14 FAKTS INTERVIEW WITHInámo

Q: Please introduce yourself

Hey guys, I go by Inámo… an alias I've used since 2018. 

Q: One person you'd dream to have a coffee with? And why?

Great question, a tough one! I'd like to sit down for a coffee with one of my favorite authors; Dario Salas Sommer, I absolutely love his books. On a lighter note, I'd love to have a coffee with Grace Jones…. To hear some fun stories of NYC nightlife. 

Q: If you could have any superpower, what would it be? And why?

It would have to do something with time. Stopping time would be nice… time traveling, even better! Not exactly to change anything, that's probably very selfish, but to rather see how things were, be present at historical moments, see architectural marvels… and of course catch some cool concerts! 

Q: If you would have been given the chance to do a film score, what movie would you choose? And why?

I'm a fan of film-noir, so I'd pick “Le Samurai” directed by Jean-Pierre Melville, starring Alain Delon. 

Q: Who has been the most influential in your music career? And why?

I’m happy to call Danny Tenaglia as my musical Godfather. Back when I got into the scene, he had the most crucial influence on what I've learned about DJing… and the music aimed to make people dance. 

Q: Tell us about your journey, what got you to where you are today?

As a kid I was exposed to and quickly grew fond of disco. In 1999 I went to my first rave in New York and then became a regular at Twilo… I then transitioned from collecting disco records to electronic music. At age 18 I was working for Danny Tenaglia and Club Vinyl /Arc. Moving away from my passion of DJing, I went on a path of PR, Marketing Management and I've had the privilege to work for K7! Distribution / Global Underground in early 2000’s. Getting to work with a diverse catalog of releases from Cocoon, Poker Flat, HedKandi, Perfecto, etc and of course many Global Underground releases.

Eventually, I started managing events and doing bookings while focusing on DJing. Over the course of 10 years I've shared the decks with many legends and veterans as well as debuted many new artists… I pushed my own limits in NYC nightlife, until I decided to establish new ways to keep a musical relationship within my environment and dwell into label management and productions of my own, thus came Inámo and most recently, the Flight of the Navigator record label.  

Q: Everyone goes through ups and downs, what’s one habit you adopt to push through the downs?

Life can be and in many ways is tough! One habit I can share is, no matter how low you get, to try and do at least one thing a day for your passion. Even if it’s a small thing… it could be one email, one call or task. Doing that keeps you going and as you climb out of your low, you can add more tasks and eventually go back to being your best. Another thing… I think it helps to listen to different types of music. Music has also gotten me out of low points in life. 

Q: Can you recall a DJ set or performance of yours that remains unforgettable to you? Where did it take place, and what makes it stand out among all others?

I'm fortunate to have a few such moments, playing long dj sets over the years of 4, 6+ hours. The better memories come from the more intimate parties… and after parties. I used to do many weekly events in NYC… one such event series happened on a Thursday night at a spot called La Zarza back in 2012... A tough night to bring big underground names, but one night, I got to host Stephan Bodzin, and play a set before him. It got crazy steamy, extremely intimate… under 300 people, fully packed was the place. People were dancing on the tables, I remember seeing smiles and everyone move in a wild cheerful unison. Pure bliss! 

Q: How has your music style evolved over the years?

The biggest changes started taking place when I decided to focus on playing music from labels I'm involved with, thus narrowing in on what was an extremely broad spectrum prior to that. I think letting go of history and baggage that came with being in the scene since 99’ has lightened my style enough to let in more of “here and now” for the Inámo sound. 

Q: If you were to venture into another music genre, which one would you choose and why?

I dont think I would keep to one specific music genre… but if you mean outside of electronic music, it would be Funk or Raggae for the soulful filling and the chill attitude. 

Q: Could you name 3 tracks that got you into electronic music and why?

Another wonderful and tough question, thank you!

It would be fair to say that the first record that tied me to electronic music would be Jean Michelle Jarre’s “Oxygene”... it's a captivating beauty, that got me thinking about how that music was made, and exposed me to the use of synthesizers.

Donna Summers “I Feel Love” by Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte, introduced me to the idea of tracks as “timeless hits”, a track which could do wonders if played at the right place at the right time.

Danny Tenaglia’s “Elements” has a place in this list, a perfect example of what rhythm and drums can do for the dancefloor.  

Q: Can you recommend a hidden gem in your home country that would be perfect for a rave?

One of the better places I've seen lately is the Knockdown Center. A perfect spot in my opinion. It has an edge of a factory building, the comfort of a few rooms for a different sound and vibe as well as a cozy outdoor area. 

Q: Could you tell us about your upcoming releases and plans for the year?

My next single will come on the Flight of the Navigator label titled “Last Romance”, a fun summer Afrotech record with a remix from NY tribal maestro Joeski. I have a remix due on Earthly Delights of a talented french Dj/Producer Swann Decamme and lovely collaborations with my boy Wild Dark featuring a vocal by Starving Yet Full, titled “Forgive”, a feel good, emotional record I think will touch a few hearts.

Another magically spontaneous and truly phenomenal collaboration will come with legend Timo Mass, titled “Le Tourbillon”, two mixes aimed for the heart of the dancefloor and a sultry underground remix by Francesco Mami. I plan to follow up with remakes for my “Flashback Series” and sunrise edits as downloads on my soundcloud page and more steamy singles to follow via Flight of the Navigator. 

Q: Can you share a fun fact about yourself that most of your listeners are probably unaware of?

Back when I started partying I used a fake ID to get into clubs… to look older. I tried to have a mean look and attitude… this, mixed with my obsession for disco has earned me a nickname “Mean Disco Gene” given to me by Danny Tenaglia in the early 2000’s. The nickname stuck with me for many years.

Bonus Q Powered by Pioneer DJ: How did Pioneer DJ influence your career and what is your favorite Pioneer DJ gear?

For some years now…. It’s hard to imagine DJing without Pioneer! They have done an amazing job as an industry standard and where possible, I request a pioneer mixer. My home set up features XDJs and a cozy DJM450 mixer.  I'm excited to check out the new Euphonia and DJMA9 models.