Alfa Romero: "We trust each other’s instincts, and that’s the key"

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Apr 1
4 min read

Updated: Apr 9

Alfa Romero is a duo consisting of Marzio Aricò and Lorenzo Bartoletti, two accomplished figures in the electronic music scene. As producers, DJs, and label owners, they merge years of experience to push the boundaries of dance music. Their tracks are designed for the dancefloor, featuring powerful rhythms, deep emotions, and subtle melodies that create unique and beautiful moments. Committed to delivering a rich, multidimensional sonic experience, Alfa Romero continuously explores new sounds, establishing themselves as an influential force in electronic music.

Hi Marzio and Lorenzo! Your new EP "Oracle" on Error has attracted a lot of attention. Can you tell us how this project came about and what were the main musical influences that shaped the sound of "Oracle"?

Thank you! We’re really excited about the response to "Oracle". This project started as a way for us to explore a more atmospheric vibe while maintaining the groove that drives our music. "Oracle" was born out of a series of long studio sessions where we experimented with different textures and rhythms.

In terms of influences, we pulled inspiration from a mix of genres: the raw energy of techno, deep, hypnotic basslines from dub, and even some cinematic, ambient soundscapes. It’s always important for us to create something that feels fresh but also draws on the elements that we love from different styles of electronic music.

Throughout your career, you have explored different aspects of electronic music. What makes Alfa Romero unique compared to your individual projects, and how do you balance your different artistic visions when working together?

That’s a great question! Alfa Romero has always been about blending our individual backgrounds into something greater than the sum of its parts. When we work together, we each bring our own set of influences and experiences, and that’s what makes the project unique.

The "magic" of Alfa Romero is in how we merge these elements to create a sound that’s both dynamic and cohesive. We’ve learned to embrace our differences rather than see them as obstacles. When we’re in the studio, it’s all about finding that balance—sometimes one of us will push the track in a certain direction, and the other will come in with a contrasting idea that elevates the whole piece.

At the end of the day, we trust each other’s artistic instincts, and that’s key. It’s less about compromising and more about being open to where the music wants to take us.

Your sound is often described as "club-friendly", but with a touch of emotion and refined melodies. How do you manage to maintain this balance between dancefloor functionality and emotional depth in your productions?

We’ve always believed that great electronic music doesn’t have to choose between being functional and being emotional. For us, the key is in creating tracks that connect with people on multiple levels. The groove and rhythm are what drive the track forward and keep it "club-friendly", but it’s the melodies and atmospheric touches that add a layer of emotional depth.

When we’re producing, we’re constantly thinking about how the music will feel in different environments—whether it’s a packed dancefloor or someone listening on headphones at home. It’s about finding those little moments of beauty within the beat. We might start with a strong bassline or percussion, but then we’ll layer in melodies or pads that evoke a certain mood.

It’s all about contrast. The emotional elements give the music a sense of journey, while the rhythm keeps it grounded and powerful. We like the idea that our tracks can make people move, but also make them feel something deeper at the same time.

Alfa Romero had the privilege of performing with Afterlife, one of the most respected labels in the electronic scene. How was the experience of playing at such prestigious events, and how has Afterlife influenced your approach to music and live performances?

Performing with Afterlife was an incredible experience for us. It’s one of those moments where everything you’ve worked for aligns with the energy of the crowd and the prestige of the event. The atmosphere at Afterlife parties is always something special—they have a unique way of blending deep, emotional sounds with a sense of grandeur and scale. It really pushed us to step up our game, both in terms of how we approach our music and our dj sets.

What we love about Afterlife is how they’ve created a space where artistic expression comes first, and they encourage artists to push boundaries. That’s definitely influenced how we think about our own productions and performances. When we played at those events, we felt the freedom to take risks and bring out more of the emotional and introspective sides of our sound, while still delivering the energy that the crowd expects.

The whole experience made us more confident in exploring the balance between deeper, melodic elements and powerful, club-focused tracks. Afterlife's philosophy of creating an immersive journey has left a lasting impact on us, and it’s something we carry with us in every performance.

We’re also excited to announce that on June 14th, we’ll be performing at the Afterlife Festival in Barcelona. We can't wait to share this journey with the crowd once again.

Looking ahead, what are your next steps as Alfa Romero? Are there any special projects or collaborations we can expect in the coming months?

We’re really excited about what’s next for Alfa Romero! We’ve been working on a brand new EP that will be released soon on Eleatics Records. This project really captures the emotional depth and energy that define our sound, and we can’t wait for everyone to hear it.

Alongside that, we’ve been collaborating with some amazing artists like Lauren Mia, Jonas Saalbach, Carlo Whale, Wasiu, and Studio Apartment. Each collaboration has brought something fresh to the table and has pushed us to explore new directions creatively.

We’ve also been working on some remixes, including ones for Binaryh and Ushnu, which have allowed us to put our own twist on some incredible tracks. Remixing is always fun because it’s a way to reimagine a song while respecting the original vibe.

But that’s not all—we’re also deep into the process of working on more original music. It’s a continuous journey for us, and we’re excited to keep evolving our sound.