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Tony Loreto was born in Naples Italy in 1983. His attachment to house and the club scene dates back to the 90s when he got hooked on a tape of a famous “Ragazzi Terribili” party in Rome. The presiding DJ of that party was Marco Moreggia, and he inevitably influenced Tony’s musical taste/ career choices. The curiosity to understand what was behind the job of being a “DJ” led Tony to buy his first turntables and mixer. Tony’s home town of Afragola was also a blessing because there was plenty musical knowledge and talented DJ’s in the area. With the help of local DJ’s like DJ Bruno, Lello Air and Mike Zanfardino Tony learned to hone his skills. He progressed from playing music during house parties in his basement to mixing improving his technique after an encounter with DJ Roby Maas
In 1998, Tony had his first official club gig via local promoters -RT Group - that wanted him to play as resident DJ during for all their events. This was Tony's first real experiance with a large crowd.
In 1999 he met Angelo Cimmino, another talented DJ from Naples, with whom he started a series of successful private parties for a limited number of friends. In 2001 Tony managed to get a gig in one of the biggest and most important club in the area of Naples, the club is called: "Metropolis". Thanks to the famous promoters Groove Sensation he had the opportunity to play alongside some of the best DJ’s, like: Frankie Feliciano, Lil Louis and Joe Caussell.
In 2003 Tony, Fernando Silvestro and Angelo Cimmino founded “Spirit Sound”, a project that had the goal to begin a production career, and learn the skills necessary to work in a recording studio. Tony dedicated all his time in the studio... the work done and the long nights up would soon prep him for his career as a producer.
Tony's first real personal success arrived in 2005 when he managed to get a demo of his production to Tony Humphries, while he was playing at “Dolce Vita Club” in Salerno. The legendary DJ didn’t hesitate to test his work right on the dancefloor!
In 2007 he met Jacko from Tony Records and together they started a production team called TJ Inc, their debut release was on Tony Humphries’ label with the acclaimed release “The Spirit EP”. They worked on various projects and remixed famous R&B artists such as: Mary J Blige, Alicia Keys, Joss Stone, Heather Headley.
Currently you can listen to Tony Loreto every Friday night on the internet radio station, cyberjamz.com.
URBNET: In the early 90’s what artists did you like that made you lean towards house music?
TONY LORETO:As a kid I used to like Italian pop musician Battisti, because my parents listened to him. When I started junior high school, I heard through friends who were secretly taping during the evenings. But what is strange music? I wondered. I think it was just the news that hit my ears to make me lose my head for that innovative sound.
After creating your own style and flare behind the decks what other help and inspiration did DJ Roby Maas give you?
Roby is like a big brother to me! He worked in a vinyl store, and while other DJs were punched to take the promotional but Roby kept them in secret for me, said I was special, that I had something more, that I could immediately understand a hard class while others tried the disks only after they heard him playing DJ Americans. Roby has taught me everything about DJing with one ear more musical, no disc is made by chance in a given time. I do not thank him enough.
After gaining more gigs and leaving your home town how did the crowd react and adjust t your sets in Naples and beyond?
I can say that Naples is a square and very demanding the difficult thing is that I have not found elsewhere.
When yourself and Fernando Silvestro & Angelo Cimmino started “Spirit Sound what were some of your first goals to get your music out there and also what kind of studio gear did you use the most?
The project “Spirit Sound” is still everything today to try to make good music along the future but always bearing the influences of the past. We have always tried to adapt the U.S.A.’s form to our being Italian and I am still finding more to be known in the U.S. than in Europe. At the beginning we worked with a PC in a store but that was one of those PCs whenever you go crazy blocked, then we switched to Apple Logic, and then much more stable, I love the apple !!!!!!
Since the collaboration with Jacko & Tony Humphries on the label Tony Records how has your production work improved and expanded?
Tony gave me the impetus and strength to continue to produce, sometimes I feel so apart that when they are in the studio sometimes I can’t understand if it's what I wanted. When I have a low mood and I feel musically tony play my music and the reaction of people gives me a plus. Tony has a heart of gold, there are not so many in this world. Jack is a collaborator cool together we found the missing part in the other. I think this is our strength, able to satisfy any kind from funky to tech house without limit. Only good music.
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