Luca Belluco: "Music allows you to transport people and take them on a journey"

Luca Belluco is a DJ and producer from Marseille, whose passion for music has driven him since 2010. After gaining experience at numerous private events, he refined his skills at the SAE Institute in Paris in 2020, focusing on music production. Under his former alias, he reached the Top 100 Tech House chart three times and earned over 50,000 plays on SoundCloud for his remix of Aretha Franklin. He has performed at major festivals such as Delta Festival, Summer Stadium Festival, and Eletrolapse, sharing the stage with internationally renowned artists. Since 2022, performing as Luca Belluco, he has explored melodic techno with ethnic influences, releasing music on labels like Progressive Dreamer and OURGRND, gaining support from leading artists in the genre. Founder of the label Loving You Records and a resident on Maxximum Radio (Radio FG), Luca continues to shape his sonic universe, blending rhythmic power with soaring melodic vibes.

Where does your passion for electronic music come from, and how has it shaped your journey as a producer and DJ?

My passion for music began at a very young age, when I was 15. I was a pretty bad student at school and had very few friends, so I needed an outlet to express myself.

Music was my comfort; it allows you to communicate with people, transport them, and take them on a journey. You are the pilot, and they (The clubbers or festival-goers) are the passengers on your journey. 

My journey has been influenced by several factors and musical styles. I started with EDM/Big room with sets by Hardwell, Afrojack, etc. That was the trend between 2011 and 2018. Then came pop house (Kungs, Lost Frequencies, The Avener style), which has its own unique style and exploded onto the charts.

Then came tech house with Chris Lake, Fisher, Cloone, Roberto Surace, etc. I followed the movement by enrolling in a school specializing in music production (SAE in Paris) for eight months, which earned me a spot in the Beatport Top 100 with signings on Rim Label (Ukrainian label). 

When the melodic techno phenomenon arrived with Anyma and breathtaking visuals, I felt that this was the musical style I wanted to pursue (Tech house and pop house being overloaded). 

In the end, I had one track with over 300K views, six signings on Progressive Dreamers and one on OURGRND (Ranging between 2K and 10K), and downloads from Kevin de Vries, Argy, Adriatique. This is only the beginning. 

Your sound blends melodic techno with ethnic influences. How would you define your style, and what inspires you most when creating your tracks?

I couldn't tell you what style it is because I don't know myself. I would describe it as melodic ethnic techno. I love mixing sounds with ethnic instruments like the oud, sitar, and duduk from other countries. I'm very inspired by Zafrir & Argy, who are also very strong in this area. 

I try not to copy others because you have to have your own touch. I've also traveled a lot, which inspires me for my tracks. 

You also have to stay up to date (in commercial melodic techno) to reach your target audience and bring them to your style. 

Can you walk us through your music production process, from the initial idea to the final track?

To create a sound, I often start with the kick, then I add the bass in 1/16 on Ableton (my production software) and add a sidechain effect (pumping effect) which frees up space for the bass. 

Next, I add drums (with a saturator and a transient shaper) (excluding the kick), then hi-hats, also in 1/16 on a sidechain. Gradually, I add elements (pluck, arp) with an auto filter rise to reach the break, where I add ethnic instruments (layers, atmosphere). I then build my pre-drop (the moment before the sound explodes) and add all the elements (synth, lead, pluck, arp). I prepare the rest for the break (removing elements to make room for the break) and then we build the track little by little. 

We export, work on the mix (remove bad frequencies, work on panning, boost frequencies, add reverb, delay, vocals, etc.), and export again for mastering. 

For mastering, I use Izotope's Ozone or I collaborate with sound engineers who rework my mix and mastering upstream so that it sounds clean. It's a very long process. 

Which artists or experiences have had the biggest impact on you, both musically and personally?

For me, the artists who have had the biggest impact on my style are Anyma and Mrak, who formed the duo Tal Of Us. They are the ones who invented melodic techno, in my opinion. (Maybe I'm wrong), but I had never heard of them before (thanks to social media). They also have the biggest melodic techno label in the world (Afterlife), which puts on big festivals in their name, notably in Orange (France) and Barcelona (Spain). 

Next come Kevin de Vries, Massano, and Adam Sellouk, who are very strong in melodic techno. With my ethnic influences, it's Zafrir who inspires me. 

In terms of experience, there are two big festivals (Electrolapse and Summer Stadium). Summer Stadium took place in the soccer stadium in my city of Marseille (capacity 90,000 people), where I got to meet Afrojack, Don Diablo, Henri Pfr, and Lost Frequencies. The second was Electrolapse, a festival in St Sorlin en Valoir near Lyon. I was selected in a competition for a springboard, which I am very proud to have succeeded in. I played on the main stage in front of a hundred people (and got paid too!) It was crazy (I recommend this festival to young artists who want to get started).   

You’re known for your ability to read and engage the crowd on stage. How do you prepare your sets to create these immersive experiences?

To prepare my sets, I use Rekordbox and two USB drives. I have a special way of mixing with cue points and making quick transitions! But that's the chef's secret.

You’ve performed at prestigious venues like Summer Stadium Festival and Delta Festival. What are the main differences between performing at large festivals versus more intimate clubs?

At festivals, you feel much freer, there's real communication with the audience, they're jumping around everywhere, they're receptive to your music. For me, clubs are enclosed spaces, so there are fewer people and they get bored quickly, so they're less receptive (But I still like DJing in club) 

As an ever-evolving artist, how important is it for you to experiment with new sounds while staying true to your musical identity?

It's important for me to find new sounds to inspire me for new musical projects. As soon as new releases come out on Spotify, I check out the latest in melodic techno to draw inspiration from that sound and create new tracks with my own touch. 

How do you think electronic music can create an emotional connection between the artist and the listener?

Music creates emotions between the artist and the audience. If we are sad, we tend to listen to dark music; if we are happy, we listen to happy music (or sometimes we can be sad and listen to happy music). 

Music affects dopamine and serotonin, two neurotransmitters in the brain (well-being and attention, which make us happy as soon as we listen to it).  

Can you share any hints about your upcoming projects or collaborations?

Normally I'm working on a big project, I already have six tracks ready, but now I'm finishing up one last one that's going to be a real banger... Stay tuned.

What advice would you give to young producers and DJs trying to develop their own unique style in the electronic music scene?

Being a DJ isn't just a passion, it's a real business if you want to make a living from it. 

I'm going to talk about something that bothers me (social media). We're seeing more and more fake DJs who just mix and follow the latest trends (like afro house or hard techno). Get around this system and you'll understand everything. Prove yourself, get out there, meet people, go to festivals. 

You have to be tough and level-headed in this environment, everyone knows each other.

Follow Luca Belluco

Instagram / Facebook / Soundcloud / YouTube / Spotify