Let’s delve int the creative journey of Filippo MSM, the driving force behind the record labels Growing Pleasures and Kulture Galerie, alongside emerging artist Natebytheway. Filippo’s passion for discovering and nurturing talent has led him to establish a platform dedicated to artist development, with a strong emphasis on musical identity and community. His collaboration with Natebytheway or rather Nate’s outing on Growing Plants marks the beginning of a carefully curated journey where sound, style, and vision come together. Join the two exploring their thoughts on curation, inspiration, and what makes a track truly stand out in today’s music landscape. Alongside the chat you can listen to Natebytheway’s track “Goulish” from his “Twist & Grind EP” on Growing Pleasures.
Natebytheway: How did you get into curating music?
Filippo: I owe huge gratitude to my MSM partner, Nick Woolfson, who taught me everything I know – and still does – about running a label. I helped him with his label, Teng, which gave me valuable experience. But I’ve always wanted to do A&R because I love listening to music and discovering artists with potential who haven’t been recognized yet—just like what I did with you. It took me a long time to figure out what the right sound was for me to pursue, so I decided to launch two labels. With Growing Pleasures, my goal is to help artists grow and refine their sound—starting with you.
Natebytheway: Who inspires you as an artist and as a curator?
Filippo: I need to differentiate what I’m doing with Growing Pleasures versus what I’m doing with Kulture Galerie. With Growing Pleasures, the idea is to support artists whose music I love, helping them find a platform to express themselves and release records. It’s like a mix between foraging and fruiting. Two labels that inspire me in both sound and strategy are the Aarhus-based crew Regelbau and Hessle Audio. Regelbau had a distinct electronic music sound tailored for the club while also pushing only their own artists. Hessle Audio, on the other hand, built its imprint sound around the artists it worked with. Right now, I’m fully dedicating my time to you and Tom (Duncan Thomas). To further shape the label’s identity, I’ll also start using a different name when associating myself with it—a mushroom name, of course: Porcino.
That process—working together, collaborating, and making the music shine—is what I loved the most.
Filippo MSM
Natebytheway: How did you find me?
Filippo: On SoundCloud. I stumbled upon your mix “Sweet Drippinz 0043” for Space Milk, and I found your name hilarious. At the time, I was searching for more music to sign with Kulture Galerie, so I spent hours listening to your tracks. Your music had a cheeky side to it that I really loved. You also had cool artwork, which was something I was looking for in the label’s aesthetic. We both know that, back then, your music wasn’t fully ready, but we spent endless days sending tracks back and forth, refining them. That process—working together, collaborating, and making the music shine—is what I loved the most. It’s what inspired me to release your music first on Kulture Galerie, but ultimately, it also led me to start this new label. I want to be fully involved, but I also want you and Tom to shine.
Natebytheway: If you could pick one sound from my tracks that makes you instantly recognize it as a Natebytheway tune, what would it be?
You were the first person outside my circle of friends to show interest, and that reassurance gave me so much drive to keep going.
Natebytheway
Filippo: Those subtle, driving pads and those catchy vocals—fuck yes. Now, let’s flip things around. What did you think when we first started chatting and working together on music?
Natebytheway: When you first reached out and complimented my music, it was a huge motivation boost. You were the first person outside my circle of friends to show interest, and that reassurance gave me so much drive to keep going. This was around 2.5 years ago when I was only about a year into making electronic music on my own.
Filippo: What do you think makes a track stand out among the countless songs being released?
Natebytheway: I think a personal touch is key. So many tracks sound like they’re just trying to fit into a label’s aesthetic or imitate what popular DJs are playing. I’ve done this myself because it’s part of learning how to produce, but the tracks that stand out to me the most are the ones with that extra flair—where you hear a sound or an arrangement and think, “Wow, I’ve never heard that before.” Also, groove is essential. This applies not just to house and dance music but even to singer-songwriter tunes. A song with a sense of swing and bounce in its rhythm feels much more alive. Without that, music can feel static.
Filippo: What’s your favorite non-electronic track and why?
Natebytheway: Karen Dalton’s “Something on Your Mind”. My favorite track tends to change, but I really resonate with this one. Her voice is so unique and raspy, and the lyrics feel deeply relatable to anyone pursuing a creative path.
Filippo: What do you think is the secret to making a track age well, like fine wine?
Natebytheway: It depends on the genre, but for dance music, I think the most important thing is a solid, simple, and grooving bassline. Next, a unique sound design element that contributes to the groove. After that, a cool vocal or vocal-like element that interacts well with the rest of the track. Finally, big, saturated, and punchy drums. A lot of older classics, like Morane’s “The Trick” from Perlon, have all these elements, which is why they still get played today by modern DJs.
The conversation highlights the deep synergy between Filippo and Natebytheway, showing how collaboration and shared vision can lead to truly meaningful artistic growth. As Growing Pleasures continues to take shape, it’s clear that Filippo is fostering a label that’s not just about music but about building long-term creative relationships.
Torture the Artist 