Involuntary Movement – Interview behind the scenes

Can you tell us a bit about where you’re from and how that environment has shaped your sound?

I was born in Italy, a country that exposed me from an early age to a rich culture of art, music, and creativity. Growing up, I developed a passion for a wide range of sounds and influences, all of which contributed to shaping my musical identity. In 2012, I moved to Amsterdam, a city that had a profound impact on my artistic journey. Amsterdam is a place where electronic music is deeply embedded in everyday life and where influences from all over the world naturally converge. Living there allowed me to immerse myself in an incredibly open and inspiring scene, refining my musical taste and helping me define the sound that characterises Involuntary Movement today.

I see my style as the result of a balance between my Italian roots and the international experience I gained in Amsterdam. On one side, I carry a strong appreciation for emotion, musicality, and elegance; on the other, a constant fascination with hypnotic grooves, sonic details, and experimentation that I absorbed while living in one of Europe's electronic music capitals. Visually, I’m also inspired by urban environments, architecture, and the creative energy I encountered throughout my journey. I like the idea that music and visuals can tell the same story: something essential, deep, and constantly evolving.

Where and in what kind of setting did you record this mix?

The mix was recorded in my studio, a space that gives me complete freedom to focus on the music and carefully shape every transition and detail. I chose this environment because I wanted to build a very specific sonic journey, free from the variables that naturally come with a live performance. The main concept behind the mix was to capture the atmosphere of an after-hours session, that unique period between the early hours of the morning and late morning when the energy of the club transforms into something deeper and more introspective. I've always been fascinated by that moment because people tend to become more connected to the music and less distracted by everything else around them.

At the same time, I didn't want to move too far away from the intensity and tension of a night time dancefloor. For that reason, the mix constantly moves between hypnotic grooves, emotional moments, and more club-oriented passages, creating a balance between the after-hours experience and the energy of a proper nightclub setting. The goal was to create a selection that could work in both worlds: deep enough to accompany the first daylight hours, but still carrying enough drive to maintain a strong connection with the dancefloor.

What was the intention behind this mix?

The main intention was to capture a very specific moment within the clubbing experience: that transition when the night is coming to an end, but the energy hasn't disappeared yet. I've always been fascinated by the transformation that happens during after-hours sessions, when music takes on a different meaning and the dancefloor becomes a more intimate and spontaneous space. Rather than telling a linear story, I wanted the mix to evoke a sequence of emotions and sensations. My goal was to guide the listener through moments of tension, depth, and release, much like a long musical journey that accompanies the final hours of an intense night.

The selection develops gradually, moving between hypnotic grooves, emotional textures, and more club-driven moments. I wanted to maintain a balance between introspection and energy without ever losing that sense of movement that I consider essential in a DJ set. Ultimately, what I wanted to convey is that unique feeling that emerges when time seems to slow down, the dancefloor gradually empties, and what remains is a genuine connection between music, space, and people.

Were there any specific moods, moments, or influences that guided your track selection?

Absolutely. While preparing the mix, I was mainly guided by the atmosphere I wanted to recreate: that suspended feeling between the remaining energy of the night and the deeper, more contemplative dimension of the early morning hours. Rather than focusing on a specific genre, I looked for tracks that could communicate with each other through groove, texture, and dynamics. My goal was to create a natural flow where each record contributed to the narrative without disrupting its continuity.

The influences behind the selection come from many years spent on dancefloors, at after-hours sessions, and simply listening to electronic music every day. The European minimal and house scene has certainly played a significant role in my development, especially during my years in Amsterdam, where I was exposed to different approaches to DJing and musical storytelling. I was particularly interested in the balance between depth and movement. I love records that manage to be hypnotic without becoming static, and that can gradually shift the energy of a room through subtle sonic details. Many of the tracks selected for this mix share exactly that quality.

Can you share a few favorite tracks from the mix and why they stand out to you?

I have to admit that I'll be a little mysterious here. There are a few tracks in the mix that I'm particularly attached to, but I'd rather not reveal their titles. Not because I want to be a gatekeeper, but because I genuinely believe that part of the magic of a DJ set lies in discovery. Nowadays we're used to identifying every track instantly, whereas I still love the idea of being surprised by a sound, a bassline, or a melody without necessarily knowing where it comes from. Some of the records featured in this mix are small gems that I've collected over the years and hold very close to me. I like to think that if someone truly wants to discover them, they should experience them in the right context: by coming to one of my events, sharing the dancefloor, and letting the music reveal itself naturally.

At the end of the day, what matters most to me isn't the name of a track but the emotion it creates. If a record makes you forget to reach for your phone and search for it, then it's probably doing exactly what it's supposed to do.