We think Marshall is the busiest man in Italian techno

Marshall (aka Luigi Rocca) is one of a trio of Italian DJ/producers who run tech house imprint 303 Lovers. Recently he has just slotted into first place on the Beatport overall chart and has just remixed a killer Umek track for his own label. His sets offer an impeccable techno selection ranging from deep grooves to more techno oriented tunes all designed to rock the dance-floor to its foundations. No wonder then that he has performed all over Italy, Ibiza, Israel, Spain, Brazil, USA, Colombia, and Bulgaria as both resident and headline DJ, and his own productions get charted by Danny Tenaglia, Tiesto, Richie Hawtin, John Acquaviva, Dubfire, Steve Angello and more. Kristan Caryl thought it was time for Notion to catch up with the Italian techno star…

Marshall (Luigi Rocca) Mix August 2010

Notion: How did you come together at 303 Lovers?
Marshall: I met Manuel De La Mare during a gig in Tuscany, we had dinner together than we played at the club, he was impressed about my DJ set and my productions so after 1 month he and Alex askd me to became part of 303Lovers and Hotfingers.

Notion: What inspired you to start the label?
Marshall: I think that nowadays is the only way to fully express yourself, the lifetime of a track is much shorter than some years ago so I think having a label to publish a track a few days after you have done it is very important

Notion: What influence does/did the Italian scene have on you? What do you make of the scene now?
Marshall: I have a radio show on the top Italian radio (M2O) called “real selecta” where every Friday I spin the best news of techno and tech house with my radio mate Roberto Molinaro. I have also a resident night called “Famiglia Losca” in my city (Turin) where I play every Saturday when I’m not touring around the world.

Notion: What sort of music do you aim to make? How must it make you feel before you’re happy with it?
Marshall: I love to produce and play tech house and techno, sometimes I also produce progressive tracks but right now I’m more focused on tech house and techno stuff.

Notion: How long do you spend looking for new music each week, and where?
Marshall: Listening to the promos takes a long time during the week, there is a lot of music to listen and only 1 or 2 tracks a week fits in my DJ set. Of course I listen Beatport and similar stuff too, I take a look also on some vinyl stores, sometimes you can find special tracks over there!

Notion: How long do you spend preparing each of your DJ sets?
Marshall: When I choose a track from promos or Beatport the most is done, when I go to play I just play the tracks I feel to play without preparing too much my DJ set history!

Notion: I understand you’ve being touring Brazil – are crowds much different there to in Europe?
Marshall: Yes I’ve been in Brazil, Colombia and I will go in Mexico in September. Brazilian and Colombian crowds are similar to Italian ones, hot people that really feel the music and show you their love.

Notion: What’s your own proudest release and why?
Marshall: I really love my last remix for Wally Lopez & Ismael Rivas on my label 303Lovers, bomb remix for 2 great artists, played by all the biggest DJs…

Notion: What makes a good DJ great do you think?
Marshall: The more vodka you drink, the bigger you will became! Ahahahah

Notion: What else is in store for 2010?
Marshall: In this days I’m working on a collaboration with Hugo, I think will be a strong release on 303Lovers in the next months! Also me and Manuel De La Mare are moving to a new studio together near Turin, thinking to do a new techno project together so we are working hard also on it!