Lehar recently finished his ‘All through the night‘ tour that led him to cites around Europe before heading back to his studio in the woods near Venice to turn his inspirations into music. Torture the Artist had the chance to speak to the sports and fashion obsessed artist about groundbreaking decisions he had to make in his career as well as the Venice scene and a culinary evening with his girlfriend just to name a few topics.
The quality of life is great in Venice. It just doesn’t have the stress big cities do, and I like that. When I lived in Milan for university I never felt fully at peace.
Torture the Artist: You nicely represent the sound of Venice in the electronic music scene. What do you appreciate most about your hometown? And more specifically, its music?
Lehar: I was born in Naples 33 years ago, and lived there until the age of 10, when my family and I moved to Treviso, a small town in the countryside about a thirty minute drive to Venice by car. Even though I haven’t lived in Naples for over 20 years, I’ll always feel connected to it because it’s my hometown. And of course, Venice and Treviso have influenced my personality and life path greatly, because they’re the towns I grew up in.
The quality of life is great in Venice. It just doesn’t have the stress big cities do, and I like that. When I lived in Milan for university I never felt fully at peace.
I’m now living in a place I really feel at home in. It’s the type of place you can’t wait to get back to after a long weekend. It’s comfortable, and close to nature. This is where I recharge. And it’s a very inspiring place too, since my studio is in a small forest in the middle of nature and this is just perfect for me.
Speaking of music, I’m not the only one from this area who spreads the Venice sound. There are other respected artists and crews like Olderic, Degustibus and Bruscagin & Visnadi, to name a few, who’ve been doing great things for years.
Torture the Artist: You signed to Solomun‘s label, DIYNAMIC, in 2016. Would you say that this was one of the most beneficial moves you made to further your career? And are there other beneficial moves you think are worth mentioning?
Lehar: If I could go back in time and start again I wouldn’t change a thing. Every step I’ve taken, good or bad, has helped me grow and has taught me something. In life there are always some little steps and a few big ones, but every step is important or how Chinese philosopher Laozi once said: ‘A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.‘
Torture the Artist: You recently released a remix for Guy J & Khen’s track ‘Lost & Found’. What makes you decide you want to remix a certain track?
Lehar: The artist, the track and its idea has to be special to me. When my friend Guy J asked me if I’d like to be a part of a remix EP for Khen, I instantly said yes.
Sometimes it happens that I like the original track so much that I directly ask the artist to remix it, just as I did with Of Norway‘s track ‘Spirit Lights‘. When I listened to the track for the first time, I was so overwhelmed by it that I came up with an own interpretation right away. The same happened when I listened to Francesco Chiocci‘s ‘Black Sunrise‘.
All of the people I open my doors to are good friends, people that I respect and trust.
Torture the Artist: You’ve recently collaborated with Olderic on a release for Adriatique’s label, ‘SIAMESE’, and you’re teaming up with Toto Chiavetta later this year. What type of people do you invite into your studio?
Lehar: My studio is kind of like a second home, and because of this I am very selective with whom I invite in. All of the people I open my doors to are good friends, people that I respect and trust. Mauro (Musumeci), Enrico (Olderic) and Toto are not only great artists, but they’re also my family. But you never know what will happen in the future.
Torture the Artist: With whom would you like to collaborate with in the future, and why?
Lehar: Currently, I’m just concentrated on my solo productions, and to reinforce the aforementioned partnerships.
Torture the Artist: What releases should we expect from you in 2017?
Lehar: I’m working on two solo EPs, and two collaborations, one with Musumeci and another with Toto Chiavetta.
Torture the Artist: You recently finished the ‘All Through the Night’ tour, which took you to clubs in Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Berlin, Munich, Tel Aviv, Bonn and Wroclaw. What did you take away from this tour?
Lehar: I would have to say the personal relationships I’ve formed, and the great memories. There’s a special connection that’s created in each city and club, one that connects you to the crowd, and also the promoters, who I’ve still kept in touch with. I still remember the vibe from each gig – that type of positive energy will always stay with me!
Torture the Artist: Is your music inspired by the memories you create during your gigs and travels? If not, where else do you find inspiration for your music?
Lehar: Definitely. I tried to get to the studio a few times during my tour, but I was just too exhausted. So I bottled up all the memories and amazing energy throughout those weeks, and after a few days of resting, hit the studio. To my surprise I finished 7 tracks in a week!
I like to stay with friends and family, but I also like to be by myself. I don’t feel lonely without people, I actually enjoy being by myself, it helps me think.
Torture the Artist: Being a rising DJ and producer means you travel a lot. How do you cope with the loneliness and stress during these travels?
Lehar: I like to stay with friends and family, but I also like to be by myself. I don’t feel lonely without people, I actually enjoy being by myself, it helps me think. The only thing I don’t like is travelling straight after a gig, I try to avoid that at all costs.
Torture the Artist: So there’s a picture of you and Toto Chiavetta drinking espresso together and I have to say, you guys look quite similar. Are you two brothers, or do you just shop at the same stores and go to the same hairdresser?
Lehar: < laughs> Funny story. One time I gave Toto a ‘All through the night’ cover flyer so he could use it for promo. It was a picture of me, but had his name printed on it. He told me later that his father looked at it and said ‘You look great in this picture. Very handsome.’ So yes, we get mistaken for each other a lot. <laughs again>
Torture the Artist: You always dress well. Does this speak to any aspect of you as a person?
Lehar: I’m very easygoing so most of the time I wear comfortable, sporty clothes. But yes, when I play I do like to wear nice clothes. I am really into elegant shoes, especially Italian or English shoes that are crafted by hand. Furthermore, I am very proud of my vintage collection.
Torture the Artist: Who is your favorite fashion designer?
Lehar: For clothes, I’d say ‘Label Under Construction’, which is an Italian niche brand that does everything by hand. For shoes, Guidi is very nice.
Torture the Artist: Imagine you are cooking a 3-course dinner for your girlfriend, and each course has to be paired with a track. Name the dish for each course (appetizer, main and dessert), and the track you’d pair each with.
Lehar: Nice question! Okay, for an appetizer I would make fish tartar, and pair it with Chick Corea ‘The Gardens’. Then for the main course I would prepare one of my favourite fish dishes, ‘Pesce San Pietro’ cooked ‘al limone’ and we’d listen to Mary J Blige ‘Willing & Waiting’. Last, I would serve blueberry ice cream paired with Piano Daniele ‘Chi tene ‘o mare’. All of this would go with a glass of white wine from Campania, Falanghina.
Torture the Artist: Well we already know that Musumeci wants to do music until the day he dies, and Toto is considering opening up a Sushi drive-through. What would you do with your life if it wasn’t dedicated to music?
Lehar: I’m obsessed with quality food, so I’d like to have my own Trattoria with traditional Neapolitan cuisine. But I’m also into working out at the gym and any other kind of sports. I would like to open a gym one day, maybe. A small, nice and intimate space, something like a club, where people can enjoy their free time doing fitness, yoga, or simply read a book in the chill out area.
Lehar‘s top10
1. Howling ‘Phases (Toto Chiavetta Color Two Remix)’ [Innervisions]
2. Musumeci & Enzo Elia ‘Gothic Safari’
3. Rampa ‘Bimma‘ [Innervisions]
4. Bruscagin & Visnadi ‘Agartha Stories’ [SIAMESE]
5. Guy J & Khen ‘Prism (Lehar in Ipnosi Remix)’ [Lost & Found]
6. Lehar & Musumeci ‘Jungle Heart’
7. Lehar & Toto Chiavetta ‘Seperate Event‘
8. Lehar ‘Metrotango‘
9. Musumeci ‘Penfield Settings‘
10. Stereocalypse ‘Arboria‘
Torture the Artist 