Prague scene is not much followed by the music industry. They’d find many talents who deserve a shot - Nicco Lupen INTERVIEW
Photo by Lux Praguensis
“I like that the community feeling is all around and the fact that there is not a competition feeling. Musicians tend to support each other sharing stages and contacts. I am just sorry that eventually the scene is not much followed by who works in the music industry. They would find many talents who deserve a serious shot. ”
Marie: Nicco, how did you get to writing songs and playing music?
Nicco Lupen: After watching the videocassette of Queen Live at Wembley 86, when I was 7 years old. I decided that this is what I wanted to do when I grown up. I started playing keyboard since it was what Santa brought me in 1993. In 2000, once again thanks to Santa, I got my first bass. As much as I love to play bass I still never saw myself as a bass player but just as someone who plays bass. During the first wave of the pandemic I was asked, by a friend, to produce some instrumentals for him. This is when I took the production very seriously and finally found my place. I am a producer!
Photo by Lux Praguensis
Marie: You are building a footprint in the scene in Prague. How would you describe the music scene in Prague?
Nicco Lupen: The music scene here in Prague is nice. I like that the community feeling is all around and the fact that there is not a competition feeling. Musicians tend to support each other sharing stages and contacts. I am just sorry that eventually the scene is not much followed by who works in the music industry. They would find many talents who deserve a serious shot.
Marie: Tell us more about your music. What are the stories behind the songs and what was your inspiration for this?
Nicco Lupen: I discovered accidentally that I compose my beats based on my mood. It happened many times that I wanted to make a slow beat for example, and then it came out a party song because I was particularly hyped that day. Or vice versa, wanted to make a club track for dancing and ended it up making a melancholic one.
Once the beat is ready I usually contacts the artist(s) I believe they would fit it. If I have a strong feeling about the song then I give my inputs about a possible topic otherwise is up to the rapper/singer. I love to work on the song with the artist. Record some demos and see what changes are needed in order to record the best final version of it.
Marie: Are your songs autobiographical or do they come from your imagination, or both?
Nicco Lupen: As mentioned before, most of the beats are strongly influenced by my feelings and emotion in the phase of composition. But this applies to the music. Words are always part of the singers and rappers who collaborate with me so we should ask them 😊
Marie: Do you perform solo or do you perform with other artists?
Nicco Lupen: I am not a singer so I always collaborate with other artist in studio. When is about performing it depends: most of the time you can find me djing alone but I can also dj for rappers.
Marie: Which of your songs have you chosen to play for (A)VOID sessions, and why?
Nicco Lupen: I brought Catch (20)22, with Rapture Muziq, for the (A)VOID Sessions. This song was produced and recorded in March 2022, a couple of weeks after the invasion in Ukraine by the Russians and released the 8th of April. This song is not about that war in particular but is a song of peace and against all wars and this is the reason why, among all the songs I produced and released so far, I brought this one. Whatever occasion is a good occasion to spread a message of peace.
Marie: You’ve been influenced by artists some people may not be that familiar with such as (please fill out). How would you identify your conscious and unconscious influences on your songs?
Nicco Lupen: I listen a huge wide range of music, from Classical to Techno and this is a huge part of my production. You can hear a touch of punk or metal or techno or anything else in every production. But as producers then I am definitely a huge fan of Dr.Dre, Quincy Jones, Kanye West (my favourite one) but we also have great Italian producers such Charlie Charles, Biggie Paul, A_Kurt
Marie: Do you listen to much music on Spotify, and if so, what are the top releases we should check out?
Nicco Lupen: I do listen music on Spotify. Mostly is hip hop and a big amount of it is Italian since is a nice way to keep the connection with my motherland. Albums that has been released in 2022 and I definitely recommend are:
Pusha T: It’s almost dry
Kendrick Lamar: Mr. Morale & The Big Stepper
Jack Harlow: Come home the kids miss you
Nicco Lupen: Pezzonovantes
Drake, Savage 21: Her loss
Marracash: Noi, Loro, Gli Altri
Fabri Fibra: Caos
Marie: How would you like your songs to be received? Where and when should people listen to it best?
Nicco Lupen: I have a variated catalog of music I produced and released so I hope every one would find a track, or more than one, that will empathize with. In my opinion you can say you wrote a great song when people can relate with. But is not only that. I would love to give people 2-3 minutes of relieve if they are feeling down, or listen to this music when they need inspiration or spending quality time alone or with the people they love. Basically, I would like to provide a nice soundtrack for people’s life.
Marie: And finally, what are your plans with releasing music and playing live?
I recently released a new single, Traficanti, with Claudio Lopes and this is the last release for this 2022. I am already working on the final phase of my new album that will be released in April 2023 and producing new singles with other rappers.
About live shows, this is kinda impredictable since I am performing as dj and usually I know with short time in advance where and when I play.
