Last week we got a chance to talk to Mario Ranieri. Offcourse we couldn’t keep it to oursleves . We hope you will enjoy this exclusive beatboost interview as much as we did!

Hello Mario, first of all, thanks for your time! Tell us a little bit about yourself. Who is Mario Ranieri and where do you come from?

I’m a DJ, producer and the owner of five labels. I was born in Austria and I’m still living there.

What can you tell us about the club and DJ culture in your country? What kinds of music are hot?

Like everywhere we have the Minimal wave here. Austria is small, so the club scene also is small. Most clubs around here are commercial clubs. But we do have some Hardtechno parties for up to 300-500 people. Nowadays the bigger events are starting to support Hardtechno more and more, so we now have this music on events like Gazometer with 5000 people or more..

You were into music at a very young age. For instance, you played the piano in your childhood. Can you tell us something about the step from classical music to electronic music?

I am influenced by my father who plays a lot of instruments like Trumpet, Saxophone, Clarinet, Harmonica and many more. So the musical feeling is in my blood. My first electronical music influences came through a cousin of mine who was sometimes looking after me in my childhood.

So, what does music mean to you?

Everything! Music is my life and life is music for me! I express my feelings and thoughts through music! I honestly cannot live without music.

When did you start DJ-ing and what kinds of music did you start out with?

I bought my first turntable at the age of 16. I started with normal Techno, like music from Laurent Garnier and the Swedish Tribal Techno from artists like Adam Beyer, Cari Lekebusch, Joel Mull and so on. It was not hard enough for me so I was constantly looking for harder sounds. Nowadays you know what I play. A Mix of Hardtechno, Hardcore, Techno, House and oldies from the 80’s.

Yeah, you play a lot of different styles, from groovy House to Hardtechno. Why is that? Is there a style you prefer?

Hardtechno is the main music for me. But I also need some Hardcore Techno and House because there just is not enough good material in the Hardtechno scene for me. It’s my style to mix a lot of different styles so my sets don’t get boring. I dont like the normal BAM BAM BAM Hardtechno-looping sets.

What did you do to get noticed as a young DJ? At what point did you think: this is the moment I have been waiting for?

I think the point where everything changed, was at the release of my first record on my own label Schubfaktor: ‘Elektr. Volksmusik’. I always wanted to release my music and this is how it all begun. After that I released more and more records and soon the first DJ gigs followed.

Do you have any tips for upcoming DJ’s pursuing their dreams?

If you want to be a unique DJ, you’ll have to play a unique sound. Play that what no one else plays and mix it in a way that no other DJ is doing. This has always been my motto and I had success with that. And try to mix with vinyl, because this is REAL DJ-ing.

Referring to that, you told us that you are a real oldschool DJ and only play your own unreleased tracks on the Pioneer CDJ. The rest however all is vinyl. What is it with you and vinyl?

Deejaying is VINYL for me. Sole use of CD’s or a laptop is nothing for me. Every idiot can mix with a software program; it’s just a mouseclick to synchronize two tracks. If you play with vinyl you show that you can mix for real. And all the errors in a set are just human.

You are no longer signed to the Abstract booking agency. What was the reason?

Sometimes I need changes. I cooperated with Abstract since a few years and since a year I was exclusive there. But I felt I wanted to change a lot in my life. Therefore I cancelled the cooperation. I am bookable mainly over Schubfaktor Bookings and I am also available non-exclusive at the Bullshit agency from Frank & Tressy.

You’ve played on very big events in many different countries. What were the best places so far?

The best gigs I had were in countries like Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, and Ukraine. I believe that Eastern Europe has the best party crowd! Oh, and of course South America. I am happy to fly to Venezuela again next month. I really love it there. Next year I’m also going to play in South Africa.

Can you describe what it feels like to play your own tracks in your sets and to see the whole crowd goes crazy?

I don’t play my own records in my sets too often. Only when they are unreleased. But when I play one and the people go crazy, it makes me very proud and happy!

Well, that kind of brings us to producing. Do you have your own studio? What gear do you use?

I just produce on a PC with the latest version of Fruity and hundreds of VST plug-ins. You don’t need more. The most important thing, when it comes to producing, are the ideas in your head. The instrument doesn’t matter if you are a good producer! I will build a bigger studio in my house when it’s ready and I will start at the SAE Institute in Vienna in March 2008, where I will learn more about building professional studios and so on.

Where do you get the inspiration for your projects? Were you influenced by other artists during the years?

I am influenced by everything. My life is my inspiration for my music. I always want to express something. Sometimes also political ideas or things that happen in my life. Music is like a diary for me.

‘Out Of My Mind’ was released earlier this year. There are quite some different styles on this record. Can you tell us something about this particular release. Why did you choose to put different styles on one record? And where can the people buy your record?

I wanted to do something different and show the crowd that I am not just a ‘Schranz-producer’. I want to be respected as a Techno artist on a whole and make good quality songs. Not just the kind of BAM BAM BAM Hardtechno. Out Of My Mind comes in a Club version, a chilly radio cut and a Hardtechno version. Furthermore the record also contains a very hard track. My records can be bought at online stores and supplementary info can be found at Schubfactor.

You were kind enough to hand us some promotional tracks (which can be found in the audioplayer below). What is the story behind these tracks?

These are tracks from my upcoming release on ARTIFICIAL BEATS. The release is called AVOID THE DISCOUNTERS and it’s scheduled to be released in January. I read a lot of books about the food industry and what’s going on there. I found out that the food industry is actually more dangerous than the weapon industry and that it has a lot to do with the wars George Bush is fighting… It makes me crazy! I wanted to express those feelings on this record.

Have you got any tips for upcoming producers ?

It’s like I said about being a DJ. Try to make unique things! That’s the only thing you need to know.

As you said before, you run five labels yourself. Can you tell us something about these labels?

Yeah sure, Schubfaktor is the main label. So far, 10 records have been released in 8 years. Only the craziest and most important will be released on this label. Ostarrichi is the label for my home country Austria. There will be 9 records on this label and a remix-EP in the ending. I also run Schlagwerx, releasing 4/4 straight hard Techno and Vernacular for slower Techno, experimental House and Tekkhouse. Sadly Vernacular is not doing too well. And finally the 7 inch girls-only label: GIRLPOWER

Yeah, the Girlpower label. Why did you start a label destined for girls only?

I think there are not too many girls who make hard music, so I thought it would be cool to feature them on an own label. Girlpower, a collection of hard girls, hehehe

What can we expect of Mario Ranieri in 2008 and what can you tell us about your latest projects?

Expect a lot of new Music! I mixed a 2CD compilation called Hardtechno Essentials Vol. 2. I did a record for the famous 4×4 label and for Wired records. Also there will be more this year on Ostarrichi (it just came out), Artificial Beats and maybe Schubfaktor! And I’m working on a new version of ‘Tourette’ together with Frank Kvitta. We will also do a video for this collaboration.

Where do you think you will stand in 10 years?

For 100% as a musician. But I dont know which style.

Ok Mario, thanx for this open interview, good luck with everything and we hope to keep bouncing to your beats for a very long time! Is there anything left you want to say to your fans?

Always be honest to other people and yourself! And please be open minded to new things! The world (and also the music scene) changes every day.

Mario Ranieri - Avoid The Discounters:
1 - Avoid The Discounters! (A1)
2 - Monsanto Is Killing Us (B1)
3 - Aspartame-Attack (B2)

For now we will leave you with some exclusive footage we shot of Mario Ranieri @ In Qontrol earlier this year in Amsterdam.

Enjoy!

Check out more Mario Ranieri video’s.
You can find Mario Ranieri on Myspace here.