Planetary
Interscapes
— Episode four
“Between Tides”
Sound mixed and compiled by Born in 1986
Visual interpretation by Max Binski
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Welcome to the Planetary Interscapes podcast series. 14 years after its debut on Pluie/Noir and 100+ audio-visual podcasts later, the series is reborn in collaboration with Rings of Neptune. Planetary Interscapes will follow the same motto and feature audio collages, mixes, live interviews, and live recordings from artists, friends, and other collectives we admire, visually interpreted by our favourite graphic wizards.
For episode four, we welcome Born in 1986 (aka Luca Calo) to the series, presenting a selection of ethereal ambient works with cinematic framing. The mix draws inspiration from his daily life and from everything unfolding around him during a period he describes as transitional.
Scroll down for an interview with Luca. Pour yourself a cup of tea, press play, and enjoy.
INTERVIEW — BORN IN 1986
Hi Luca, welcome to the P/N Interscapes series. How have you been?
Hi Bruno, thank you for this invitation, it’s a real pleasure to take part in it.
Summer has just ended, which makes me feel a bit melancholic because it’s one of my favorite seasons… but to be honest I’m also excited for autumn and winter, as I have new challenges ahead.
Berlin can be quite a challenging place to live. Is it still giving you as much as it asks in return? Do you ever think about moving back to Italy, or have your roots taken hold here?
I was born in a small village near Varese, close to the Swiss border, just north of Milan and not far from Como. My father, though, comes from the South, near Lecce, and in a way I feel that’s where my real roots are. Whenever I can, I love to spend time there, and honestly I’ve been thinking that maybe one day I could go to live there.
I’ve been living in Berlin for 10 years now. For me, it has always been challenging; it’s a city you can deeply love one day, and hate the next. It’s a place where you can easily get lost (and I have, many times), but at the same time it gives you so much back.
I would describe my life in Berlin in “phases,” where I can recognise moments of change over the years, in myself, in the city, and in the people around me. I often think about moving away, mainly because my biggest struggle here is the weather. But on the other hand, what Berlin gives back in terms of work, art (in all forms), and inspiration is something I don’t think I could find anywhere else. That’s why I’m still here.
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“I would describe my life in Berlin in “phases,” where I can recognise moments of change over the years, in myself, in the city, and in the people around me.”
Being a booking agent, managing record labels YAY and 3NO, and more recently launching CONCENTRIC with Simone Merli—how do all these projects connect and influence each other?
I always try to keep things quite separate, especially in terms of my main role as a booking agent. Born in 1986 is more like an escape from reality for me, while the record labels I’ve run reflect my personal journey. In this sense, Concentric connects with Born in 1986, where YAY and 3NO Records are more tied to Luca, to a different side of me.
What’s next for Concentric? What are your plans for the label, and could you tell us a bit more about the project?
Concentric Records is a label I run together with Simone Merli (Soundwalk Collective). Interestingly, we both come from the same area in Italy, but we didn’t meet there; it was music that brought us together. We share a strong connection, and since we come from two different fields, that difference actually makes the project even stronger.
Concentric Records was born from the need to release something meaningful through our musical knowledge. We see it as a platform where artists can truly express themselves. That’s also why we organise showcases and curate a monthly radio show on Refuge Worldwide.
In the near future, after a little break, we are coming back with a new release on vinyl produced by ATOM TM. ATOM is definitely one of the producers that inspires me the most, and I’m grateful to have him releasing on my label.
“Concentric Records was born from the need to release something meaningful through our musical knowledge. We see it as a platform where artists can truly express themselves.“
Born in 1986 is a DJ name I can definitely relate to. We’re both ’86 kids, so I imagine we’ve lived through many of the same historical moments and probably share some life experiences. We’ve witnessed massive changes—especially technological ones. Do you feel this has shaped you personally, as well as your musical taste?
Absolutely, being born in 1986 means growing up right in the middle of an incredible cultural and technological transition. From the analog world of tapes, VHS, and the very first video games, to the digital revolution of the internet, social media, and music production tools, we’ve experienced both sides. On a personal level, this shaped me to be curious and adaptable. I carry with me the nostalgia and warmth of that pre-digital era, but at the same time, I embrace the possibilities technology has brought us. Musically, I think it gave me a broad perspective: I value the rawness and imperfections of older sounds, while also exploring the precision and innovation that new tools allow
“‘I carry with me the nostalgia and warmth of that pre-digital era, but at the same time I embrace the possibilities technology has brought us.”
Tell us more about ‘Between tides’. How, why, and when was it recorded?
The mix was recorded at my place in Berlin. I drew inspiration from my daily life and from everything happening around me. I’m living through a moment of transition, and I feel that this transition really inspired me to put the mix together.
Where will you be performing over the next few months? Any showcases planned for your imprints?
I just played two gigs in August: one at CDV in Berlin for the 10 years of Off The Grid, and the other at Opera Festival in Sicily. I was really impressed by this festival, the curation, the people, and the location are something quite unusual to find in Italy, especially in the South. I highly recommend it.
I’m currently working with Simone on a Concentric showcase at Zenner in Berlin. Then, together with Simone, my good friend e/tape, and Tobias, we’ll be playing in Milan on October 10th for a very special event: to celebrate the birthday of our dear friend Loris, one of the purest souls, who sadly left us less than a year ago.
"I'm opening a new label called Mutual Connection. This will be my first solo project, as the other labels I run are in partnership with someone else."
Any other plans for the near future?
I’m opening a new label called Mutual Connection. This will be my first solo project, as the other labels I run are in partnership with someone else. Mutual Connection will be dedicated to experimental, ambient, and boundary-free electronic music. I don’t want to give it a single direction; I’d rather keep myself open to exploring what’s happening around me. The first release will come out on cassette and digital, produced by my good friend Ascion: 12 tracks floating between genres, mostly industrial, noise, ambient, and something a bit punk.
(3) / (4)
Personal photos:
(1) Tuglie, located in the Lecce area, where Luca’s grandfather was born.
(2) A red car with Luca inside — it was his grandfather’s car, a car he loves driving when he goes back, as it really reconnects Luca to him and brings back so many memories.
(3) One of the most flavorful pastas Luca ever had. It’s from Le Macare, and it’s a reinterpretation of pasta e patate, made with scampi and green Tabasco.
(4) A dessert called pasticciotto, typical of the Lecce area and one of my his sweets. It’s a homemade pastry filled with cream.
Links:
@rentonauta
@concentric_records
@mutual_connection_records
@3n0_records
@yayevent
@cleymoore
