Interviews

Sam Ruffillo releases some delish Italo disco on the mighty Toy Tonics. Here we get a chance to talk to this exciting artist about what he's up to, what’s up next, and who he thinks is hot right now.

Thanks for taking the time to talk. Where are you at this moment and how will you be spending the day after this interview?

Thank you! I'm on my couch at home right now. Tomorrow will be a studio day, like most weekdays for me. Studio time during the week, gigs on the weekend.

Where are you from and where are you based?

I'm from Italy, born in Sicily, but based in Bologna for many years now.

How is the health of the club scene where you are?

It's okay - there could definitely be more going on and more funding on the organizational side. But in general, the promoters' spirit is genuine, and there are some great rising scenes in the city and very nice new festivals and club nights popping up, alongside well-established events like the RoBOt Festival.

I play in Bologna at least a couple of times a year and the reaction is always great.

Where do you think the impulse to create music comes from in you?

It's a long-standing passion. I started very young, around 15 or 16. I knew from the beginning that I wanted to make music and above all, I wanted to be a producer.

I don’t exactly know where it comes from, but I believe it’s something essential to being human - the need to express yourself. It’s connected to a kind of tribal instinct rooted in the body and in rhythm.

For me, it’s a vital impulse - a deep-rooted need to create. When I’m in the studio, I feel good.

What roles do stuff like art, relationships, and the current state of the world play for you in the ideas process?

I'd say they're fundamental. Like everyone else, I’m deeply affected by what’s happening in the world. As a musician and producer, what I can do - besides using my voice to stand firmly against war, atrocities, and genocide - is make music, make art.

Relationships are important too. Being in a good mood and having good connections with others is essential - it definitely affects the creative flow.

Who are the musical icons who impact the music that you make today?

I think the strongest inspiration came from the music of the 2000s - the stuff I grew up with that really helped shape my style and build my musical background. Lots of hip hop, both Italian and American, the French touch, American house music, indie electro from that time, and even acid jazz and electronic music blended with more traditional rhythms like Latin or funk. All of that stuck with me.

For you to get started, does there need to be a concrete idea for you to make a track or are you more of a freestyler?

I like concrete ideas. I love melodies, and I often start with something that already has a clear shape in my head. I’ve got tons of melodic sketches recorded on my phone and I typically start a track with something quite specific in mind. Of course, there are times where I go into freestyle mode because you never know where a session might take you, but lately that happens less often.

What is the balance between planning and improvisation for you?

There’s no strict formula, but I’d say it’s 80% planning and 20% improvisation. Sometimes the best things come out of jamming with no pressure, other times not at all. So even though I’m a planner, I always try to leave the door open for randomness, mistakes, and the unexpected.

For your latest release, what did you start with? Were there conceptual considerations and what were they?

The vocal idea came from a little inside joke between me and Ninfa, who lends her voice to the track. We’d already worked together on Danza Organica, Perfetta Così, and Chiamami Subito. It started as a playful thing between us and became a song, no heavy conceptual thinking behind it. House Tipo Così means -House (music) kinda like this” and it’s a light, ironic track, cool without trying too hard, and a bit naive-romantic but definitely made for the dancefloor.

It’s important to me that my tracks are recognizable and memorable, and that’s also what I appreciate in other people’s music - the ability to recognize a song and remember it later is a big added value for me. That’s kind of the concept, if there is one.

Tell us a bit about the way House Tipo Così developed and gradually took its final form.

It started with a studio session with other musicians. I had this beat and the overall aesthetic of the track, and I wanted to create something that reminded me of that shuffle-y house sound typical of some UK and American productions. It stayed as a loop for months until the vocal idea came one night on the couch while listening to sketches with Ninfa. Usually, once I have the melody and the main idea, I move fast to finish the track. In this case, it all came together naturally and effortlessly.

Once a piece is finished, how important is it for you to let it lie and evaluate it later?

Very important. Sometimes I let weeks or even months pass before I go back and listen again. It’s essential to switch your listening perspective and work on parallel projects so you can come back with a fresh ear and at least as much objective as possible, considering it's your own music.

How much tweaking do you allow until you're satisfied with a track?

A lot of tweaking haha. A track is usually finished when there’s no more time left to tweak it. I could go on forever adjusting things, trying to make it better. I’m rarely 1000% satisfied - like many of my fellow producers, I think - but at some point, you have to settle for what you’ve got in that moment. In the end, what really reaches listeners is the emotion in a melody, a riff, a vocal - that feeling attached to the music, rather than the technical perfection or endless tweaking.

Do you find that the feedback of others is important to you?

It used to be more important to me, but now a bit less, I’d say. Over time, I’ve learned exactly what I want and how to achieve it in terms of production and arrangement. Also, I’ve become more reserved and private these days, I tend to only share tracks with close collaborators and, of course, the label. I think sharing things too early for feedback can be counterproductive. If you’re sure of your work, you don’t really need too many external opinions.

What was most important for you to convey through this EP, and do you feel you have achieved it?

I think so. The only real goal is to be honest with myself and make music that I truly enjoy and want to listen to. I’m 100% myself - I’m not trying to be something I’m not or fit into a box that doesn’t match my personality. I just try to create something that I feel is missing, or that could be done differently. And of course, it has to be catchy.. take it or leave it :).

You are releasing on Toy Tonics. You have a long-standing relationship with Toy Tonics. Tell us a little about that.

Yes, I’ve been working with Toy Tonics for almost five years now. It’s been a great journey. Everything started with an email I sent to Mathias (aka Kapote) just before the pandemic, with a few demos I had lying around. I didn’t expect a reply, but he answered. We started talking, emailing, and eventually I signed with them. I’m really happy I did. I love working with the Toy Tonics crew, they’re tight-knit and professional, and the energy is great.

What other artists do you follow right now?

Hopefully myself haha. There are quite a few I really like. Randomly, off the top of my head: Whodamanny, Myd, okgiorgio and Stuzzi - who I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and spending time with. These are all producers who make great (and catchy) music with personality and character. And to me, that’s the sweet spot - what I also aim for in my own productions.

What can we hope to see next from Sam Ruffillo?

A lot! I just finished my debut album, which includes House Tipo Così, and it’s coming out at the end of summer on Toy Tonics as a double vinyl. I’m also working on a few remixes that should be released later this year. Plus, I’m launching a vinyl-only label with Fimiani, and I’m also active in the Italian pop scene as a producer/beatmaker. I’ve got lots of tour dates across Europe for the whole year, and I’m thinking about building a live set for the album release. We’ll see how it all unfolds, but there’s a lot of energy and ambition right now.