or one of the team the best way is on social media.
I can help artists by giving them a first opinion, a bit outside of the box as I’m pretty different from all the people I’ve had the opportunity to meet until now.
You’ve also worked at big label. Can you tell us a bit about that?
Yes, Lauter Unfug, it’s the biggest label in Luxembourg at the moment. They’ve brought great artists and events into town for quite some time now, definitely influencing my musical thinking. I was working as a label assistant, making sure that everything would go as planned while keeping close contact with the people we worked with.
I started working with them quite randomly. I was booked to DJ at a school party with one of my mates. The manager liked it and asked me to play at a newcomer’s night held at Marx Club (the techno venue in Luxembourg). I’m pretty proud because the club filled up literally 10 minutes after I started my set, that’s when it really started off. After that I got some bookings, then slowly time did its work, I got closer to the crew, and got the opportunity of playing in pretty much all local venues in Luxembourg. But I also had the opportunity to play in the UK and in Germany with them.
I’m pretty proud because the club filled up literally 10 minutes after I started my set, that’s when it really started off.
What are some of the biggest names OSC has worked with?
We’ve already had: Adam Collins (LA), Betoko(London), Cry Baby (NYC), Juliet Fox (Berlin), La Fleur (Berlin), Nathan Jassi (Porstmouth), The Willers Brothers (London). More are to come of course. We booked a DJ/Producer from Leeds, Rich Wakley who will join us on 28th October. And then the Brazilian Wehbba on 16th December, or Berlin based Vonda7 who will join us for a 3 h b2b set alongside Juliet Fox for our first year Anniversary on Friday 1st January.
All of them we have already worked with appreciated what we are building, particularly considering we are still relatively young and new if compared to average promoters.
You’re a brilliant DJ yourself, what’s the best event you’ve played?
Thanks for the compliment, it always feels good haha. I’ve had the opportunity to play some pretty sick parties. Can’t really choose a favourite as anytime there are people and a good vibe I enjoy playing.
But if I have to, my top 3 list is the follwing: 1) b2b with Jorge Costa at Kosmonaut in Berlin, 2) b2b with Nathan Jassi in Junk’s Southampton main room which has my favorite DJ booth ever, it almost looks like the one I have home, and 3) when I closed for Juliet Fox at Epic Club, we went on with a crazy set with my partner Jorge Costa.
What’s the best OSC event you’ve done?
The best event we’ve had up to now is when we brought our first headliner, Juliet Fox.
We filled up the cave at the Epic Underground Club with more than 600 people, there was people everywhere, even dancing on the fat bass stacks we had. To be fair, that’s a big crowd for a city like Luxembourg, now at our residency club Studio 21 we have half of the capacity to fill the club but it’s more intimate. We were very proud back then, because in Luxembourg people care more about going to the commercial club showing off some Ciroc, Moet or Dom Perignon topped by some bullshit EDM/gangsta rap show.
We filled up the cave at the Epic Underground Club with more than 600 people, there was people everywhere, even dancing on the fat bass stacks we had.
What can you suggest to someone who wants to become a DJ?
What I can suggest is first to buy your own equipment so you can train daily at home, maybe also not to stay stuck in the DJ mindset; learn how to produce, there are many DJ’s out there and one way to be different is to make your own music and share your experience I guess. But that’s me, I got into it by slowly building a musical culture that I can call mine now. You’ve got to come at one of my gigs to feel what I’m talking about.
..there are many DJ’s out there and one way to be different is to make your own music and share your experience I guess.
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Alberto Stocco SoundCloud | Facebook | Instagram