In connection with Giuseppe Di Leria’s performance at Electrum Up To Date Festival 2025 in Białystok, I had the opportunity to learn more about this artist’s approach to work and his upcoming projects.
Dominic: Your debut album, Driving to Nowhere, took five years to complete. What made you decide to devote so much time to it — perfectionism, searching for your own language, or sound exploration?
D-Leria: I think the first album is crucial for any artist because it establishes an identity and a message. When I started this project in 2014, I didn’t yet have a clear vision. I liked so many different genres that I thought it would be better to work on it for a while and then figure out what I should produce. In the end, I decided to simply produce whatever I liked. In fact, with Driving to Nowhere, I began releasing full EP that included straight techno, tribal, experimental, synth stuff, ambient.. whatever felt right.
Dominic: 2024 album “Multiverso” shows a more ambient side to your work. What was its main inspiration — space, introspection, or maybe modular technology itself?
D-Leria: The main difference between these two albums was the change in setup, as well as, of course, greater technical knowledge and increased confidence.
I switched from compact synthesizers to modular synths, which led me to explore more of the synth-ambient and experimental side of my sound.
Dominic: Your modular synth-based live sets have gained recognition on many stages. What does your preparation process look like and how much room do you leave for improvisation?
D-Leria: Preparing a live set is always very stressful for me, and sometimes it takes up to a month. The process is very different from how I produce in the studio. Since I can only bring a very small part of my modular setup with me, I have to make compromises, and in this case, using samplers. I use them for low-frequency loops (e.g. kick and bass already summed and mixed), while most of the mid and high frequencies come from analog sources. That’s the part where I allow more room for improvisation.
What hardcore really gave me is a sense of freedom. It showed me that I can make whatever I want, without worrying about trends or fitting into a scene.
Dominic: You’ve performed at legendary venues and festivals. Did any of these moments particularly influence your approach to playing live?
D-Leria: I wouldn’t say those moments changed everything, but they definitely had an impact. Playing legendary venues adds a kind of weight and perspective, you feel part of a bigger legacy. But my approach to live performance has also evolved from other experiences like crowd reactions, even mistakes.. It’s a mix.
Dominic: Your beginnings were hardcore, today you create on the border of ambient, acid and industrial. How does your experience in more intensive genres influence your current work?
D-Leria: What hardcore really gave me is a sense of freedom. It showed me that I can make whatever I want, without worrying about trends or fitting into a scene. That feeling has stayed with me. I still follow my own path when I create.
Dominic: Do you have a project in mind that you haven’t done yet? Maybe it’s a sound installation, a soundtrack, or something completely unexpected?
D-Leria: “Actually, I have two projects in mind. One of them, Kongas, has already been introduced, although not in its final form. The other is something much more personal. A project I’ve been working on for a long time, and it carries my name: Giuseppe Di Leria. But for now, I’d rather not reveal too much:P
The B2B with Dtekk was a lot of fun. Watching him play always brings me back to when I was a teenager…
Dominic: How do you reflect on your time at Electrum Up To Date Festival – both your performance and the festival’s atmosphere overall?
D-Leria: In both editions, first with a live set and then in a B2B with Dtekk, I had a great time. Different experiences, but both truly special. From my point of view, Up To Date is one of the most artistically interesting festivals in Europe. Being on the lineup next to legends and artists who inspired me to find my own sound was incredibly emotional. And the crowd is amazing: very attentive, present, the kind of audience that truly comes to listen, discover, and live the music.
The B2B with Dtekk was a lot of fun. Watching him play always brings me back to when I was a teenager, watching clips on Viva Polska from festivals, trying to understand and learn those old school DJing techniques from the DJs they used to broadcast.
It was a proper vinyl-only battle, absolutely something we have to do again. Then, as the cherry on top, it also happened to be my birthday that day. At one point, Dtekk literally stopped the Technics while playing a record and brought me a cake, with the whole crowd singing happy birthday in Polish. It was such a beautiful and unexpected gesture, a moment I’ll always carry with me.
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