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Music

Luciano is Still Exploring Uncharted Territory

The Cadenza boss and Ibiza headliner makes a rare Canadian visit.
Photo by Peter Michael Marrone

With two canceled overseas flights and another major delay to get him last-minute to his headlining gig at Digital Dreams, I don't know how Luciano isn't pissed off.

I don't think I've ever seen him in a bad mood. In every interview he gives, the man is beyond lighthearted and playful. His Instagram? It's all about family, friendship, love and happiness. Just like the music he produces, which is upbeat and celestial. And when he DJs, there's nothing but positive energy, smiles and hugs for his friends.

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So I didn't hesitate to ask what it takes to make him mad. His answer was straight up: "I always get upset when it's about music or touring. When someone else is involved and it doesn't depend on me—in this case my Canadian fans and everyone at Digital Dreams who might have missed me because of the airline mess—that's what gets me angry."

It's a good thing the Cadenza boss did make it to Toronto on time. He's got a crowd of at least 15,000 roaring in anticipation. His set is one they've been waiting for many years. Having to postpone his headline performance at Digital Dreams in 2013 due to an illness, that only increased their appetite.

Hard to believe for a superstar DJ, international headliner and label boss, that this is only his fourth time in Canada. Ever. I'm curious how this is possible for an artist of his status. In many ways, fans actually see it as a good thing. There's a mystery about Luciano here in our country that few other dance music artists possess. An authentic electricity hangs in the air to see him perform.

There's no real reason why Luciano hasn't been to Canada a lot over the years but he apparently has no regrets either. "It's good to still have some uncharted territory somewhere in a way. It gives some extra magic and spice to the whole idea of touring." While he admits he would love to stamp his passport with more Canadian visits, he is just as content with his mystique in these parts. That said, "It feels good now, so I guess this is the right time to go for it, no?"

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Photo by Peter Michael Marrone

Spoken like a Vagabundo, which is the very identity Luciano has long cultivated for himself on the world stage. The Spanish word translates as a person without a home, a hobo, drifter or wanderer of the streets. In Ibiza, the Cadenza Vagabundos party transformed his freethinking, independent record label into one of the island's most dynamic parties. And in the years since, it has come to define him as a DJ.

"My sound transcends venues and boundaries I like to think. That's why it has a global appeal even though it comes from a sort of a niche background. The Luciano and Cadenza sound are unique and it stands out. I feel that wherever I'm playing I can have a true connection with my fans."

But 2014 has appeared to mark something of a rebirth for Luciano. He's got a new label (Basaec), new alias (Lucien), new music and new Ibiza residencies. And his Origins concept at Cocoon would only seem to reinforce that. I ask him if it's an accurate statement.

"Very accurate. And I'm very proud of everything we're doing at the moment. Our Origins parties are going great. I'm really excited for the season. We wanted to bring back the original spirit that was there on the White Island when we started. We want unity. Ibiza has always stood for this: love and freedom. And we're showing this with our music."

As Paco Osuna wraps up, Luciano steps up to the plate to go to work. Watching one headlining DJ pass it over to the next—and the brief, fleeting changeover that goes with it—is one of my favourite things about a big festival.

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Photo by Peter Michael Marrone

The energy in the crowd has boiled to a crescendo. And watching Luciano play one of his signature, hot-blooded Latin-infused sets, I'm reminded how I've always been fascinated by the way he uses Traktor. His set is all loop-based with three to four decks playing. He'll then cut the bass and bring it back in, only nowadays he'll do it with house beats. He essentially still plays like a minimal techno DJ, which is of course is his background.

To Luciano, it's all about combining the right tracks. However that's a standard, automatic answer for any DJ. It's not like it would be about combining the wrong ones. So I probe a bit deeper after his set and he gladly elaborates.

"It's the music that connects within itself. It's all from the same place in a way. It's about what you love for yourself. If you're so much into what you play, then the game is on. It's easy to blend it because it all has the same passion, the same power."

Ultimately, it simply comes down to looking back at mixing four turntables at the same time, genre be damned. "Choosing the right time and right part of a track to bring everything to the next level. Technology allows so much now that it's incredible how far you can go with your style and music."

Playing for roughly an hour-and-a-half, I point out to Luciano how he could have gone until sunrise and the audience would have stayed with him. Having performed so rarely here, there was an enthusiasm in the crowd not quite witnessed at any other point on Echo Beach in an all-star lineup.

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Photo by Peter Michael Marrone

He takes it to heart. "It's what I live for especially for such a situation. Even if people haven't seen me that much around here, it was overwhelming to see that reaction. And this speaks volumes, literally, about how warm Canadian fans are."

It made Luciano feel great. It also seemed to clue him in about our lifestyle of partying. "It felt like a safe environment. People who like to have a lot of fun without going over the edge. There was so much energy that I was carried away with it!"

It's been a blast kicking it with Luciano and just like that, he disappears into the night. Off to wherever the next destination on the map calls his name. Like a true Vagabundo.

You can follow Christopher on Twitter and Instagram at: @theCMprogram

Peter Michael Marrone's portfolio can be viewed at: PeterMichaelMarrone.com

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