ONE TO WATCH: XL Regular
Rome-based XL Regular stands out as an artist who is known for his commitment to the art. Mixing elements from genres like house, broken beat, techno, and more, he consistently crafts a soulful sound that has become his artistic fingerprint. With releases on ANMA, Cognitiva, Outplay, and Wicked Wax, his latest EP on Artisjok marks another step in his evolution. Whether in the studio or behind the decks, he’s all about creating connection through music. We caught up with him for our next ONE TO WATCH.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got hooked on music? Hey Nowadays Mag, Alessandro here. I’m a producer & dj based in Rome. My relationship with music started really early I reckon; I started playing drums at 5 when my parents bought me a drum kit after being tired of me beating pots and pans all day hahaha! My dad used to play bass after work, so I grew up listening to him play bass over various kinds of music. This shaped my childhood, and I was lucky to grow up surrounded by music with two supportive parents who always encouraged me to pursue my goals. Is there a track that shaped your musical identity as an artist? There are plenty of tracks that shaped my musical direction! To choose one is very difficult, so I will just go with one of them: The Future Ain't The Same As it Used 2 B by Neon Phusion and New Sector Movements. Everything in that track is phenomenal, from the groove to the whole keyboard arrangement. I can say I learned a lot from that track (and the whole discography by NP/NSM). Who is an artist you have always looked up to, and why? Honestly, there are too many names I could pick for this, so I’ll just describe the kind of artists I admire, and you can make your guesses hahaha! I look up to producers and DJs who like to work hard, I see way too many people approaching this music thing as a hobby or really superficially and with no work ethic. I think music is (in some aspects) like any other competitive sport; producers and DJs should feel like they are professional athletes, so they should behave like it. Hard work, dedication, and constant practice are what move me, and when I see somebody who’s obsessed with the thing they’re doing, that’s what catches my attention. So yes, I respect people who really put lots of effort and dedication into their craft, no matter the genre or style they’re producing/playing. What has been a defining moment in your musical journey so far? Definitely my releases on Artisjok Records! With Alia’s label, I have the perfect output for my music and an amazing working environment. What challenges did you face while breaking into the industry, and how did you overcome them? To me, the most challenging aspect of the whole industry is people. I’m very attentive to the human side. I do not like the whole facade aspect of it, and I struggle a lot to do all the networking-related things. I just prefer to work and surround myself with people who are honest and transparent. If you could go B2B with any DJ, dead or alive, who would it be and why? Right now, I’d really like to do a live session/live set with Fireground! They are an amazing duo from Italy, based in Germany right now. Since I discovered them, I fell in love with the sound & their producing attitude. All the time they post a session, I just can't help but look at what they do and how they do it. Quality! Do you have a bucket-list gig? Lots of options to choose from hahaha. I’ll just go with the one that comes first to my mind: Open Ground in Wuppertal. All the people I know that went there told me crazy things about the sound system and I think that’s what should make the difference in a club. In the end, it is all about music for me. Where do you see yourself in five years, both musically and professionally? I just wanna be able to live from music! Anything on the horizon that you're really (and we should be) excited about? Yes! New music & gigs with amazing people. I can’t complain about 2025 hahaha! Thanks Alessandro! Thank you!!!
