Luca Saporito chats new label, Super Sapiens

After nearly two decades of traversing the underground landscape as one half of Audiofly, Luca Saporito has emerged with a fresh chapter under his own name, and it’s one that draws on his deep-rooted intuition and a flair for emotionally resonant music.

Born out of a spontaneous moment in Ibiza, the Super Sapiens project has grown from a one-off event at Akasha into a full-blown label with a clear ethos and aesthetic. Co-run with his partner Susa, Super Sapiens has become a vessel not just for Luca’s evolving solo productions, but also for spotlighting kindred artists who share his vision for timeless, genre-agnostic sound. With a newly built home studio, a hands-on approach to A&R, and a collaborative spirit that thrives on instinct and connection, Luca is navigating this next phase with a rare mix of freedom and focus. His recent work with Omer Tayar on the ‘Nicolas Cage’ EP shows just how far he’s willing to stretch creatively, and is anchored by humour, heart, and a refusal to fit into predictable boxes. With so much going on, we thought it a good time to check in with the man himself… 

How did the idea for the name ‘Super Sapiens’ first come to you, and what deeper meaning does it hold?

Super Sapiens was an idea born out of the need of having a name for this party I was asked to put together at  Akasha Ibiza back in 2023. Susa (my girlfriend and partner on the label) and myself were going through different names and concepts at the time, trying to find something that made sense. The thought behind the name was to find a word that matched my surname and as we both had used the word Super in the past on other projects, we thought it makes sense. Susa worked on the logo and branding and we immediately realized how impactful it looked and sounded and we went with it. 

You’ve taken Super Sapiens from a party series to a fully fledged label—what was the turning point that convinced you to make that jump?

It was a very organic step and one that was inevitable, as I needed a platform to express my musical identity both for my own output and the one of people I wanted to associate myself with in my new journey as a solo artist. Essentially the showcases and the musical output of the label are an extension of each other and one couldn’t co-exist without the other.

There’s a sense of continuity between your solo work and the Audiofly catalogue, but also some big shifts—how would you describe your current sound in your own words?

It’s very interesting that you say that, as I completely agree with your statement. As I continuously make music in the studio I can’t help but notice this invisible thread that links me to my previous work as Audiofly and yet I also feel the need to create a separation between the two names. I have been working extra hard to create a new sound  that it’s both 100% myself and also different to my old work. I try my best not to follow passing trends but to create music that ultimately reflect completely my vision, without having to worry too much where it fits. It’s been an exciting journey so far and I am extremely excited for what’s coming in the near future.  

Was it always important for you to have a label of your own to release your music, or did the idea evolve naturally over time? 

Like I mentioned before, it was important for me to have a new platform with which people could easily identify myself with. It’s not necessarily the easy road but one that it most authentic to the way I like to do things. I love to be in the position of discovering new artists and putting them out there for the world to listen to and more than that I love that many artists out there trust us with their vision and ultimate choose us to be their outlet. 

You mentioned discovering Adrian Roman and working closely with him—what’s your approach when scouting new talent for Super Sapiens?

It’s a very organic process. Every artist we choose is either a friend, someone we respect greatly or a new upcoming artist which we believe in. The common denominator here is well produced music with a feeling. Super Sapiens is not a label restricted by genres. Like my dj sets we essentially release music we believe in and its close to our hearts. Believe it or not the final decision of signing a record will always go through the step of both of us listening to it in our car, having a drive around the country side of ibiza and see how that feels. If we both love it, the track gets signed!

Tell us a bit about the new release with Omer Tayar—how did the collaboration come about?

Omer and myself started hanging out when he moved to Ibiza I think. After sharing a few beers together and realizing we had similar musical taste,  we decided it was time to hit the studio together. The idea for the track came together very quickly, and after the first session we already had a basic version of the track. Omer is a very skilled musician and enjoyed working with him on this project 

What was your first impression of Omer when you met him, and how did you two initially connect? 

We connected through his wife, who I’ve played for at the The Gardens of Babylon parties. He’s a fun, easy to ger along guy, and in my opinion very talented and productive.

Sonically or creatively, how does working with Omer differ from your time producing alongside Anthony?

Very different personalities but also with some similarities. Honestly, it’s impossible to compare the studio experiences for each as one is based on many years of working together and the other is a one off experience so they are in essence incomparable. 

The new EP is titled ‘Nicolas Cage’. I guess the man himself inspired the EP. So how does this theme translate into the music?

The reason why we called the track “Nicolas Cage” is because the rapper on the track mentions his name in and the lyrics and I found that quite funny. Omer wasn’t sure about it initially but I convinced him on the basis that it was a bit provocative but also memorable. And at the end of the day there is a bit of Nicolas cage in all of us isn’t there? Dude is bit nuts and we love him for it. 

Are you a big Nicolas Cage fan? What are your favourite films of his? Did any particular Cage performances influence the feel or direction of the EP?

I absolute love him, personally. I don’t think he’s actual that great of an actor or any of his movies are particularly memorable. But there is something about him that is very alluring. He’s more of a character of himself and an absolute legend rather than a masterful actor. And to answer your question, he had absolutely no influence whatsoever on the making of the record. On the contrary (laughs). 

You’ve already got some exciting names lined up for the label. What kind of artist or sound are you hoping to spotlight with Super Sapiens?

Like I mentioned, Super Sapiens doesn’t necessarily follow a specific line or genre. We are seeking emotional music that somehow holds a thread between one song and the other, not by style but by a feeling. Whenever I play any of the tracks on the back catalogue into my sets, I realize that they all have this timeless feel around them. We want music that doesn’t have an expiration date and which is not limited by tags. All of our artists and the music we have featured so far have this in common. 

How do you manage to balance touring, studio work, and running a label… has that rhythm changed since stepping out solo? 

It isn’t easy but it’s not impossible. It would be much harder if I was on my own but I am lucky to have a life partner Susa that helps me run the show every day in the most professional manner possible and without which I wouldn’t be able to be as productive. Two years ago I managed to build a small studio in the house in which we live, which helps immensely with creativity, as the moment I step back into the house I feel motivated to get straight into the studio, as it feels like a familiar and comfortable ground.

Do you feel any sense of pressure when releasing under your own name now, versus releasing as Audiofly?

I feel a kind of freedom more than pressure. After years of working with someone else, the main feeling I get when I am in the studio is one of maximum creativity which I am using to put ideas down quickly without having to think too much about it. Of course I feel pressure at times, but it’s mostly related to an ever changing market and the constant need for artists to be relevant and relatable. 

In what ways has launching Super Sapiens allowed you to express things musically that weren’t possible before?

To be honest, it’s not something I think about consciously. It’s more like, an artist sends you a track that sort of shapes your musical taste a bit further and that pushes you to research more music in a similar vein. That, in turns further changes the musical vision of the label a bit more. What I mean by that is nothing stay the same, everything shifts at all time and it’s I see as part of my responsibility to bring my sound further everytime I can both with the label and with my dj set, but always staying true to the initial vision we set ourselves with. It’s important to never deviate too far from it.

Looking back, what’s the biggest lesson you learned from your time with Audiofly that now shapes how you operate the label?

The biggest lesson is that when you stand at the peak of your career everyone in the industry will appear to be your friend, falling over themselves to open doors for you. But I soon learned only the true ones stay and support and nowadays I can count them in one hand. No complaints from where I stand as I managed to stay in the game almost unscathed but that’s not to say it isn’t tough out there. The moment you lose value in the eyes of people, you will disappear from their mind in a split second. Knowing this first hand has allowed me to run Super Sapiens in a much more authentic way, based very much on the feeling I have with the artists I work with and not just being a transactional interaction. 

You’ve mentioned incorporating your own vocals into a release for the first time. Was that a vulnerable moment, or something you’ve always wanted to try?

Actually it came off without thinking too much about it. I don’t consider myself much of a singer nor I have any delusions of this happening very often either. It was just a moment of inspiration where the lyrics and my voice were a perfect fit with what I was working around with. In times like this (and in the absence of a real singer readily available at the time) you have to use whatever you have in order to make quick progress in your work. 

Can you see Super Sapiens expanding beyond just music and events in future. Maybe into art, fashion, or something else?

Absolutely. Thanks to its strong visual identity, I can easily envision it to branch out in all of these sectors in the near future. We are currently looking into apparel as we speak but we are in the initial stages of it so keep your ears on the ground for it.

Finally, what advice would you give to artists thinking of starting their own imprint in today’s scene?

The most important thing to consider when venturing into this scene is how saturated it has become and what can be brought to the table that hasn’t been done before. Almost an impossible task at this point in time  and yet we see emerging artists doing it all the time. Authenticity and uniqueness are two ingredients that I cherish very much when looking for new talent and if that person wants to bring out a new concept use these two attributes to bring out your new imprint. Slowly but surely you will see people noticing you as we are all always looking for the next big thing! 

Keep up with Luca Saporito on Instagram

Buy/listen to the release here