Close to Italy’s fashion metropolis Milan Valerio Vaudano has found home not only for himself but also his labels #Platform and Steamy Pizza Box and operates as a DJ, producer, label-head and basically everything involving electronic music. With preferences for House and Techno music Valerio can look back at the production of hundreds of tracks under several aliases. However, it’s always been most important for him to follow the quality approach rather than putting mediocre music into the (music)market. The before-mentioned quality surely has something to do with the artist’s accuracy and passion when producing but also with a career lasting 20 years and covered recording tapes to listen to in the car to sending vinyl in pizza boxes. In an interview with Torture the Artist Valerio speaks about the early days of his career, his favorite House tracks as well as the idea behind his Steamy Pizza Box-label and additionally delivers the latest episode of the art:cast.
Torture the Artist: Hello Valerio, tell us something about your day.
Valerio Vaudano: Hi Holger, well, my daily routine is pretty simple: I spend the first part of the morning replying to emails, listening to new music for my DJ sets or demos, or handling tasks for the labels I run. Then, around 12 o’clock, I start making music, recording new ideas, and I continue until the late afternoon. If I’m totally immersed in the track that I’m arranging, I continue to work on it even after dinner. I take a couple of breaks just for lunch and dinner; literally, music surrounds my life.
I enjoy incorporating my background into the music I produce, especially in projects like Steamy Pizza Box, where the romantic aspect holds significant importance.
Torture the Artist: The second release on your Steamy Pizza Box-label, namely your Vibey EP, will be out in September and, according to the press release that goes with it, “takes you back to the early days of House music, perfectly blending both atmospheres from the past and elements of modern electronic music.“ Where does your preference for the genre come from and why do you still find it important to release music with an old-school-vibe these days?
Valerio Vaudano: 2023 marks my 20th anniversary of DJing and I have been producing music for eleven years. Throughout these years, I’ve played and listened to thousands of tracks and witnessed several music movements. I enjoy incorporating my background into the music I produce, especially in projects like Steamy Pizza Box, where the romantic aspect holds significant importance. As you mentioned, I like to blend elements from the past, while maintaining a modern approach.”
Torture the Artist: Vibey EP is, as before-mentioned, the second outing after your Just Nostalgia EP last year. What’s the release schedule for the label and why do you keep the amount of releases so low?
Valerio Vaudano: Steamy Pizza Box is my latest project, and like all my side ventures, it begins with my deep passion for music. Before this project, I had some brief experience working with labels that released physical formats, but I hadn’t delved into releasing music on vinyl yet. Thus, I proceeded cautiously, carefully selecting the right pressing plant, securing a distribution deal, and most importantly, curating the perfect music for the release.
For the first EP, I had a limited budget, so I personally stamped all the copies and handled the promotion myself. It was reminiscent of the old school approach, considering the EP’s vintage vibes. So, to answer your question, the reason I take time to set a release is that I want to be absolutely sure about what I’m putting out there. I understand the tremendous effort it takes to produce music, not just in terms of money but also in artistic dedication. That’s why, until now, I haven’t accepted demos; I believe music should be handled with care and precision. I feel I need more experience and skills before working with other producers’ music.
I’ve always sent and received vinyl records using pizza box packaging.
Torture the Artist: The vinyl release comes in a pizza box (at least according to pictures). How did you come up with this idea?
Valerio Vaudano: This idea has been buzzing in my head for years! I’ve always sent and received vinyl records using pizza box packaging. Since I couldn’t recall any other label with the same concept, I thought it would be a cool and amusing way to be easily recognizable.
Torture the Artist: What’s your favorite pizza, and where do you enjoy it best?
Valerio Vaudano: Quattro stagioni! Four Season Pizza – AUMM in Milan, is my favorite place to eat it!
Torture the Artist: Let’s come back to Steamy Pizza Box, how and when was the idea born to found the label and what’s your ultimate goal for it, e.g. is a label to self-publish music only or do you want to grow it and have (befriended) artists release their music on it to then maybe form a “label-family“?
Valerio Vaudano: The idea to release this kind of music started around 2018, and the pizza box concept came around the same time. However, I began actively working on it two years later, and I decided to wait until the spring of 2022 to launch the first release; I wanted to ensure the timing was just right.
In the future, I’d also love to release music from other producers. As mentioned earlier, I need to receive the right music for the label. More importantly, I want to strengthen both the “brand” and my label management skills before venturing into that aspect.
The image holds greater importance than ever, even in the underground music industry.
Torture the Artist: As before-mentioned for your releases on your Steamy Pizza Box label you consider a lot of details like the “boxing“ of it. What experience do you want to create with a release of yours for your audience and are you a perfectionist when it comes to your own art?
Valerio Vaudano: I’m really particular about details, and while it’s an advantage as I leave nothing to chance, it can also be a disadvantage as I tend to overthink things, keeping me up at night. For instance, it took me several months to find the right designer, and we had numerous meetings to create the final logo. In today’s times, the image holds greater importance than ever, even in the underground music industry. Though I’m not a fan of this trend, I’m willing to go down that path if it helps me reach more people with my music.
Sometimes, it takes very little to evoke emotions in users: a white label vinyl featuring music with good vibes and a simple yet impactful pizza box could do just that. However, let me emphasize that the quality of the music will always remain my primary focus and the most crucial aspect of my label.
It’s essential not to play the same music every time.
Torture the Artist: Speaking of releasing music, in contrast to the Housey vibes and music you release under Valerio Vaudano you are also active under your Platform alias, under which you put out more technoid music as well as you produce more Disoc-ish music as Vaudafunk. Is there one alias your prefer over another or do you enjoy a diversity in productions?
Valerio Vaudano: It all starts with my DJ side: as a DJ, I’ve always enjoyed exploring various facets of House and Techno music. I avoid monotonous and sometimes dull sets; besides, it’s essential not to play the same music every time. The crowd, mood, and venue always differ, and the segment of the club night you’re playing (like the warm-up or the closing) plays a crucial role. In the studio, I maintain a similar approach. Valerio Vaudano’s production represents me accurately; you’ll find some tracks leaning towards House, others with a touch of Detroit Techno, or even something more “trippy.” I’ve created two aliases, #Platform and Vaudafunk, to differentiate the kinds of music I produce. Vaudafunk is dedicated to my Disco and House edits, while #Platform focuses on my Techno tools.
Most of the tracks I produce are crafted for the dance floor. Initially, I started listing my Disco and House edits under Vaudafunk, while my Techno creations were attributed to #Platform.
Additionally, #Platform served as my first-ever experience managing a label, providing valuable training to enhance my skills as a producer and familiarize myself with the managerial aspects of the music industry.
Torture the Artist: You have been DJing since the early 2000s. How much does being a DJ play a role for your productions?
Valerio Vaudano: Being a DJ is fundamental to my music production process! The majority of the tracks I’ve produced are designed for the dance floor, and many of them initially started as edits exclusively for my gigs. Being a DJ provides significant advantages: It helps me better comprehend what works effectively in clubs and how tracks are constructed. Additionally, it offers me the opportunity to test the tracks with live audiences before officially releasing them. This invaluable experience as a DJ allows me to fine-tune my productions and ensure they resonate with the crowd in the most impactful way possible.
Torture the Artist: A lot of younger people express the desire to become a DJ, how did your wish become reality and what made you stick with the DJ-profession? Was there a certain moment at a club/ event that made you get involved in the first place?
Valerio Vaudano: My passion for music began at a young age, when I was around 11 or 12 years old. During that time, I didn’t have DJ equipment, but I used to record my favorite songs from the radio and create sort of mixtapes using my stereo hi-fi. I made these tapes for my schoolmates or to enjoy in my mother’s car. Then, at the age of 14, a family friend who used to be a DJ at a pub asked me if I wanted to join him and play some records before his set. From that moment I’ve never stopped.
Torture the Artist: When did the urge to produce music arise and following this question, do you now prefer one task over another or do you feel they both complement each other in your case?
Valerio Vaudano: The first edits I created were primarily intended as tools for my DJ sets. It all began as a playful exploration with music software around the early 2000s, but I didn’t fully immerse myself in music production until 2012. At that point, I began crafting various tools specifically for my DJ sets, and after a couple of years, I finally released my first tracks. As of now, I find myself focusing more on music production rather than DJing, although I strongly believe that both activities complement each other perfectly. While I enjoy being a music producer, I have a profound passion for DJing, and I consider it the coolest job in the world.
Torture the Artist: You basically started your musical career a decade after House music had become famous. What are your three favorite tracks or tracks that influenced you from the early House era, and why respectively how?
Valerio Vaudano: Joe Louis The Love Of My Own is one of my favorite House track ever: I think it’s an underrated gem that perfectly represents the Chicago house era with its warm mood: not too much gear but making the best of it.
Another seminal House track that holds a special place in my heart is Detroit 909 by KGB. This track epitomizes the Italo house genre for me. I’ve always been drawn to music that carries both dreamy vibes and an infectious groove, and this song perfectly encapsulates that essence.
The third track I hold dear isn’t from the genre’s early days, but it represents my first encounter with House music. Ralphie Rosario’s Take Me Up was the song that introduced me to the world of house. Back in 1998, as a child, my musical surroundings mainly consisted of pop and euro dance. However, Take Me Up stood out as dance music with a unique and distinct attitude compared to the radio hits of the time. The impact of this track on me was so profound that I still play it whenever I get the chance
The most important thing is making, promoting and sharing quality music.
Torture the Artist: In your biography it says that you were attracted to the underground side of House Music. Would you rather stay underground with your music or be commercially successful, and why?
Valerio Vaudano: Absolutely, I was drawn to the underground side of music. Initially, like most teenagers, I was exposed only to the mainstream aspect of house and techno music, listening to the popular songs played on the radio and nothing beyond that. However, my curiosity led me to delve deeper into this genre, and that’s when I uncovered a vast ocean of beautiful and underrated music that instantly captivated me.
Today as a producer I act with my truly underground attitude but I’m not scared or disgusted from commercial success – I think the most important thing is making, promoting and sharing quality music.
Torture the Artist: What’s a House track that should have gained way more recognition but you are happy it has not?
Valerio Vaudano: There isn’t any, but if there were, I would not tell you. <laughs>
Torture the Artist: We all have goals, what’s an event/ club you would like to play and what would be the track of yours you would definitely play there?
Valerio Vaudano: Too many to mention, but if I had to pick one, I’d say Cocorico (Riccione – Italy). Not sure about the track, I’ve produced hundreds of tracks under tens of aliases. It depends on the moment.
Torture the Artist: You are responsible for the latest art:cast (mix). Where is it best enjoyed and what did you have in mind when recording it?
Valerio Vaudano: Everywhere! In your car, doing smart working (if you can!), cooking or chilling at the swimming pool. What I had in mind ? Every time I do a record mix, I try to tell about myself in 60 minutes but then I realize I need at least 600 minutes. <laughs>
Torture the Artist: What’s the DJ-gear or record that always does the trick when you want to get your crowd involved or connect with it?
Valerio Vaudano: Records are my weapons, Life Is Changing by Cricco Castelli is one of these.
Words by Holger Breuer
Pictures by Fabio Bellinzoni
Torture the Artist 