Luke Brancaccio is a DJ and producer of global experience and escalating renown. His musical evolution has lead him from frontman of the British band Suicide Sports Club and the chart-topping production partnership of Brancaccio & Aisher to headlining international events and featuring on the cover of DJ Magazine.
A perennial of Bedrock, with whom he has had more releases than any other artist, he has also signed with Circus, Selador, Crosstown Rebels, Lost & Found, Mobilee, Sudbeat, and his cutting-edge tracks have swept the charts, generating several number ones. Widespread critical acclaim has lead to collaborations with Nick Muir and John Digweed.
Now at the vanguard of his craft, he has just remixed a brace of classics; Air and Beth Hirsch’s ‘All I Need‘ for Last Man Music (the label of Maceo Plex, Solomun, UNKLE, and Bookashade), and Rockers Revenge’s ‘Walkin’ On Sunshine‘. His album ‘We Live Electric‘ under the alias Tokyo Fan Club is out now on Bedrock.
Balance Selections 240: Luke Brancaccio
Tracklisting:
1. Come Closer – Jump Into The Fire (Tokyo Fan Cub reinvention)
2. Blacktone – 22
3. Superflu – We You
4. Ivory – Feelin’
5. Adam Ten & Mita Gami – High On
6. ALPHADOG – Golden Boy (Adam Ten & Mita Gami)
7. Bookashade – Body Language (HOSH Remix & Luke Brancaccio Edit)
8. Otus – Juniper
9. Jamie Stevens – With You
10. Luke Brancaccio & Gai Barone – Brokheimer (Renato Cohen Remix)
11. Yulia – Skuze Me
12. Quivver & Oliver Giacomotto – Snailblazer
13. Digitalism – Worldwide Night
14. John Monkman & Rinzen – Fade
15. Luke Brancaccio & Gai Barone – ID
16. Blacktone – Tube Romantic
17. Pretty Pink – Euphoria
18. Cristoph – The Music
19. ID – ID
20. 808 State – Pacific State (Mallinder Cheeky Edit)
21. The Chemical Brothers – No Reason
22. Tokyo Fan Club – Endings
Balance Selections Q+A
Name: Luke Brancaccio
Location: England
Facebook
Soundcloud
Instagram
Alias/Producer name: Luke Brancaccio & Tokyo Fan Club
Labels affiliated with: Bedrock, Lost & Found, Selador, Crosstown Rebels, Circus, Renaissance, Mobilee, Sudbeat, Music To Die For, EMI, Parlophone
My last 3 releases:
Gai Barone & Luke Brancaccio – Memory Child
Come Closer – Jump Into The Fire (Tokyo Fan Cub reinvention)
Gai Barone & Luke Brancaccio – Silvia’s Calling
What music did you listen to as a child?
My mother used to work for Chris Blackwell at Island Records so I had music constantly always around me, to keep me quiet as a child they would put headphones on me and sit me in a high chair. But I listened to everything from David Bowie, Van Morrison to Dr. Dre and so on. Actually on the road I grew up on we had Pink Floyd living at one end of the road & Foreigner living at the other end. So, I’ve had music drummed into me since year dot.
When was the first time that you realised that you liked electronic music?
I was always into hip-hop and old school electro but used to live in a house in my late teens with 5 flatmates that were all into dance music, I couldn’t stand it at first but slowly started picking up on certain tunes that were constantly played which started to teach me the ways of Electronic Music. The tunes that drew me in were, Leftfield’s ‘Not Forgotten’, Gat Decor ‘Passion’, ‘Windows’ by Sil and many more. Also, Guerrilla Records were right around round the corner from where I lived so I used to gate crash the offices to pick up cheeky promos, they thought I was some weird kid that didn’t know anyone looking for handouts, and they were right!
When was the first time you saw a DJ in a club?
My memory is slightly hazy around these times for ‘obvious’ reasons but I think it was either Sasha at Ghetto Club in Soho or Darren Emerson at The Drum Club. What I do remember was the first time I walked into a dance club I felt at home and desperately knew I wanted to be a part of this amazing scene, I don’t think I ever felt like I had fit in before anywhere, and I finally had found my people.
Which producers/artists/acts inspire you?
Blimey! Such a difficult question as so many artist and tracks inspire me, every tune I like I’m inspired by but when writing my usual goto’s are Brian Eno, and Radiohead, I seem to be constantly drawn back to these two especially when writing stuff like our latest album ‘We Live Electric’ by my new band Tokyo Fan Club that I recently started with Gai Barone and Kiki Cave on Bedrock.
What was the last album that you downloaded/bought?
I tend to stream albums to be honest. The last album I listened to was Block Party’s ‘Silent Alarm’ I hadn’t listened to it for an age and forgot how spectacular it is. Also, I was sent Trikk’s new album ‘Fauna & Flora’ a while back, which was the last electronic dance album that had me sit in my chair. I’m extremely lucky and get sent so much music each day to delve into.
What is your current production and DJ set up like?
For Production I use Logic X, I have a Moog Subsequent, 303, 909, Novation Summit and tons of other bits, also a list as long as your arm of soft synths. But my go to plug in synth is either the P900 by Pulsar Modular (which is a monster) or Arturia’s Pigments (which I use on everything) . DJ’ing it’s CDJ’s all the way, I can’t stand laptops behind the decks, but that’s just me.
What releases do you have on the horizon?
Gai Barone and myself have actually just teamed up with the legendary Hannes Bieger for a release in April coming out on Selador, which is ridiculously exciting. Also Gai and I have a remix coming out on Proton. For Bedrock we have a ton of Tokyo Fan Club remixes being done by some of the world’s best and biggest producers and if you haven’t listened to our album ‘We Live Electric’ please do, you definitely won’t be disappointed.
Where can we hear you perform?
I’m next playing at a secret Wharehouse party in Paris and then onto Bedrock in London at E1 for Easter Thursday and on the Friday At Kitchen both with my brother from another mother ‘the delightful’ Gai Barone.
Tell us more about the podcast you made for Balance?
I Just played in Amsterdam a couple of weeks ago and it was one of my favourite sets musically for a while so I have taken inspiration from that, there is a ton of new music in there but mixed with older stuff as I think music is too special just to be played once and then forgotten. Most DJs seem to only try and play the newest promos, and sometimes it can restrict your sets. For me it’s all about continuity and trying to not just play one sound, I love how one record feels after another and so forth, which I’ve tried to do with this set.
My Recommendations
The top track in my DJ wallet currently is:
This tune is a while old (maybe a year or so), but it hasn’t left my playlist and absolutely destroys the dance floor. Big In Le Game!!! Kaz James ‘Footprints‘
If I could recommend only one of my tracks for you to listen to it would be:
I’m in love with our Tokyo Fan Club tune ‘Circles‘. It just does something right to me.
If I could recommend only one track for you to listen to it would be:
So many, but this little gem from Brian Eno is my go to. Unbelievably good and totally timeless.
The last movie I watched that I really liked:
I recently rewatched ‘Jojo Rabbit’ which was even better than the first time I watched it. I watch a ton of movies (it’s how I switch off from music), I can watch any old rubbish, I’m a massive fan of all the bubblegum Marvel & DC superhero movies, which I know is a little sad.
My favourite TV show:
Yellowstone and the spin offs, best TV I’ve watched in years, can not get enough of it, or recommend it more. Must watch!!
