An esteemed career stretching over a decade has seen Gai Barone become one of electronic music’s most sought after artists. The renowned musician and Italian native has long been one of the industry’s most fascinating producers.

As a true craftsman, it is this drive for excellence that makes each one of Gai’s studio creations met with much anticipation. Never one to be pigeonholed into a specific stylistic blueprint, the Italian artist effortlessly melds genres for a sound that is all his own.

Even though Gai’s creations are already deeply entrenched in the hearts of music fans across the globe, it’s his eternal quest for perfection moving forward into the future that holds endless possibilities as to how far his unique talents will reach.

Balance Selections 188: Gai Barone

Tracklisting:

1. Beth Hirsch – All I Need (Luke Brancaccio & Gai Barone Club Mix)
2. The Journey – Winter (Original Mix)
3. Christian Hornbostel – Archeus (Original Mix)
4. ID – ID
5. Love N Coda – Pied Piper (Arron Hunter Remix)
6. Paul Angelo & Don Argento – Dorcha (Gai Barone Remix)
7. Durante – Thread Tension (Original Mix)
8. Gai Barone & Micah – Prisma Pt.1
9. Gai Barone & Micah – Valse
10. Alexander Church – Critical Realism (Gai Barone Remix)
11. Gai Barone – They don’t know (Original Mix)
12. Charlotte Petitte – Herbst (Original Mix)

Balance Selections Q+A

Name: Gai Barone
Location: Italy
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Labels affiliated with: Patternized, Selador, Bedrock, Lost&Found, Katermukke, Parquet, Balance

My last 3 releases:

Killahurtz – Return to West on 27th (Gai Barone & Luke Brancaccio Remix)

Alexander Church – Critical Realism (Gai Barone Remix)

Paul Angelo & Don Argento – Dorcha (Gai Barone Remix)

What music did you listen to as a child?

I grew up listening to so many different kind of music from Chopin to Iron Maiden, and it was such a gift as my parents and above all my brother loved an incredibile variety of tracks ! It was such an incredible chance for me; they always gave me the opportunity to choose the instrument to play, what kind of music to listen, the ideal environment for a kid; lucky boy indeed!

When was the first time that you realised that you liked electronic music?

I started to play the piano when I was around 4 years old, and always tried to play it in a “different way” I mean piano is an incredible instrument which can help you to perform so many shades of music; when I was 12 I discovered the music of Kraftwerk and after few years the Depeche Mode sounds were a huge inspiration for my way of playing. But the big strike came around 14 years old, Frankie Knuckles ‘Your Love’ was LOVE at first Sight, it changed my life! Then it was the time for LFO, Luke Slater, KLF and many more….

When was the first time you saw a DJ in a club?

I remember that as if it were, it was in 1991, a DJ from an Italian Radio Network, Radio DeeJay, his name is Fargetta, and he played several hits from that year…Started with A Tribe Called Quest, Bonita Applebum and closed with Brothers in Rhythm, such a Good Feeling; amazing memories !

Which producers/artists/acts inspire you?

I must say Genesis! Their way of making music had no rules at all, and even now, after almost 40 years their tracks have an incredible impact on me! Their unpredictable way of “moving” is something that only few artists had!

Ah, almost forgot another name which is one of the most talented out there, Sir Pat Metheny. An Alien! His soundtrack of ‘A Map of the World‘ is still one of my favorite album ever.

What was the last album that you downloaded/bought?

It’s Mr John Digweed – Quattro II! It’s an incredible selections of beauties from so many talented and gifted producers! I listened to it almost every day during the last lockdown! Really inspiring and highly recommended.

What is your current production and DJ set up like?

I ‘m a big love of hardware tools, my favorite right now is the Triad from Elektron, I mean Analog 4, Octatrack and Analogue Rytm; also loving my Virus TI, the amazing tiny and powerful Digitone and my old Juno; but when I don’t have enough time the Native Instruments Komplete and Arturia V collection make my day! On the DJ side, I usually play on Traktor, with 2 Kontrol X1 MK2, an Allen & Heat 4D, but I like playing with CDJ’s too…

What releases do you have on the horizon?

I have an immense album ready to go with Luke Brancaccio and Kiki, and couldn’t be more proud of this! Unfortunately I cannot say more but I’m so excited. We spent almost one year and half for creating, writing lyrics and mixing this beauty; a huge project indeed!

Where can we hear you perform?

Unfortunately due to the COVID restrictions I won’t be able to play in the next months, but so looking forward to do it again very soon, when this is all over! In the meantime I play my podcast every week, Patterns, which I DO LOVE!! It’s just like a baby, getting stronger year after year, so proud of it;

My Recommendations

The top track in my DJ wallet currently is:

Defo my new collaboration with Micah, an incredible ep, with 3 different gems, out on Balance! Be sure to check this out!

Gai Barone & Micah Paul Lukasewich – Prisma EP

If I could recommend only one of my tracks for you to listen to it would be:

Lank – Run On Fumes (Gai Barone Closing Time Remix)