Productive and successful for more than a decade, Italian native artist, producer, DJ and multi-talent EDX first hit people’s radars in 1994 with various mix tapes that within weeks had circulated around the globe. With his new found fame, EDX quickly climbed up the ladder of recognition with labels and producers asking him to sprinkle his remix magic touch onto their releases. EDX’s remix CV is impressive to say the least, with remixes on the likes of Deadmau5, Mary J Blige, Bob Sinclar, Axwell, Armand van Helden, Steve Angello, Roger Sanchez, Laidback Luke, Armin van Buuren, Kool & The Gang, Kaskade, Funkagenda, Lauryn Hill, to name but a few.His remixes consistently feature in the various charts such as the DMC Buzz, Cool Cuts and Beatport charts, which culminated in him featuring the TOP 3 for Beatport’s Best Progressive House Artist of 2009 alongside Deadmau5 and Eric Prydz.

His brand, No Xcuses, has taken over the world’s FM airwaves with the No Xcuses radio show. In 2011, EDX also launched his No Xcuses residencies worldwide, which kicked off with an appearance at Playhouse Hollywood. EDX is hosting No Xcuses events at some of the best clubs in the world including the amazing Space Ibiza where he held a residency this past summer.

In the past few years, EDX released hit after hit, continuously topping the Beatport charts. From original productions to remixes and massive collaborations to his ‘No XCuses’ compilation and radioshow, all of them helped creating the perfect run-up to his debut album, released on the Armada Music label in 2012. EDX is taking 2012 by storm, and is definitely here to stay. Is it any wonder dance music bible Mixmag hailed him as a ‘GENIUS’?

We caught up with the man himself when he played at Kitty Su last Saturday in New Delhi!

Hello from Bangin Beats, Welcome to New Delhi!

Q) This is your second time in India. What was it like when you last played here?
EDX: I played a year or two back. Did some shows in South India like one in Mysore. It was fun, a lot of fun. It’s a beautiful city. Though it was a short visit, it was quite interesting and now I’m back, playing a show in New Delhi!

Q) What’s it been like? Have you had the chance to go around the city?
EDX: I was planning to taste some of the curries today and then tomorrow the whole day check out and explore the city!

Q) You’ve had a hectic schedule lately. You were in Australia a few days back. Tell us about it? How was it?
EDX: I played in Europe just before coming here, flew out from there. Did a 5 city tour in Australia and New Zealand. Played a few festivals a year back and this time we had this massive club tour. Actually, I love how things have developed, the Gold Coast there is beautiful. I also went to New Zealand and as is always it was fun seeing the crowd enjoy the music.

Q) We believe you’re going on to continue to tour North America, What is it like playing there?
EDX: I love playing there! Have done a few shows and played at a few festivals there. There’s a lot that is happening on the EDM scene there and it’s good to be part of it, its fun.

Q) You’re one of the mainstays of EDM. Started your career when most of us were still toddlers. You’ve been producing for about 15 years now. Tell us what has the journey been like? We hear you started with cassettes? Also, are you a DJ first or a producer?
EDX: It’s funny actually. I began by focusing primarily on DJing but at the same time was also producing back then. Used to produce with pre pre versions of cubase and logic and the other software’s which have come up today. A mini version of logic was called Frequencer back then, around 1995/96/97. I was focusing on DJing because that was my first passion. My heart is of a DJ but I produce too.

Q) Today electronic music has gone mainstream, back around the late 90’s when you started it was still considered to be underground. What do you think about its development?
EDX: I don’t know what’s happening in India but in Europe, electronic music was relatively mainstream already around 1996-97 but yes it did take it’s time to pick up, in the US it took 20 years to become a genre. I think it’s great how it’s developed in Europe and the states and everywhere else.

Q) Lot of people have been thinking and wondering, How did the name EDX come up?
EDX: It’s been a long time. I’ve actually forgotten, you should have asked me back then (laughs). Sorry!

Q) A lot of people don’t know that you were an avid footballer; did you have to divide your time between music and sports? Would you have liked to probably pursue a career in football?
EDX: I was a very good soccer player and I had big ambitions when I was about 15 years old, played in the selection of my region too. It was a big decision but I chose music, guess the family is happy (laughs). Though they wanted me to go in for sports back then.

Q) You also have a hit radio show called “No Xcuses”, how long has that been going for? Tell us something about that?
EDX: Yeah, just brought the 82nd edition. Started broadcasting the show in March last year. It has about 30000 listeners now.

Q) Your single, “Give it up for love” has been a sensation all over the world and especially to your followers in India along with its remix’s, how did the idea of the track come about?
EDX: “Give it up for love” featured on my album, “On The Edge”, which has been released in a few territories and should be out in a few more soon. It was one of the most hair raising tracks and has a lot of potential. I had done a mix of it sometime back which I refreshed and put on the album. It gave a second life to the record. Mysto & Pizzi from New York did a remix of it too.

Q) You also did a remix for “Silhouettes” which released very recently. Tell us something about that?
EDX: I was requested to the remix of the track. Good collaboration resulted in a good remix.

Q) Any new tracks/releases we could look forward to, coming from you?
EDX: I have a track releasing on Tool Room pretty soon. Some old mixes is what people could expect too, but today it’s more driven. A little later in the year I might release a couple of more tracks of the album, a few remix packages and then 2 more records one I produced along with Leventina.

Q) Talking about the Indian music scene, Would you want to work with any of the Indian producers, or perhaps use other native Indian instruments in your music?
EDX: Absolutely, music doesn’t come in specific genres and it doesn’t matter where the artists are from. It can be a very good collaboration, so of course why not!

Q) For someone who has been in the game for as long as you, what is your take on Dubstep? Is it the future, with so many producers producing dub sounds nowadays? Also, What advise could you give to upcoming budding producers?
EDX: I think it’s important for anyone who makes music, to focus on making his music, and love what you do and know what you want to do and just do it. Don’t follow a specific genre, don’t follow the hype. I don’t know how long Dubstep will last, though it’s big in the states. I just feel producers should develop their own music, their own style and focus on your releases, I see young kids today coming out with one or two songs and become really popular but they aren’t really great DJ’s. So I would say, focus on DJing also and not just produce.

Q) Do you have a preference? Do you think someone who mixes 2 tracks on a computer is a proper DJ? Is it important to learn beat matching and the other basics?
EDX: Ofcourse, beat matching is very important. At the end of the day I feel a DJ is someone who mixes 2-3 tracks on the console, no offense to the generation of laptop DJ’s but I think a laptop DJ isn’t really a DJ. With the new generation even I could shift to my laptop, have a whole lot of music on it but I feel more inclined to CDJ’s. Laptop DJing might just die out soon with the advancement in technology of CDJ’s.

Q) How does it feel to be associated with Toolroom Records?
EDX: Well, I have tracks and its always great to release them on a big label and Toolroom is pretty big.

Q) Finally, your current favorite, or as we would call it ‘bangin’ track?
EDX: I think “Walls” by Sultan & Ned Shepard is a really good song and a good production. Also one of my personal favourites is Inpetto’s track, “Yuccasin”. That track has a good feel about it, the melodies just fit right. And of course one of my own releases called “Live My Life”, its hopefully going to be big!

Thank You!

Interview by Kanov Bagai. Edited by Aditya Seth. Courtesy WMS Entertainment