From Peru to Phoenix: Gio Lucca Talks About His Rise

Discover Gio Lucca’s unique fusion of cultural influences and the creative journey leading up to his much-anticipated release on Short Circuit.

Gio Lucca‘s rise in the dance music scene is a tale of cultural fusion and passionate dedication. Born in the historical city of Cusco, Peru, his early exposure to vibrant parades and traditional Incan festivals ignited his love for music, a flame that was further fanned by his family’s deep musical roots. His move to the United States as a child, settling first in New Jersey before journeying to Phoenix, shaped his unique sound — a captivating blend of diverse cultural influences.

In this exclusive interview, Gio Lucca delves into the journey that has led him to where he is now. He speaks candidly about the impact of his rich cultural heritage, his musical inspirations, and the challenges and triumphs he has encountered along the way. From the influence of artists like Jamie Jones, Latmun, and Ben Sterling to the evolution of his own unique style that blends vintage sounds with minimal tech and raw bass grooves, Lucca offers a window into his creative process.

As Lucca’s career garners international attention, he remains true to his origins while aiming to make his music relatable to a global audience. This authenticity shines through in every bassline and drumbeat, resonating with listeners worldwide. Join us as we dive into the world of Gio Lucca, exploring his artistic vision, inspirations, and aspirations in the ever-evolving landscape of dance music.

Stream EDMID Guest Mix 416 || Gio Lucca on SoundCloud:

https://soundcloud.com/edmidentity/edmid-guest-mix-416-gio-lucca

Gio, thanks so much for taking the time to chat! Can you share the story behind your journey from Peru to Phoenix and how these diverse cultures have influenced your dance music productions?

I was born in Cusco, Peru, and spent a major part of my childhood there before moving to the US at the age of nine. I grew up in a small town in NJ and finally moved to Phoenix after graduating college.

My family had a heavy influence on my love for music. I remember that, at an early age, before coming to the US, my parents would take me to traditional parades and Incan festivals full of live music and dancing.

There are a lot of musicians on my dad’s side of the family and he encouraged my love for music early on. He bought me my first guitar when I was 11 (which I still have in my studio), and since then, I’ve just explored and learned about different types of music until I finally got into dance music production in 2021.

“Gio Lucca” is a combination of my first name, my mom’s, my sister’s (who introduced me to electronic music), my dad’s, and my family name. I chose this name as an homage to my family and culture. Without them and my upbringing, I wouldn’t have the appreciation for music and art that I do now.

You’ve cited Jamie Jones, Latmun, and Ben Sterling as your influences. How do these artists shape your approach to dance music, and are there any specific tracks of theirs that have deeply influenced you?

All three artists have a unique sound that they are pioneering. I really appreciate the way they can write upbeat dance music and darker club tracks. Similarly, I try to be diverse with my productions as I enjoy writing those intimate dark grooves like my release “Face 2 Face” on Take Notes and the feel-good rollers like “New Luv.” Exploring different sounds helps keep me inspired.

Fun fact: Latmun is particularly a big influence as he was one of the instructors in the Repopulate Mars production boot camp that got me into dance music production in 2021.

Your music uniquely blends some vintage sounds with minimal tech and raw bass grooves. Could you tell us about a moment or track where you felt you had truly found your signature style in dance music?

I started producing dance music in late 2021 and spent most of 2022 learning production and exploring my local scene. I had no idea how deep the Arizona dance scene was until I started getting more involved and going to shows.

About halfway through 2022 I began getting close to who I consider now my best friends, Braydon Terzo, eta, Scrubs, and Casey Zanni. eta has been a big influence on my decision to dive deep into these sounds. As we both come from engineering education, we both like to geek out on hardware, sound design, and technology. Implementing this new analog gear in my studio has had a massive impact on the style of music I currently produce.

With your diverse cultural background, how do you make your dance music relatable to a global audience while staying true to your origins?

My upbringing and experiences made me who I am, so I always try to be true to myself and, whenever possible, share aspects of my life. My life has been full of lessons, love, and nostalgic moments, which can be felt in my basslines, drums, and vocal selections. At the end of the day, I just want to have fun, write music with my friends, and make memories with my people. I think others can relate to that.

As an artist gaining international attention in the dance music scene, what challenges have you encountered, and how have you navigated them?

For me, I think a challenge I have encountered is staying unique and consistent while trying not to burn out. It’s very easy to overwork yourself, whether by working long and late hours in the studio or just trying to force creativity. Whenever I’m feeling in a rut, I try to remind myself that this is supposed to be fun and to not take it too seriously. It also helps to have a good support system. My girlfriend, friends, and family do a good job of keeping me grounded.

Looking at the current dance music landscape, what trends excite you, and are there any you’re keen to explore in your upcoming projects?

Seeing artists like Iglesias playing festivals like Coachella this year is exciting. To put forward underground music at one of the biggest festivals in the world really gives hope to smaller artists like myself that we can be true to our sound and play at these big venues one day. It also solidifies the fact that this sound that is dominating Europe is starting to make waves here in the US. I can see this in my own scene as in the past year; there have been more and more acts like that coming through my city.

Could you give us an insight into the creative process and the inspiration behind your upcoming release on Short Circuit?

Kieran and I met last year, immediately connected, and started to collaborate on projects. Sometime in November, inspired by his trip to Europe, he called me, saying he had some ideas for us to work on. I remember at the time, I had just wrapped up some of my own projects and told him I was feeling in a rut, fresh out of ideas, but I’d give it a shot. The idea he sent was influenced by the Ibiza, Paco Osuna-style tech house roller sets Kieran had just experienced on his trip, and I ended up putting a very raw, minimal, and glitchy spin to it.

Finally, looking ahead, what are some of your immediate goals in the dance music industry, and how do you plan to achieve them?

There are a handful of goals I have for myself this year, some of which are to release on some dream labels, perform in new cities, headline my own city, and build up my own community. I want to achieve these goals through my production and focus on mastering my craft. Good music speaks for itself, and I’m thankful my music has been reaching many ears across the world lately. Overall, I just want to get to a point where I can have a platform that I can use to help push the scene even further in the States.

Thanks again, Gio! Looking forward to following you along this journey!

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