Mushrooms Project – The ‘Wednesday Alternative’ Ransom Note Mix

 
Music

For our mid-week mix we've taken a trip to Italy to pick up a selection of beautifully curated sounds from the talented Mushrooms Project duo. Having both spent just over a decade honing their skills – one of them was even DJing in local clubs at the tender age of 14 – they've provided us with just over an hour of aural delights to help get you through the deluge that is a Wednesday afternoon.

This mix is set to chill you right out so make sure you're not in the bath when you give it a listen as you might end up looking pretty pruned. Read on as we chat to the pair to find out more about them and delve into the mix right here;

Tell us a bit about Mushrooms Project.

Mushrooms Project are Marco Lentano and Giorgio Giri. Giorgio started off as a drummer in a Punk band and started to collect various types of records from the age of 16. Marco was DJing at 14 in local clubs. In 2003, with our shared musical affinities and with the intention of playing unclassifiable music, we formed the project. In the following year we started introducing our music to local clubs and then for a whole season we worked in Formentera and Ibiza. Our varied musical tastes – Funk, Rock, Soul, Afro and Electronic – allowed us to experiment with extremely eclectic DJ sets. From our first productions in 2008 up to now, this background can still be heard…

What's your favourite mushroom recipe?

Tagliatelle pasta with sausage and mushrooms, really great before making music because it’s a really “light” dish (ironic that it’s high in calories!)

'Space Mushrooms', 'Tropikal Mushrooms' you seem to have a bit of a mushroom lust. Would you say that's fair?

Yes, we love all types of mushrooms, but the name of the two tracks has nothing to do with this. We just simply wanted to indicate the two different roads we took for these projects.

What is it about analogue instruments you like making music with?

90% of our work is with analogical instruments, for enjoyment but also for the sound. Even if technology and computers allow us to imitate sounds almost like the original but we think that there is a risk of losing the instinctive sound, the human or mechanical “error” which makes music “true”. Moreover, apart from synthesizers we also use musicians – mainly Ivan King as an integral part of the production project – and these musicians know what our final result should be but they put their own musical openings into the project thus creating new worlds, for us and them, which becomes a constant exchange of ideas and contaminations.

What is a sound you would love to sample? Any sound.

Jazz, techno, samba… To be truthful, everthing. We think that to be able to do all genres would be fantastic.

If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Marco: Just For You by Peter Green.
Giorgio: The Smiths, Please Please Please.

What does 'quiet' sound like to you?

Sounds from the natural world, birds, water, wind etc. Also, Acid House.

Where is your favourite place to play in the world?

Anywhere and everywhere as long as there are excellent vibes and functional turntables. 

How do you think music has changed in the Balearic world in the last 10 years?

Let’s start by saying that Balearic is not defined as a genre but a huge pot with millions of flavours and spices and, as such a music with many contaminations, 360 degrees and one where each DJ or artist can follow the sound they prefer. In the last 10 years you could say that the Balearic Sound has become a genre for commercial reasons and so we think that it’s one of the least changing genres and more a way of thinking and less a true and proper music genre.

Which decade do you wish you were a teenager in?

The '70s.

Where will mushroom project be next year?

In the undergrowth!

Where's the strangest place you've ever woken up?

Marco: Under a table in a club, but it’s not where I’d fallen asleep!
Giorgio: In a Chinese rickshaw.

Onto the mix…

Where was the mix recorded?

In our studio, in our secret bunker in Parma, Italy. Underground.

What would be the ideal setting to listen to the mix?

On a rickshaw, obviously.

What should we be wearing?

Whatever you want, so very very Balearic.

What would be your dream setting to record a mix: Location/system/format?

In front of the sea.

Which track in the mix is your current favourite?

Crioula – Lucci Capri Edit.

What’s your favourite recorded mix of all time?

Our favourite mix of all time is the 4 hour recording from last year in Pam! Italy.

If you could go back to back with any DJ from throughout history, who would it be and why?

Definitely Mozart from the Baia Degli Angeli times. Why? No need to explain.

What was your first DJ set up at home and what is it now?

For both of us the first setup was 2 Technics turntables 1200 mk2 and Vestax mixer (don’t remember the models). We now have 3 Technics turntables 2 CDJ 1000s and Urei Mixer soundcraft.

What’s more important, the track you start on or the track you end on?

We think they’re both equally important.

What were the first and last records you bought?

Giorgio: Gill Scott Heron – Reflections.
Marco: Bautista – Vida.

If this mix was an edible thing, what would it taste like?

Mushrooms, hallucinogenic, naturally.

If it was an animal what would it be?

A small toucan.

One record in your collection that is impossible to mix into anything?

With a bit of willpower and commitment, you can mix anything.

Upcoming in the world of Mushrooms Project?

We’re working on our second album on Leng Records, the single track is ready and will be released in Spring 2016. Material out on Hell Yeah di Peedoo Balearic Gabba sound system, a remix for Is it Balearic?, a secret project with Paul “Mudd” Murphy for Claremont 56, and our own Label which is under construction.

Anything else we need to discuss?

Yes, we don’t only play “Quiet” haha.


Find out more about Mushrooms Project here.