Deep House that helped shape Flying Moths sound

On the latest Soul Quest adventure, the imprint places the journey in the hands of Italian producer Flying Moth, who serves up an enriching palette of groove-laden cuts that are sure to chime along to bright days and sun-kissed evenings…

Flying Moth is the latest alias from producer Niccolò Terranova, who has already demonstrated his jazz-laden dance music chops through the Justnique project and others. Flying Moth is presented as the artist’s most personal project to date, with the ‘Oh Oh’ EP out on Apparel Music highlighting his ability to deliver highly danceable and beautifully presented soulful dance music that lives and breathes heartfelt moments and emotions. Channelling a myriad of genres and eras, Flying Moth’s music is about catering to new kinds of experiences through displays of enriching musicality and deeply profound compositions.

‘Tides’ is the next step in Flying Moth’s journey, and it feels right at home amongst the sunny vistas and dancefloors of Soul Quest. 

We caught Flying Moth mid flight and sat him down to discuss a few of his favourite deep house records that helped shape his sound…

Audiomontage: The lightness  

The side project Audiomontage by Jimpster isn't very well known, but I'm particularly attached to this track because it has strong references to the Afrobeat aesthetic.

I'm fascinated by the counterpoint between the bass and the Rhodes, especially because they often respond to each other in their melodic phrases. The track has a groove where the movement is driven by constant drum fills and percussive elements, even though it follows a steady four-on-the-floor kick pattern.

Retromigration: You want That

Retromigration is an artist I've been following closely, and his work has a strong influence on my compositional style.

The constant presence of percussive and drum fills makes the track incredibly dynamic, especially when combined with rhythmic variations from the electric piano and the subtle addition of small samples throughout — like synth licks, vocal snippets, or short Rhodes progressions.

Metro Area: Miura

"Miura" is undoubtedly one of the tracks that left the strongest impression on me, particularly due to its sampling choices (most notably the drum pattern, sourced from the disco track "Stars on 45") and the meticulous sound design across the various timbres. The delayed bass synth has become a defining element of the genre's sonic identity, alongside the distinctive vocal refrain.

 Move D: Your Rolling Hills 

"Your Rolling Hills" impressed me even more once I realized it actually predates Cross by Justice. Listening to it, there's a clear resonance with the French duo's sampling techniques and their distinctive compositional and structural approach. The use of the kalimba, in particular, stands out—its spatialization and melodic presence add a sense of motion to the track that's both original and forward-thinking.

Although the track follows the rhythmic framework of deep house, the placement of the snare and kick emphasizes a 2/4 feel reminiscent of classic disco, giving the groove a subtle yet unmistakable retro character.

Kerry Chandler: You’re in my system

When I think of deep house music, it's impossible not to mention one of the genre’s true masters: Kerri Chandler. His iconic harmonic movement, the unmistakable groove of the TR-909, and the soulful vocal elements all contribute to making him an absolute pioneer of the style.

Buy/Stream ‘Tide EP’ HERE

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