Released on Anané’s Nulu Electronic imprint, Stefano Ranieri’s debut album is a rich and heady, exquisitely produced album that explores various shades of house music across 15 distinct and memorable tracks.
Hailing from Italy, Stefano Ranieri has been producing and releasing music for around 15 years, with a sound very much rooted in – but not confined to – soulful house. Over the years his tracks have been supported by Masters At Work, Anané, Carl Cox, Bob Sinclair and Nic Fanciulli, while his 2018 hit Less Talk was picked up by Defected for their legendary Miami album that year.
Landing 23 July on Nulu Electronic – the label of Anané – Risonanza perfectly reflects Ranieri’s history and the legacy he brings to his art. From the rhythmic acid kiss of 1942 to the laid-back Grace Jones inspired vibe of Saulè, Stefano explores house music in all its myriad forms across 15 distinct tracks.
The only track to be released from the album to date, lead single Black Rain is an urgent deep house cut, with crisp drums, a chunky bassline and snatches of vocals all combining to great effect, before a sidewinding synth comes to prominence in the break.
Black Rain served as the perfect entry point into his diverse, multifarious musical world, which is now fully realised with the release of Risonanza. Cuts like Black Rain sit comfortably alongside the rolling Afro tribalism of Saulè, hypnotic bounce of Your Time Is Up, and thumping, almost techno-leaning stylings of tracks like Koncept One, showing the confidence with which Stefano has approached the album. Every track here provides a lasting musical embrace representative of a body of work that is borne out of a life-long pursuit of producing music that truly touches your soul.
As Nulu Electronic enters its second decade of existence, Stefano Ranieri is an artist that will lead us into a new world of musical experiences that will forever bless the dance floor.
Stefano Ranieri interview with Frankie Salt
What have you been up to to keep busy over the recent difficult times?
I continued to live, I am lucky to live in a place surrounded by nature. I took walks surrounded by greenery with my wife and our dogs, and I was in the studio recording to produce music, I didn’t give up on music at all. I took this period as an opportunity for growth, spirituality and life. I have read a lot, and have studied some software in a deeper way.
How did you stay positive when gigs were getting postponed or canceled?
I have a vision of life that leads me to accept whatever happens, it is not easy to put all this into practice, but I have a lot of will, I always try to be optimistic. I was not too alarmed, I am a man of a thousand resources.
Now that bars, pubs and restaurants are reopening, what are you most looking forward to?
The first thing I expect is an awareness of people, I would like this particular period we are experiencing to rediscover the true values of life. Music is a fundamental part of each of us but unfortunately for lack of intelligence and lack of culture, clubs are often considered as negative places. There is a lot of hypocrisy in all of this, we make the difference with our daily choices, we decide our future. From now on I would like people to understand this.
What is on the horizon for you musically?
There are many projects with Nulu & Nulu Electronic. They won’t get rid of me anytime soon :). I’m lucky, I work with fantastic people, Nulu is not a simple Label but a lifestyle, a guide in dealing with things and a great soul full of energy. We are doing several projects and I feel very connected to them.
If you could travel anywhere in the next year, where would it be?
I would definitely like to go back to New York with my wife, plus I would like to tour Africa, mother earth. I have a great regard for this continent, from wild nature to its musical world. Nulu is highly regarded in the Afro-House landscape and I am very proud of my released tracks. It would be a great exper
