Clubbing Magazine


NU NRG was discovered back in 2001 by Paul van Dyk with their track „Dreamland“ that he included on his mix compilation „The Politics of Dancing“ and since then they have made over 20 remixes and has now released their studning debut album “Free Fall”. - Clubbing picked up the phone to get the story about the two Italians Andrea Ribeca and Giuseppe Ottaviani who are NU NRG.
So how did the two of you meet? - We were both DJ´s and were working in Rom and we meet each other in record shops, discos and at different parties. Andrea was playing with computer music and we founded NU NRG in 1999. Andrea isn’t DJ’ing anymore.
What are your roles in the studio? - We have no specific roles – we both are working as programmers and we both know the equipments. Giuseppe has a classical training on the piano.
Do you always agree in the studio composing a track - or are there compromises? - Not always – if we don’t agree we discuss what is wrong and we reach a compromise. It’s not always easy to reach this compromise but we do manage in the end.
Do you approach a remix differently from an original track by NU NRG? - Yes it’s a different approach, we analyze the track we are going to remix and we find what we can use in the track and then we rework it. The inspiration on doing an original track depends on what has happened - if we come back from a party and felling inspired then is goes really smoothly and we write a track, some days we are just playing and experimenting. The weather has also a strong influence on us; if the weather has been great - it’s easier.
You have been working on your album for some time now – why the long wait? - We have to choose the right moment. We are working together with Vandit and we are doing a lot of gigs around the world and remixing - so it’s comes down to timing.
	I find that you don’t go down the same production road that Ferry Corsten and Tiesto are going – slamming trance - but you have done a stunning trance album, that is uplifting and melodic – has this been a set idea from the start on doing this album? - Yes it was a set idea from the beginning; we have been working on the album for some time. We are interested in melody – so this is where we start. But we have also to consider what would be the listener’s feelings – so it’s not only melody. We have reached back in time and taken the essence of uplifting trance to a new level.
	Has the title “Free Fall” another meaning to you – are you feeling that you are in a free fall now the album is out and waiting for the response form the audience? - Ohh yes, we feel like we are stretched out and flying. We hope that the parachute open in form of success, travelling the world, experiences and learning.
What are your feelings about the album – now it’s done and going to be released? - We are very pleased with it – but you have to say stop at a certain point. We have done new things that we are pleased with which has come after the completion of the album. You kind of think back and say this would have been nice on the album, but you have to say stop. We do tent to get tired listening to the same tracks for many years, the impact isn’t the same when you hear it for the first time, but experience the music live and get the reaction from the audience gives us a buzz and then you start enjoying the tracks again.
On the track “Visual Sonar” you have been working with Rob Aker or also known as Jose Amnesia – how did you hook up? - We were doing a remix of “The Eternal” for Jose Amnesia that is going to be released on Vandit very soon. He lives about two hours from us and we found some kind of brotherhood and decided to work together.
In 2001 Paul Van Dyk signed “Dreamland”, what has this done for your career? - It was the beginning for us – it was the moment of transition of playing and doing things seriously. He was our talent scout and we owe him a lot and we only work for him now.
What influence has Paul Van Dyk been on you sound and on this album – tracks like “Connective” and “Butterfly” have in my ears a strong influence of Paul Van Dyk´s sounds. - After meeting Paul Van Dyk, we have learned a lot and evolved. Not just working with him but also listening to him play has been a great experience for us. “Butterfly” was conceived after the Loveparade with Paul van Dyk and “Connective” was an experiment that was born live when we played at Vandit Nights in Berlin.
NU NRG Live – what can one expect? - We play our own music – but our performance is never the same because we are influenced by the audience. We try developing a feeling with the audience – a trance feeling.
What are your feelings about the Internet and piracy downloading? - It’s a good thing and a bad thing – new musicians can use the internet and can distribute their music with a certain ease, but the negative side is of cause the downloading.
What is your point of view of the quality of the trance records that are been released today? - Today it’s very easy for anybody to make music, using software and keyboards. If you wanted to make music 10 years ago you had to buy keyboards and they were expensive and you have know how to play and it was a much slower process. Today it’s much easier and faster – you don’t have to study – you just start playing and the computer plays it for you. These no professionals are creating this low quality music on the market. Trance music can’t die – but all this low quality music is damaging. Music has always existed and trance includes a lot of melody, but if you leave out the beat then you are left with beautiful ambient music.
NB: This interview was done in Italian with help of a local translator; NU NRG was quoted as suitable as possible for the interview
Interview and live photos: Christian Almind	Related features: Review of NU NRG "Free Fall"