Novices and experts alike would be intrigued to discover how a young artist navigated the unpredictable and highly fragmented entertainment industry to become a defining figure of the house and techno music genres. While Massano's pursuit of a music career cannot be labeled an unconscious product of innate passion, it is also disingenuous to assert that the artist knew for certain that he would dominate the house and techno scene.




In an interview with Forbes, Massano reveals his mindset on creating a sub-genre in melodic techno. He says, "I started a new concept, it's going to be called Simulate, focusing on the future of my style, like futuristic, aggressive and high-energy music." The pursuit of music was merely a hobby, according to the artist, but this diversion led to his discovery of his ability to produce his favorite music – house and techno.






Massano was also motivated by his love of techno – developed through exposure by his father – and the community comprising renowned artists. Massano achieved recognition after releasing his track "The Feeling," despite not being his first techno song.




Surprisingly, he admits in an interview with Groove Cartel he composed the track in just four hours. It was an unbelievable breakthrough, considering that many of his other songs took one to two days to complete. This artistic feat underscores Massano's successful exploration of his musical talent inspired by preceding kings of techno.




Massano's drive for techno was undeterred, even under the most challenging conditions for the industry. The recognition that followed "The Feeling" also allowed Massano to release his style without worry that it wouldn't land. It also offered opportunities to play alongside iconic names such as Tale Of Us, Camelphat, Stephan Bodzin, Anna and Mind Against, and Recondite at Tomorrowland Tulum, Hi Ibiza, Printworks, fabric, and Afterlife branded shows around the world.



Continuing his emphasis on standing out, Massano launched his imprint Eternity Sounds, which opened a door for underground artists to unveil their talent on a global platform. Listening to any of the songs released through the label, you can recognize the distinctive sounds reflecting Massano's artistic vision.




For reference, dive into Monophase's "For Better Days," a lush soundscape pumped through a gradual percussive build and glorious arpeggiated synth lines. Or "Rumble," produced by Fathomz, a transcendent atmospheric voyage launching listeners into the stratosphere via ethereal pads and intricate melodies before that galactic peak.


By creating a unique sonic palette that resonated with his personal experiences and emotions, Massano established himself as a trailblazer in the music industry, paving the way for other artists to follow in his footsteps.



Massano's Eternal Sound Has Expanded the Sonic DNA of Melodic Techno

Musicians emerge in many ways. Some are born with innate passion. Others discover their sounds through happy accidents; still, others harness their love on the dancefloor while raving with friends or are exposed to particular music by their parents. An artist's reliability, consistency, and anticipation glue listeners to their tunes. Originating from the outskirts of Liverpool, DJ and producer Massano is prominent in the limelight today. With his persistent driving techno style, he quickly gained recognition and support from respected composers in the dance community, such as Mathame, Camelphat, and Pete Tong.




Massano has achieved tremendous success in the Beatport charts with records on renowned labels such as Oddity and Afterlife. For first-time listeners, a typical song sounds aggressive yet unconventionally hypnotic. Massano's trademark melodic techno style extends beyond contemporary subgenres' limitations.




In an interview with When We Dip, Massano says, "I'd like to think people see my style as forward-thinking, always trying to improve and develop the next big sound trends, rather than follow them."




His power moves to continue making his name memorable in the scene led to the formation of his record label Eternity Sounds, presenting an opportunity for other upcoming artists to showcase their talent and show the world their capabilities. And indeed, in its short time, he's helped elevate the work of artists like Laherte, who went on to release with Stil Vot Talent, and Spanish duo Heolik who have dropped tracks with Running Clouds and Ushüaia music.




Massano does not profess to be born a musician, but his rise to prominence in the house and techno genres has a history nearly as old as the artist. The ascent of this trending artist is an exemplary example of how musicians explore their talents unconsciously.




"In high school, I always loved electronic music but did not really take a strong interest until college, when I started listening a lot to music from Drumcode artists, Camelphat, Eric Prydz, and then shortly after, Afterlife, Tale Of Us, Artbat etc.," he explained.




Despite his love for music, Massano didn't see himself as a successful composer. Rather, he desired to work in any capacity in the industry, even in seemingly mundane roles such as assisting people at event entrances. The young novice hoped that this exposure would provide him with crucial insights into how things run. Indeed, these early initiatives set the stage for the start of a thriving music career.












Massano’s Humble Emergence into Dance Music

Hailing from the fringes of Liverpool, DJ & Producer Massano is now fully in the limelight. His relentless style of driving techno caught on quickly, earning him the stamp of approval from artists like Tale of Us, Mathame, and Pete Tong from BBC’s Radio 1. With quick endorsements from the dance community, Massano has now established himself as one to watch. His smashing success with the Beatport charts and releases on big-time labels like Afterlife and Oddity have only further fueled his fire.




For those unfamiliar, a classic Massano track will be aggressive yet hypnotic. His signature style of melodic techno often falls outside the constraints of modern subgenres. Maybe that’s why he started his label, Eternity Sounds, quickly after he emerged on the scene. Let’s take a look at some of Massano’s most influential tracks. We hope you’re ready to groove.




1. Massano - The Feeling

This is, without a doubt, Massano’s most successful track to date. Released in 2020 on Running Clouds, this sprawling eight minutes of dancefloor gold was one of the top 10 songs played at Tomorrowland 2022 and has received support from Tale of Us, Diplo, Fisher, Artbat, David Guetta, and Giorgia Angiuli. Though it was one of his earliest releases, “The Feeling” seemed to set the tone for Massamo’s ascent. The crowd-favorite track also received an upgraded remaster in 2022.




2. Massano, Øostil, Juan Hansen - Drown (Massano Remix)

“Drown” comes from the In My System EP, a collaboration with Massano, Juan Hansen, and Øostil from 2022. The EP, released on Afterlife Records, would become one of Massano’s crowning achievements. All four tracks from the EP landed in the top five of the Beatport melodic house and techno charts. Quite admirably, this remix of “Drown” managed to hit the top 10 of all genres.




3. Yubik - Human Aura (Massano Remix)

This track encapsulates the Massano sound wonderfully: pounding bass, snarling synths, and a touch of melodic elements. Released to Radikon, this remix of Yubik’s “Human Aura” brings the previously dreamy track and grounds it deeply on the dancefloor. Massano teased the track at multiple worldwide sets, as did Kevin de Vries, Mind Against, Innellea, and Fideles.




4. Massano - Visitors

Massano burst onto the scene with his first single, “Visitors.” It makes quite a statement when you emerge with your debut single on your own record label. But then again, Massano has never been meek. It’s technically a techno track, but the retro melodic flourishes make it feel like something more. You hear remnants of “Funkytown” by Lipps Inc. in the warm synths. But you’re not at an 80s disco party with this track. Odds are you’re in a techno bunker or a darkened warehouse.




5. Massano - In Your Eyes

After a string of EPs, Massano released his debut album, Symbolism with Oddity Records 2021. The album is brief, clocking in at barely over 30 minutes, but it’s not lacking in substance. “In Your Eyes” is a sinister, minimal track with a flourish of glitchy synths that keep the momentum driving forward. The pounding bass drops out for a moment of release before snapping back with euphoric determination. It’s the perfect segway into the rising artist’s first album.

5 Massano Tracks You Should Know

Bringing his dynamic and intricate sound to the ever-growing community of melodic techno artists, 

 is on the fast track to carving a unique niche.

United Kingdom

Massano

Coming from the outer edges of Liverpool, one of the world’s understated yet rich and plentiful dance music communities, Massano made immediate waves with his debut releases on the notable melodic label 

Both EPs garnered considerable and widespread support from major forces in the dance sphere, with the legendary Pete Tong tapping him for a mix on BBC Radio 1, an opportunity that Tomorrowland also offered him on their globally syndicated radio program, 

With his music now in the ears (and hearts) of eager dancers everywhere, all eyes have been on Massano, patiently waiting and watching as his slots get closer to the top of major lineups and the stages he plays on get bigger and bigger.


He is now releasing music on the most prominent labels in the melodic soundscape, adding his name to the hypnotic catalog of Fur Coat’s Oddity and the genre-defining roster of Afterlife from Tale Of Us.

Massano - System

Buy / Stream: https://lnk.to/InMySystem

British maestro Massano follows up his ‘Solitude’ release with four fresh cuts full of wistful emotion and solemnity.

Title track ‘System’ opens the EP with a jagged riff, sombre low end and spinetingling melody. Next is his rework of ‘Drown’ by Øostil & Juan Hansen, which utilises a haunting vocal to tantalise your very essence. ‘Odyssey’ features an almighty breakdown and galloping drums to get the energy pumping. Lastly, Massano presents a 2022 remaster of ‘The Feeling’, encapsulating the Afterlife sound with its rousing arrangement and transcendent composition…

, was a smash hit success. On top of getting played out by some of the biggest names in house and techno, it was a chart-topper as well, hitting #1 on the Beatport Releases chart, while the cut from the EP, “Drown” reached the top 10 on the Overall chart and all four tracks went into the top of five of the Melodic House & Techno chart.

With so many accolades to his name in such a short time, it’s no wonder Tale Of Us, Mind Against, Camelphat, Fisher, Above & Beyond, David Guetta, Oliver Heldens, Vintage Culture, and Meduza have all supported Massano. It’s even less of a wonder he’s played major events like The World Cup, Afterlife Tulum & Printworks, Wembley Arena, Creamfields, Circus, HI & Ushuaia Ibiza, Warung, Fabric, Crobar, and more!

Camelphat Opening at Pacha Ibiza

Spain

Pacha Ibiza

Debut: Massano First New York Performance

United States

The Room at Superior Ingredients

Ushuaïa Ibiza Opening Party

Ushuaïa

Italy

Tale of Us

Mind Against

 looked up to melodic techno figureheads such as 

as distant role models. Today, the Liverpool producer and DJ counts them among his close peers.

Look no further for evidence than what transpired at Afterlife Madrid in March 2023. Not only did Massano (real name Sam Rose) share the stage with Afterlife bosses Tale of Us, but the duo tested out his cinematic single, “Shutdown,” during their set.

Massano at Afterlife Madrid 2023

Testing another remix back in Madrid #massano #afterlife #madrid #electronicmusic #melodictechno

“Madrid felt extra special to me. I’d had a month off before that, so it was a big show to test all this new music,” Rose says. “To get such great reactions was confirmation that it had been a good month of producing.”

Support from major acts and crowds in the tens of thousands is now a common occurrence for Rose. Prior to the pandemic, though, it seemed a remote possibility.

Sam Rose first discovered dance music as a child. His father would play it around the house and even brought him to a Faithless concert when he was only 11 years old.

“I remember looking around and seeing people enjoying the rave and just being like, ‘What is going on?’” he says. “It seemed like chaos at the time, but now it seems really normal.”

This initial exposure didn’t evolve into a career ambition overnight. “I wasn’t super into it from that stage — that’s just my earliest memories it,” Rose says. “I think around the time I started going to house parties was when I started getting really into electronic music and found a love for discovering new music and making playlists to share it with people.”

By Rose’s first year of university in Lancaster, the music industry started to beckon. In this nascent stage, though, he still hadn’t set his sights on DJing and producing.

“I started thinking about what I wanted to do long term in life, and what interested me the most was this music stuff that I was doing. I didn’t necessarily think ‘I want to be a DJ.’ I just started thinking about what I could do to get into the music industry in any way because I hadn’t really had experience with any of it.”

Sam Rose started applying for management internships with brands like Universal Music Group. As luck would have it, they only wanted candidates 

 experience. Around the same time, he started teaching himself how to produce and play music as a hobby. Not long afterward, he began to pursue it in earnest.

“I was aimlessly doing it and not really putting much energy into it. I’d say I was producing maybe twice a week at that stage, and then DJing just for fun occasionally,” Rose says. “But then, I started thinking, ‘I’m actually really enjoying the producing and the DJing,’ so I thought that it might actually be what I wanted to do within the music industry.”

He continues: “After my second year of university, I started pushing myself to do as much as I could and spend as much time as possible on it. I moved to London for an internship where I was working with Vodafone in a marketing role. But whilst working for Vodafone, I was also pushing myself to spend as much time as I could on the music.”

Rose suffered from homesickness, having yet to make new friends in London. In the long run, this worked to his advantage. Relegated to his bedroom studio on the weekends, he gave music his undivided attention. It didn’t take long for this to come back to him in the form of opportunities.

“In the six months after that, I got to a point where I was ready to start releasing music,” Rose says. “I’d try and work from home as much as I could, keeping the laptop from work open on one screen while I worked on music on the other screen. That’s when I made my biggest track, ‘The Feeling,’ — and ‘Velocità’ was also in that six months.”

Massano - The Feeling (Original Mix)

BUY & STREAM HERE:
https://smarturl.it/massano-thefeeling

🔊 Spotify playlist: https://spoti.fi/2VPSFYq

Artist: Massano
Release name: The Feeling
Release type: EP
Genre: Melodic Techno
Label: Running Clouds
-----------------------------
Catalog number: RC27
Release date: June 1, 2020
1 week Beatport pre-order
2 weeks Beatport Exclusive
Tracklist:
01) The Feeling (Original Mix) 
02) Return (Original Mix) 

-----------------------------
contact@running-clouds.com
https://www.running-clouds.com
https://linktr.ee/runningclouds

Running Clouds ℗ 2020 - All rights reserved

#runningclouds #massano #thefeeling

Rose released his music under the name Massano from the beginning. “I brainstormed and made anagrams of my name. I thought about which ones I liked the most, and in the end, I went with Massano,” he says. “Not often do people stick with the first project, so I figured I didn’t need to think too much about it. I love the name now especially, as it’s got a lot of meaning to me.”

A lot of Afterlife artists co-signed Massano early on — perhaps most notably Mind Against. The Italian duo played his tracks at 

Most electronic music fans have heard of the legendary French company, Cercle. They’re known for curating exclusive musical experiences in incredible locations and making it their priority to highlight artists and the most beautiful cultural sights around the world. The brand truly took off during the COVID shutdowns, as they stood in a class of their own regarding high-quality live streams. However, the journey to putting on sets with world-class DJs at historic landmarks was by no means easy or quick.




Cercle got its start in 2016. Their first events took place in a living room, with a small group of friends hanging out behind the DJ in what appears to be someone’s house. Although they quickly progressed into real venues, they were still focused primarily on highlighting local French talent.




When digging through the Cercle archives, it is clear that the Cercle team has an incredible eye for talent, which is one of many reasons why they have had such success growing their brand. Time and time again, Cercle has booked acts well before they blow up and is constantly at the cutting edge of electronic music. From Charlotte De Witte in 2017 to Boris Brejcha and Polo & Pan in 2018, their eye for rising stars is undeniable.




Although we now associate Cercle sets exclusively with historic landmarks, their first event of this sort was Boris Brejcha at the Château de Fontainebleau. It was a truly remarkable space to host an event. Moreover, it was somewhat of a coming-out party for the brand and Boris Brejcha, gaining 35 million views on Youtube, a substantial departure from the 300-500 thousand they’d received on prior streams.




Since then, Cercle has continued to establish itself as a brand artists love to play for, and a true force in the events world. They are a team accustomed to working through challenges and paying attention to the fine details. They plan shows years in advance and produce live streams through immense technical challenges.




Eelke Kleijn spoke about his experience playing for Cercle in an interview with Gray Area.




“We talked to them for almost two years in advance. It had been 1.5 years since I’d played a live show anywhere. It was quite a challenge. I spent four weeks leading up to the show just playing the show at home and rehearsing at least three times a day. Cercle is truly live, so any mistakes will be there forever.




“I had not seen a crowd in front of me for so long and then all of a sudden you’re in France with a huge team working on the show. It was overwhelming. When it was done, it was satisfying.”




Any fan of electronic music can sink hours upon hours into watching Cercle sets. Below are our five favorite selections from their extensive catalog.




Boris Brejcha at Grand Palais in Paris 2020

Coming off of a breakout set with Cercle in 2018, Boris Brejcha returned in 2020 as a massive star. Playing in the glorious Grand Palais in Paris, Boris takes the crowd on a true journey through his extensive catalog, showcasing to the world that he is here to stay.









FKJ Live at Salar de Uyuni 2019

Perhaps one of the most unique sets Cercle has ever produced, FKJ at the Bolivian salt flats, is a masterpiece. A departure from the typical sounds of Cercle, FKJ brings his incredible talent to one of the first crowdless shows Cercle put on. Playing on what looks like a mirror, FKJ stands alone against an endless backdrop, serenading the listener with his soothing sounds.






Carl Cox at Chateau De Chambord in France 2019

When the king shows up, you listen. A Carl Cox set is a can’t-miss affair every time, and his performance for Cercle is no exception. Playing at sunset in front of a gorgeous castle, Carl Cox takes us through his classic tracks in a house-focused set, keeping the crowd moving every minute.






Solomun at Theatre Antique d’Orange in France 2018

Another master of his craft, Solomun’s set for Cercle in 2018, was a big part of their breakout year. When legends play for your brand, the people notice. This Solomun set was one for the ages, as he brought his top-level track selection to the iconic Theatre Antique d’Orange in France.






Disclosure at Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia 2020

The worldwide COVID shutdowns allowed Cercle to pivot its brand. They continued to perform shows without crowds, going to more extravagant places each time out. Furthermore, it allowed the brand to target in-demand artists such as Disclosure. Disclosure played their first live set in ages for Cercle above the glorious Plitvice Lakes in Croatia. This was not one to miss.





The Cercle Story In 5 Sets

Upon returning from Tulum this week, the Gray Area office was buzzing with new music recommendations. Among them was Argy's "Tataki," a chunky techno anthem that ignited the dancefloor during his set at the Afterlife showcase. The UK-based artist's set was a highlight of the lauded imprint's showcase in the jungle. He played alongside the label's head honchos Tale of Us, Mind Against, Stephan Bodzin, and Recondite.

The track's chugging low-end thump, and a meditative chant are entrancing. And as "Tataki" opens up, it expands into a psychedelic patchwork of sweltering synth swells and hip-shaking vocal edits. 

Greek-born Argy has spent the last decade releasing genre-spanning music on labels like Cocoon, Cuttin' Headz, Crosstown Rebels, Play It Say It, and Archie Hamilton's Moscow Records. The dynamic producer is also a masterful selector. He was a resident at Berlin's Panorama Bar at the tender age of 20 and has since rocked the decks at countless clubs, including residencies in Ibiza at Amnesia, Space, and Pacha. The consummate crate digger is consistently ahead of the curve and revealed the talents of artists like the Martinez Brothers and Solomun in the early '00s, years before they dominated the dancefloor.

Follow Argy on Instagram | Soundcloud | Facebook



Track of The Week: Argy Unleashes 'Tataki' at Afterlife Tulum

“I didn’t even have an Instagram,” Rose admits. “The next morning, the label manager from Running Clouds told me, “You need to make an Instagram now because people are looking for you. I made one, and within the first couple of days, I had, like, a thousand followers already.”

Timing was not on Massano’s side, however. Two months later, the World Health Organization declared COVID a pandemic, preventing him from leveraging his newfound popularity toward gigging.

Over the next year and a half, Rose stocked his proverbial shelves with new music and then opened for business once nightlife resumed. “Things went from zero to 100 because I’d grown so much without really DJing,” he says. “I’d DJed in friends’ house parties and smaller local clubs for university, but never anything properly as a Massano show. So then after COVID, I went from having not so much gig experience to getting booked every weekend.”

Massano has continued to gain momentum ever since. He has performed throughout Europe and South America, landing on the lineups of such festivals as Time Warp Brazil and Kappa FuturFestival in Italy. 2023 also marked his first US tour dates, including a headline billing at NYC club Superior Ingredients.

“What’s great about the shows is it’s noticeable how much if you work at it in different markets, the shows keep getting bigger and you keep engaging more fans. It’s nice to see the your effort pay off,” Rose says.

Cliquing up with his heroes doesn’t mean he’s reached his destination in the music world. Far from it, in fact. The road up to now offers a mere glimpse at what lies in store for Massano as he’s only begun to explore the depth of his sound.

Only a few short years ago, Massano looked up to melodic techno figureheads such as Tale of Us and Mind Against as distant role models. Today, the Liverpool producer and DJ counts them among his close peers.




Look no further for evidence than what transpired at Afterlife Madrid in March 2023. Not only did Massano (real name Sam Rose) share the stage with Afterlife bosses Tale of Us, but the duo tested out his cinematic single, “Shutdown,” during their set.

“Madrid felt extra special to me. I’d had a month off before that, so it was a big show to test all this new music,” Rose says. “To get such great reactions was confirmation that it had been a good month of producing.”




Support from major acts and crowds in the tens of thousands is now a common occurrence for Rose. Prior to the pandemic, though, it seemed a remote possibility.




Sam Rose first discovered dance music as a child. His father would play it around the house and even brought him to a Faithless concert when he was only 11 years old.




“I remember looking around and seeing people enjoying the rave and just being like, ‘What is going on?’” he says. “It seemed like chaos at the time, but now it seems really normal.”




This initial exposure didn’t evolve into a career ambition overnight. “I wasn’t super into it from that stage — that’s just my earliest memories it,” Rose says. “I think around the time I started going to house parties was when I started getting really into electronic music and found a love for discovering new music and making playlists to share it with people.”




By Rose’s first year of university in Lancaster, the music industry started to beckon. In this nascent stage, though, he still hadn’t set his sights on DJing and producing.




“I started thinking about what I wanted to do long term in life, and what interested me the most was this music stuff that I was doing. I didn’t necessarily think ‘I want to be a DJ.’ I just started thinking about what I could do to get into the music industry in any way because I hadn’t really had experience with any of it.”




Sam Rose started applying for management internships with brands like Universal Music Group. As luck would have it, they only wanted candidates with experience. Around the same time, he started teaching himself how to produce and play music as a hobby. Not long afterward, he began to pursue it in earnest.




“I was aimlessly doing it and not really putting much energy into it. I’d say I was producing maybe twice a week at that stage, and then DJing just for fun occasionally,” Rose says. “But then, I started thinking, ‘I’m actually really enjoying the producing and the DJing,’ so I thought that it might actually be what I wanted to do within the music industry.”




He continues: “After my second year of university, I started pushing myself to do as much as I could and spend as much time as possible on it. I moved to London for an internship where I was working with Vodafone in a marketing role. But whilst working for Vodafone, I was also pushing myself to spend as much time as I could on the music.”




Rose suffered from homesickness, having yet to make new friends in London. In the long run, this worked to his advantage. Relegated to his bedroom studio on the weekends, he gave music his undivided attention. It didn’t take long for this to come back to him in the form of opportunities.




“In the six months after that, I got to a point where I was ready to start releasing music,” Rose says. “I’d try and work from home as much as I could, keeping the laptop from work open on one screen while I worked on music on the other screen. That’s when I made my biggest track, ‘The Feeling,’ — and ‘Velocità’ was also in that six months.”






Rose released his music under the name Massano from the beginning. “I brainstormed and made anagrams of my name. I thought about which ones I liked the most, and in the end, I went with Massano,” he says. “Not often do people stick with the first project, so I figured I didn’t need to think too much about it. I love the name now especially, as it’s got a lot of meaning to me.”




A lot of Afterlife artists co-signed Massano early on — perhaps most notably Mind Against. The Italian duo played his tracks at Afterlife Tulum 2020, and then again during their Cercle set later in January.




“I didn’t even have an Instagram,” Rose admits. “The next morning, the label manager from Running Clouds told me, “You need to make an Instagram now because people are looking for you. I made one, and within the first couple of days, I had, like, a thousand followers already.”




Timing was not on Massano’s side, however. Two months later, the World Health Organization declared COVID a pandemic, preventing him from leveraging his newfound popularity toward gigging.




Over the next year and a half, Rose stocked his proverbial shelves with new music and then opened for business once nightlife resumed. “Things went from zero to 100 because I’d grown so much without really DJing,” he says. “I’d DJed in friends’ house parties and smaller local clubs for university, but never anything properly as a Massano show. So then after COVID, I went from having not so much gig experience to getting booked every weekend.”




Massano has continued to gain momentum ever since. He has performed throughout Europe and South America, landing on the lineups of such festivals as Time Warp Brazil and Kappa FuturFestival in Italy. 2023 also marked his first US tour dates, including a headline billing at NYC club Superior Ingredients.




“What’s great about the shows is it’s noticeable how much if you work at it in different markets, the shows keep getting bigger and you keep engaging more fans. It’s nice to see the your effort pay off,” Rose says.




Cliquing up with his heroes doesn’t mean he’s reached his destination in the music world. Far from it, in fact. The road up to now offers a mere glimpse at what lies in store for Massano as he’s only begun to explore the depth of his sound.



Massano

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Michela Iosipov

Michela Iosipov

Sierra Vandervort