Scotland has produced some of the very best DJ talent in recent years; Calvin Harris and Hudson Mohawke to name a couple of our favourites. The highland’s newest talent Ronnie Pacitti has been making moves over the past year and we decided to catch up with the Aberdeen based producer/DJ to see what he’s all about!

Ronnie! How you doing? We’re really glad we stumbled across your material!

I’m all good mate! I’m really glad that you did also. Thanks for asking me to do this interview 🙂

So can you give us a bit of an introduction? Where did it all start for you? How long have you been producing/mixing?

It started when I was about 13. My dad was a DJ and producer and basically set up his studio in my bedroom when I was growing up. Surrounded by all of his equipment I became interested in what could be done with it. Whenever he wouldn’t be using it I just messed around trying to write hip hop beats as that’s what I was really into at that point of my life. I started mixing when I was around 17. I started to go out at that age and connected with electronic music after hearing it in clubs.

Who are your biggest inspirations in music at the moment? What have you been listening to to get the creative juices flowing?

DJ Borings latest release is on repeat a lot. Especially the track “Feels like yesterday”… I also really dig Baltra’s stuff, Bicep are amazing, I love 80’s music and stuff that’s influenced currently from that era like Running Back etc. I draw inspiration from a lot of things though. Recently Disclosure have been doing these live streams which have really inspired me. It’s not really my taste in music but watching how easy they put down their chords has lit something in me to be that good. Also seeing people just do great things inspires me. Even if it isn’t to do with music.

We’re loving the Lo-Fi style that you’re putting out at the moment but we’d noticed in the past you’d been putting out more progressive electro stuff, why the switch up in style?

Not sure really. I guess at that point I was still finding myself musically and I was just trying things. I used to write full on 140bpm trance before that haha. I still find myself wanting to write other styles and I’m actually in the process of setting up another alias as an avenue to do that for a bit of fun.

Obviously with the whole COVID-19 thing gigs are out of the question for now, but have you got any gigs planned in 2021?

No gigs planned. I actually stopped doing gigs half way through 2019. I had fallen out of love with DJing a bit & I wanted to focus more on writing music as that’s where my true passion is. I know at some point I’ll return to DJing but I’m not sure when. The plan is to just keep building a strong catalogue of music under my own name (I used to DJ and produce under the name Rondevu) and if gigs come from that then I would most likely do them.

Production wise, is there anything interesting in the pipeline you can give us a heads up on?

I’ve a new release out on the 11th of September which is called “Courtney’s Song”. Courtney is my little sister. I’ve compiled a video for the song which is footage of her growing up so keep an eye out for that. It’s an 80’s synth sort of vibe for this one. I’m sitting on loads of music at the moment actually and I’m aiming to release every 4-6 weeks.

How do you get ‘in the zone’ when it comes to producing?

Ehmm… I normally just open up a piano plugin and start playing some chords until something sticks. When I get something then I’m off in my own little world. 8 hours feels like 5 minutes haha. If I’m really struggling and can’t get anything going I just take a few days off and listen to loads of music.

Outside of house/techno, what other genres are you interested in?

Hip Hop for sure. The alias I mentioned earlier will be to put out hip hop style instrumental music. Kind of like Ta-ku.

In your opinion, what’s your biggest achievement when it comes to music?

Just having people enjoy my music really. Sometimes I have these little moment’s if I’m listening to a song of mine and think to myself “I actually took that idea from my brain and put it together on a blank canvas” haha and it actually amazes me that I’m even able to do that so the fact that other people enjoy it is what makes me happy.

Whats your favourite club night/gig in recent years?

I would probably say Kink playing live in my home town. I was with good people and Kink let me on with him to mess around with his live stuff during his set for a few minutes which was cool. He was a very cool dude as well.

If there was one bit of advice you could give to someone starting out with producing/mixing, what would it be?

Be open to constructive criticism. It’s how you grow.

Lastly, are there any shoutouts you’d like to give?

My pal James ID is producing some great melodic house and getting some great support. Yungruzt who has been self releasing a lot and getting some good hype on big youtube channels and blogs. Clyde Rouge is producing some great music also. Check them all out!