149 - Marco Zanibelli

Author

Giannis Kampiotis
February 02, 2024

Artist Interviews 🎶 Studio Tours 🎛

Hello music people 👋

Today in the spotlight, Marco Zanibelli

Currently in Italy, after a period of studying music and being part of bands, he decided it was time to make his own tracks 🎶

Interview & Studio Tour

Who are you and what is your relationship with music?

Hi! My name is Marco Zanibelli, I am a composer and sound engineer based in Milan in the North of Italy.

My relation with music started when I was 10, so 29 years ago (uh!!), when I first discovered a keyboard and I decided I wanted to play it! So I started to study the piano and keyboards with a teacher.

As a teenager I started to play with my friends in some bands, rock and metal music above all. At about 20 I decided it was time for me to record my own tracks and so I started to play with Cubase and try to learn everything form the other engineers in the studios where I was going to record my songs!

I started to produce some bands in my bedroom and to compose some soundtracks for theatre, then when I got married I moved to a new house with the space dedicated to my actual studio.

Which piece of equipment in your studio is essential to your production process?

Two years ago I started to compose electronic music and changed a bit my setup.

So now, my essential equipment are above all my synth, especially my modular, but to produce and record my essential gear are my Dynaudio speakers, which I love for its transparency and details, my Antelope Soundcard... and my Mac of course!

What is the least expensive piece of gear that gave you the most results?

I think it's my Lewitt LCT440 microphone. It's not a cheap microphone, but neither expensive, and I recorded a lot of vocals and instruments with it. I think it's a great microphone for the price, very clean and balanced.

I love it!

Walk us through your process for creating and producing music.

I love to think about the sound I would like to have and start a sound design process in order to find it.

Then I compose the main chords sequence and I create the textures and melodies with the efx, if it's an ambient track, or I first compose the grooves if it's a techno, electronic or even a rock track.

What is a production technique that you always come back to?

I don't like loops or samples very much, I prefer to have a keyboard in front of me and start jammin' and create my own sounds. Then with the main idea in my mind, I search for the main parts of the track.

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How would you describe your style?

When I compose a track, both for work or personal projects, I always try to find a melody that will remain in the listener. I think that the main melody is what we keep the most. It's like a signature and will survive to time.

So I can start from a groove, an arp or chord sequence, but I know that the melody will arrive!

My style is usually a mix between ambient, electronic and classical music, but sometimes you can find rock guitars too. I think that I put all my musical background in my songs!

What is a big challenge you have as an artist?

I'm usually very creative, not only in music, but in life in general, so my challenge is usually not to compose or finish a track, but to sell myself!

I don't like promotion, marketing or communication! I prefer to play, record and produce music!

Has building a hardware setup changed your perspective on music or life in general?

Absolutely yes!

My setup is very important for my work and music. When I change my setup or part of it, my music changes with it. It's like a symbiosis between my music and the instruments I use to produce it.

One tip on how to spark creativity?

Don't focus only on music! If you need inspiration, go out for a walk, go to the beach, mountain, nature or crowded city, stay with the ones you love.

Free your mind and creativity will come!

A book, movie, article, or album that has inspired you?

Actually Hélène Vogelsinger is a great inspiration for my music. In the past many other artists inspired me a lot, like Hans Zimmer, Ludovico Einaudi, Pink Floyd and Porcupine Tree.

Anything else you'd like to say?

I loved the questions and your website is really nice to discover new artists!

Where can people find more of your music and connect with you online?

Here you can find all my links and channels: linktree

Thanks for your interest and if you want to follow me and my music, subscribe to my Youtube channel!

Gear List

  • Antelope - Orion Studio

  • Apple - MacBook Pro

  • Dynaudio - LYD48

  • Yamaha - HS7

  • Modular synth

  • Elektron - Digitakt | Digitone

  • Moog - Grandmother

  • Studiologic - SL88 

  • Yamaha - Stage Custom Drum

  • Fender - Stratocaster

  • Ibanez - Acoustic Guitar

  • Mesa - Boogie

  • Some other instruments from all over the world and some microphones of course!

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