Tonino: "True artists create exactly what they love"
Tonino, a 29-year-old German-Croatian producer, releases on labels like Lelantus Records and Wout Records. Supported by DJs such as Paul van Dyk, his unique blend of melodic and progressive techno regularly charts on Beatport. He performs at clubs and festivals like Birgit in Berlin and Singularity Festival in Stuttgart, and has collaborated with artists such as Extrawelt and Cosmic Boys. His sets are known for their emotion and his own original productions.
You've recently founded your own label, Solara Records. What are your main ambitions for this project, and how do you plan to differentiate it from other labels in the techno and electronic music world?
Yes, that’s true. My goal with the label is to have complete artistic freedom. It gives me the opportunity to release whatever I want, whenever I want. This is the next important step in developing and showcasing my own sound. For my team and me, it’s all about the quality of the music. We only release tracks when they meet our high-quality standards. The range or popularity of the individual artists doesn’t matter. If someone creates great music, they’re always welcome here. You quickly notice who truly pours their heart and soul into their work. Those are exactly the kind of people we’re looking for.
You recently played at the Castle in Mainz for a MOTION and NOISES OF: event. How was the experience of performing in such a unique setting, and what were the highlights of your set?
Yeah, this one was truly impressive. The venue, an old castle, was absolutely beautiful and breathtaking. It was a huge pleasure to perform there, especially since electronic music events are usually not allowed at this location. Open-air events at this time of year can be pretty risky, as you never know what the weather will bring. But in this case, we were incredibly lucky and enjoyed one of the sunniest days of the late summer season. Everything came together perfectly. During this show, I played two of my unreleased tracks for the very first time. Seeing and hearing the crowd cheer and go wild was definitely the highlight of my set. It was such an unforgettable moment that I decided to release both tracks in the coming months.
Your productions have gained support from big names in the scene like Kevin De Vries or Paul van Dyk. What does this kind of recognition mean to you, and how do these endorsements influence your creative process?
Seeing my music played by some of the biggest names in the industry and in front of thousands of people is the greatest motivation and validation for me as a producer. For me, it means that my sound is ready for the big stages. That’s exactly what I’ve always aimed to achieve. I am incredibly grateful for everything that has happened over the past few months, and I’m more than ready to take my sound to the next level.
Your style moves between melodic and progressive techno, breaking and redefining sub genre boundaries. What is your vision for the future of electronic music, and how do you see your sound contributing to this evolution?
I’ve noticed more and more artists stepping outside the usual sub-genres and pushing beyond their boundaries. Instead of being tied to a specific genre, they’re defining their music by the unique vibe their sound brings to it. I believe quality and passion will become even more important in the future. True artists create exactly what they love without letting outside trends influence them too much. This authenticity is reflected in their sound and often results in truly successful tracks.
You've shared the stage with renowned artists like Extrawelt and Cosmic Boys. How have these collaborations influenced your artistic journey, and what moments or encounters have left the biggest impact on your musical path?
Being able to share the stage with such great artists and connect with those around me is a huge source of inspiration. The constant exchange and the opportunity to learn with and from other artists is incredibly valuable. I always try to absorb as much knowledge as possible, which naturally finds its way into my productions and shapes my career. Receiving recognition from these artists—whether they enjoy my sets or my tracks—is, of course, a tremendous motivation to keep pushing forward.
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