{"id":38277,"date":"2016-11-21T14:39:44","date_gmt":"2016-11-21T13:39:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.deephouseamsterdam.com\/london\/?p=38277"},"modified":"2016-11-23T00:54:59","modified_gmt":"2016-11-22T23:54:59","slug":"label-showcase-30-definitive-recordings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.deephouseamsterdam.com\/london\/label-showcase-30-definitive-recordings\/","title":{"rendered":"Label Showcase 30: Definitive Recordings"},"content":{"rendered":"

Launched originally in 1991 by John Acquaviva, Richie Hawtin and Karl Kowalski, Definitive Recordings was meant to establish the housier side of the electronic empire Hawtin and Acquaviva started with Plus 8 Records.<\/strong><\/p>\n

While Definitive Recordings has plenty of history and accomplishments, it\u2019s the present-day agility that has fans and industry taking notice once again. Over the last five years, the label has been revived with a renewed vigor due in no small part to its signing of France’s Olivier Giacomotto<\/strong>. Now, with a deep understanding of a label’s requirements in this digital age, Definitive consistently makes strategic moves in sync with the demands and expectations of the tech-saavy masses.<\/p>\n

So, with that, we continue our series highlighting our favourite labels from around the world. Today, we thought we would catch up with the Definitive bosses, John Acquaviva and Olivier Giacomotto. Also, at the end of this article you will find an exclusive full length mix from Olivier, giving an idea of how Definitve is meant to be heard\u2026in the mix!<\/p>\n

“We are are both electronic music gourmets, we enjoy good taste, quality, and well balanced music.”<\/span><\/em><\/h3>\n

What does Definitive add to the dance music spectrum?<\/strong>
\nJohn Acquaviva (JA) &Olivier Giacomotto (OG):<\/strong> Definitive Recordings is musical outlet of John Acquaviva and Olivier Giacomotto, it\u2019s our sound, the music we play, the music love. We are are both electronic music gourmets, we enjoy good taste, quality, and well balanced music. With some of our giant success 10 years ago we had the possibility and the potential to go off the deep end of what we had started but that was never our way.<\/p>\n

Some labels are too hard, some labels are too soft, for many we are just right. The goal has always been to create a unique quality house sound. Sometimes when you listen to some Definitive Recordings releases, you identify more techno elements, sometimes more housey, sometimes more proggy, sometimes more deep, but quality will always be there, unique and well balanced. We love food as much as we love music, we both cook a lot and always try to find the best food around the world, we know how to use and mix all the right ingredients in order to make the best dishes for your pleasure.<\/p>\n

When did you first think about launching Definitive?<\/strong>
\nJA:<\/em> Definitive was the counterpoint to all the techno we were making in the early 90s with Richie Hawtin. With our friend Karl Kowalski we always played and loved house, so we wanted the world to know and share our sound and vision on this front as well. The second generation started when I connected with Olivier after launching Beatport and we wanted to tap into as well as make a new and evolving sound.<\/p>\n

When did Definitive actually launch?<\/strong>
\nJA:<\/em> 93\/94? memory is fading\u2026<\/p>\n

OG:<\/em> Looking back at the history of house music, Definitive Recordings had been launched in spring 1992 with a first release called ‘Seriously’ by Jetstream.<\/p>\n

Story behind the Definitive name?<\/strong>
\nJA:<\/em> Simply what the word means\u2026 our definitive taste and stamp on house music.<\/p>\n

What was the most difficult aspect of launching the label?<\/strong>
\nJA:<\/em> In the early days, it was always distribution. Basically, it is a labor of love and really don’t dwell on what is difficult.<\/p>\n

What qualities do you look for in a Definitive artist?<\/strong>
\nJA & OG:<\/em> what we release is what we play and what we love\u2026 a good groove, a unique hook\/idea, a good balance between dark and sexy sounds\u2026 and the love of club culture.<\/p>\n

[gallery_bank type=”images” format=”filmstrip” title=”true” desc=”true” img_in_row=”4″ display=”all” sort_by=”random” animation_effect=”bounce” image_width=”600″ album_title=”false” album_id=”333″]<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Describe 3 seminal moments in Definitive existence?<\/strong>
\nJA & OG:<\/em> Definitive Recordings evolution had been forged by its releases. ‘House for All’ by Blunted Dummies was definitely a world house anthem in the 90s. Meeting Olivier Giacomotto and bringing him on board in 2005 has been a key decision for all of us. And perhaps that ‘Gail In The O’ release in 2007 we did with Olivier and Damon Jee\u2026 that was a timely tune and really heralded the start of the second generation of Definitive with a number one in the main Beatport TOP10.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Most disappointing moment in Definitive existence?<\/strong>
\nJA:<\/em> Don’t dwell on it\u2026 or I would have quit<\/p>\n

OG:<\/em> Maybe the short hiatus period in the late 90s, releases stopped during that time, then the label was relaunched in 2005.<\/p>\n

Describe Definitive album artwork?<\/strong>
\nJA:<\/em> Every Definitive Recordings artwork today is a declination of shades and colors around the ‘D’. Like Andy Warhol works, we focus on one subject and change colors around it\u2026 We keep things simple\u2026 the artist name, the release name, and the ‘D’ layered on different textures and colors.<\/p>\n

Best Definitive showcase?<\/strong>
\nJA:<\/em> I think my favourite was when Olivier and I played back to back in Juarez the night after Caracas\u2026 the weekend of worlds toughest cities ended in one of our most amazing gigs.<\/p>\n

OG:<\/em> For me it happened in Argentina during the same tour of the ‘Americas’. The crowd was out of control on the dancefloor, they were dancing around a giant robot made of lights and smoke, everybody was chanting, shooting, that party was epic!!!<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Worst Definitive showcase?<\/strong>
\nJA:<\/em> Olivier? You remember? there is always a bit of light even in bad things\u2026<\/p>\n

OG:<\/em> We’ve never been that unlucky, so far no planes crashed on our stage, no lightning strikes on the crowd, no-one died either, and we always make sure that no animals are injured or sacrificed during our shows. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

Dream Definitive artist?<\/strong>
\nJA:<\/em> Olivier Giacomotto\u2026 engineering and production\u2026he is one of the all time greats.<\/p>\n

OG:<\/em> I hope to have our friend Noir on board soon, but I recon that a remix from Stephan Bodzin would be killer too.<\/p>\n

Most important business\/music app\/program\/software?<\/strong>
\nJA:<\/em> There are many, but for DJing I still love my Traktor, I cant mix without it.<\/p>\n

OG:<\/em> We’ve used Traktor (originally Finalsratch) for 16 years now, that technology was the true revolution of last decade for electronic music. Now there is Subpac<\/a>, which is for me the discovery of this decade, it\u2019s like having a Funktion One sound system plugged into your body, I use it in the studio everyday and can\u2019t imagine working without it anymore. For music production: Logic Pro is my all time best software ever.<\/p>\n

Longest Day(s) ever worked?<\/strong>
\nJA:<\/em> 17 hour set with Karotte on the DJ front. Work and party in the 40 hours\u2026<\/p>\n

OG:<\/em> That\u2019s the good side of working with passion, I don\u2019t count hours\u2026 and days either.<\/p>\n

Upcoming projects?<\/strong>
\nJA:<\/em> Tunes, tunes, tunes, with Olivier, with Manuel De La Mare, and with M.O.N.R.O.e<\/a><\/p>\n

OG:<\/em> Always cooking something, with John obviously, but also with Noir, with Kiko under our new name Cold Miles, with Citizen Kain, with Thomas Gandey\u2026 stay tuned.<\/p>\n

Download <\/a><\/span> Website <\/a><\/span> Label Page <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n