Noha steps up for Nightclubber 199

Federico Castriota aka Noha, is an Italian DJ/producer known for his work as one half of Pathagonia (alongside compatriot Alex Tea) and for running the always on-point Panick! Panick! label. A truly busy and diverse musician, he’s spent the last couple years living in Berlin, Montreal, Japan and New York before recently settling back in his native Rome. 

Wherever he goes, it’s safe to say his music is welcomed with open arms, and though he’s tasted success in discerning circles already, his latest solo record is among his most significant to date. Released via Raresh’s Metereze label, the brilliantly named Instagram Visions (and we do recommend you follow Noha on Instagram!) is an awesome encapsulation of where he’s at sound-wise right now. We’re delighted to host the man himself on our mix series, which you can listen to here. But first, we sat down with Noha recently to find out what’s been happening recently in his world…

Every release you have put out so far has been really well-received, especially tracks such as Chi Ci Pensa and the entire “The Abyss Between A and B” album. What’s your secret then? 

In my view, the key to creating compelling music releases is to produce a substantial amount of music and then carefully select and release only those tracks that continue to excite me, even after a minimum of six months since their initial production. Time is your friend!

“Chi Ci Pensa” went everywhere, and I even noticed Raresh spinning “Hug me my friend” at a recent gig. How much do endorsements like this inspire you to continue doing what you do?

Having someone, with a significant following, play your music is an incredible opportunity to rapidly expand your audience. I've been very lucky to witness Raresh supporting my music since my initial release, and it also marked the start of a great friendship.

Ultimately, do you think you make music for yourselves or for other people? Is it something you’ve really thought about?

It took me many years to come to the realization that the only way for me to create music is by focusing solely on myself and releasing any aspirations to achieve something. I've come to understand that the key is to let go of overthinking and simply allow the music to flow naturally. It's been a long journey to reach this point, but I'm thrilled to have finally found my way.

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In terms of the ultimate aspirations for the Pathagonia duo, what are they? Or is it more a case of building things slowly and seeing where you go with it? 

Pathagonia began when Alex (Tea) and I spent an afternoon in the studio and produced four tracks. Subsequently, we decided to create a label solely for that release. We didn't have any specific plans at the time, except to share the music that we loved producing - one of the most incredible ways to celebrate a new friendship.

Now, many years later, we not only still enjoy spending days in the studio, but we also eagerly anticipate playing more and more of our b2b DJ sets.

You’ve done a new podcast exclusively for us. Can you tell us a bit about that one? What was the vibe you were going for with it? 

For this new podcast, I wanted to share my vision of an actual DJ set, and I approached it in the same way.

Your latest EP is out via the mighty Metereze, how did the record end up being signed there in the first place?

A few years ago, Raresh asked me if I was interested in creating a release for Metereze. I absolutely adored the label and all of their previous releases, so it was an easy decision to make. It took us nearly three years to finish the four-track EP because we both wanted to create something unique and timeless.

Is Metereze a label that you’ve admired for a long time? What makes it so special do you think? And are you very conscious about where you sign your music to? 

In my past experience working with record labels, the objective was often to create polished releases that adhered to a specific musical style. However, I always found this approach limiting. When working with Raresh, we decided to only choose tracks that excited both of us, regardless of the genre or style.

Do you approach your live set gigs in much the same way as your studio sessions? 

To me, studio time and live performances are two distinct moments. When I'm in the studio, I aim to express myself freely without any inhibitions. However, during live performances, my goal is to present my music in the best way possible and hopefully provide the audience with an unexpected experience.

Finally - what’s next for you - musically and professionally - that you’re really excited about? 

After spending a lot of time in the studio over the past few years, I am eager to take my live set on the road and share my new music with everyone. Nothing compares to that feeling.

Keep up with Noha here