Flankup welcomes Ankle Release to the list with an impressive release packed with disco / nu-disco tracks on 3 warm house cuts and deep grooves.
The meeting of the HipHop-Underground culture of Triplex and the more Disco-Funk side of Fabietto Delgado are the perfect fusion of styles that combine these killer disco tracks.
With just one release on Masterwork Music (2018), the Italian producer duo is just getting started. And as far as beginnings are concerned – this release on Flankup will definitely open up some eyes and ears on the entire house scene.
We have had the pleasure of speaking with Ankle Release and this has been the result. Enjoy it!
Can you tell us a little about your experience? Where are you from / how did you get into music? Was it all internet based?
Fabio: I’m Italian, from Lecco, a city on Como Lake – North Italy. I started to get in touch with dance music and the magical world of djing in the middle of the 80’s when I was around 11 years old…i saw the first djs on TV shows but the first who catch my attention forever was the dj of the camping I used to go on holiday with my parents. I remember that I’ve passed hours in front of him just looking what he was doing. I was kind of hypnotized and probably in that moment I’ve decide that I wanted to be a dj. That one was my «Paradise Garage»! Eheheh So since then I’ve soon started to buy records, obviously vinyl…internet doesn’t existed yet!!
Nico : I was Born in 1983 in Lecco in Italy. My First approach with music was about my dad’s records collection I think. In our house in the early days there was Always a record on the turntable. During the School days I studied Guitar so I got familiar with playing instruments and music theory. At the end of the 90s I discovered hip hop culture and I fell in love with it. So I bought my First sampler and turntable and that’s how It all started. At this point I think it’s useless to answer the «internet» question.
Who have been your main inspirations (both musical and in «life»)? And how have they affected your sound?
Fabio: Obviously at that time I’ve started to buy early 90s dance records, then I’ve discovered house music thanks to some small TV shows and the legendary Radio Italia Network. That was the only way to get in touch with that sound also because there were no internet, as I said. Then during the early 90s I’ve started my «clubber career» that takes me around in italian clubs listening to some good italian house dj’s and also some guest from abroad…one among them Tony Humphries and all the American old school house dj’s.
Nico : In music absolutely James Brown. His music has got the infinite Energy to be fresh Forever and I think It affected nearly every music artist of today. In life I don’t have a main inspirator but i like to think that I’m the man I am thanks to the people I met in the journey.
How would you define your sound?
Fabio: My roots are definitely House music. I was almost there when House music was born and I’ve saw the rising and the evolution of the genre…
How has your sound evolved so far?
Fabio: During the years I’ve started to open up my musical knowledge: first of all obviously Disco Music, that of course is the beginning of all, then Funk, Soul, Afrobeat, a lot of Brazilian and world music in general… So I’ve started to insert all these influences in my dj sets mixing everything with the last House and Techno releases to make it much more eclectic. That was quite natural at the end..
What can you tell us about your last job? What inspired you? What do you want to convey? Why did you decide to create Dodgems? What sound have you wanted to explore here?
Fabio & Nico: After the first release on Masterworks Music that was very satisfying, we decided to continue on that sound, always with our touch that comes from our influences: Hip Hop & Funk for Nico and Disco & House for Fabio. So here we are with our Ep with Disco/Funk flavour, always dancefloor oriented.
How did the connection took place with Flankup and how do you think this collaboration will help you going forward?
Fabio & Nico: We first met Flankup Recordings simply buying their first releases because we like the sound so much, in particular the first Paolo’s EP (Discojuice – Butterfly EP). First we didn’t know that he and the label were Italian and also that they were from Milan, so not far from where we live. Big surprise!! Then we got in touch with Francesco Bellini (Flankup’s co-founder) and starting from there was love at first sight. People like us, humble people, super helpful and moved from a sincere and infinite passion for music. Super professional in both studio skills and running the label… What more could we ask for? This is simply the truth!
How are you living the current situation because of COVID? Has your work affected you a lot? Do you think there is hope? I feel like the underground scene will continue to persist.
Fabio & Nico: The Covid times, lockdowns etc etc is a very difficult moment for everybody. In our case it wasn’t an inspiring period also because we couldn’t meet us in the studio for a long long time…so it was difficult to find the right moment and inspiration to create. So everything slowed down a lot…we found the moments to meet us in the studio between a lockdown and the other. One good news is that Nico meanwhile is Dad!! We are faithful about the future, we think that everything will end one day thanks to science and the cures……better…..we hope so!! But yes, we are sure that the underground scene will slowly return to normality. It will takes time…nobody knows, but one day…
What projects are you working on right now?
Fabio & Nico: We have a lot of projects to work on and you’ll hear about very soon. Obviously developing our musical touch and influences. Stay tuned!!!
