10 Things You Didn’t Know About Layton Giordani

Few can say they’ve had a career quite like Layton Giordani. A Techno DJ/Producer with a vast selection of interesting tracks, admired across the underground scene. He connects with the past, present, and future in this interview. Sincerely, he reveals everything below!

1 – You’re from New York, but have been spending a lot of time in Europe – has this been beneficial for your career? If so, how?

Oh, of course, it’s so beneficial. I think when you move around other parts of the world and share/connect with people who have similar taste in our music, you really learn so much more. Not just about music, but about yourself and who you are as well. I recently moved to Amsterdam and it’s given me the chance to perform all around Europe. It’s amazing to see new faces and meet new people along the way.

2 – What DJ equipment did you use at the beginning of your career, in comparison to what you use now? Has this evolved with technology?

I’ve always used Pioneer CDJs. Back when they first had CDJs it was a bit more difficult to beat match and you couldn’t see the waveforms, but it was still obviously easier than vinyl. Also, you had to bring a big bag of CDs because that was the only format available for CDJs (still, easier than vinyl). Fast forward to now, they are amazing. So many new functions, especially with the integration they made with Rekordbox and flash drives. I’ve recently switched to the Xone-92 mixer a few years back and added a Boss reverb and delay pedal for some nice external effects. Contemplating adding something new, but I haven’t decided yet.

3 – Do you think the release “Careless Suggestions” catapulted your name into the limelight? If so, why?

“Carless Suggestions” was really what kick-started my name. It received support from people like Carl Cox, Deadmau5, Pan Pot, Joseph Capriati, and a lot more. It was also one of my first releases! You never know what the reaction is going to be like when you make and release a track; you can only hope that it gets the kind of support that mine did. I am very thankful, as it’s now taken me to where I am today.

4 – You will release a new album in February with “Where It Begins.” Can you give us a breakdown of the tracks?

Sure, well to start, it’s a collection of 12 tracks that took around 2 years in total to make. In this album, I tried my best to make it as diverse as possible. For instance, tracks like “Euphoria” and “Dragonfly” are more dance-oriented and really club-friendly. Others like “Fire Eyes” and “Turn It Around” are really meant for peak-time festival or big room vibes. Then we have tracks like “Good Violence” and “Tigerlilly”, which really give off a closing vibe where the night is coming to an end in a melodic way. I’ve also got 2 ambient/electronica bits in there too, for DJ tools or just something to chill out to.

5 – How would you describe its sound?

I would say on this album the sound is very emotional and diverse. I always try to manipulate vocals in a way that, when added with bassline and synths, it creates a lot of vibes, whether happy, sad, or euphoric.

6 – Do you think it’s a good idea to share albums for free?

In a perfect world, I wish all music was free, not just albums, but we as producers have to make a living somehow; otherwise, how would we be able to give away all our spare time to make music full-time for us and others to enjoy? 🙂

7 – You just announced you are playing Awakenings – it’s one of the biggest festivals for Techno in the world – what are your expectations? Are you nervous with such a huge audience?

Ah, my expectations are nothing less than amazing. Those guys are top-notch in every aspect. It can be a little nerve-wracking, I guess, but in all honesty, it’s the excitement I’m feeling the most. There’s nothing like that butterfly sensation in your belly before playing a smashing Techno set in front of thousands of ravers. 😉

8 – What do you prefer: producing a new track or remixing for other artists?

I like both, but I prefer originals. That way, the sky is the limit when you have an empty canvas to paint on in whatever way you’d like.

9 – Are there any songs you look back on and wish you hadn’t done, or had done differently?

There are plenty of tracks that I always listen to and think, “Hmm, I could have fixed those hi-hats or made this a bit louder,” but all in all, as far as wishing I hadn’t done them? No, I think it’s all a part of the learning process.

10 – Given this is just the start of your career, and already you have many great achievements. What’s your ultimate goal as a DJ?

Just to continue to do what I do, play for tons of people around the world, and continue to grow as an artist. Most importantly, to stay humble and not let the success get to me.