Locals: MUGLIETT Interview
Who are you? How old are you?
I am a 24-year-old classically-trained musician from Malta. Music has always been a big part of my life, having played the piano since I was six years old. I am also a lawyer by profession.
How many months/ years have you been Djing / producing?
I’ve been doing this for around six years now, but I only started playing in clubs and events these past two years. It started off as something I would do for fun with friends – when one of us had their birthday we’d rent a farmhouse and some equipment and I would be the DJ. Watching everyone dance to the music I played always made me really happy. Eventually I bought a controller and taught myself how to mix properly.
Mention an artist that inspired you to become a DJ/producer?
It’s impossible to pick just one artist, however, my biggest sources of inspiration are definitely Moderat and Apparat (1/3 Moderat). Their music is just something else for me. Last year I watched Moderat perform live twice in fact, as part of their More D4ta tour. I feel that Apparat’s music is sadder and more melancholic than Modeselektor’s (2/3 Moderat), which resonates more with me. The darker the better, that’s my vibe. Another inspiring and exciting upcoming artist is Luca Eck – I love his music. Though not in the electronic scene, I have to mention my idol, Hans Zimmer. His music has always been a big part of my life and a big source of inspiration. The man is pure genius and his music will continue to be heard for hundreds of years for sure.
Is there a local artist that you look up to and love to see play at events?
Probably DJ Ruby. His music style and sets may not always be exactly down my alley, but he is the only DJ in Malta who has made it both locally and abroad without succumbing to the local industry’s unfortunate rivalries.
What skills do you think DJs need to be successful?
The constant debate on which is more important – track selection or technique. I don’t think one is more important than the other, but I feel that in a club, track selection reigns supreme. Generally speaking, most people don’t really notice subtle technical errors in a club, but when a DJ doesn’t play good tracks everyone will get bored. Another important skill is to understand your crowd. I don’t like over-planning my sets – I always download around 4-5 hours more than my set time and improvise depending on my mood at the time and on how the crowd is responding.
How do you stay up to date with the latest music trends?
Anyone who knows me knows that I listen to music 24/7, while I work, when I shower, when I drive, in bed, all the time. I’m constantly looking for new music. I also read about music all the time and follow a lot of my favourite artists on social media, so keeping up-to-date with the latest music trends has never been a problem for me.
What would you say is the most rewarding part of being a DJ?
