Marco Collini has shown an utmost amount of dedication and passion for Hardcore in the Italian scene. He had to jump through a lot of hoops and took a lot of risks in order to become one of the most prominent upcoming Hardcore artists to date. His presence on the tour will easily show the U.S. what can happen if you stay passionate and true to yourself, your sound and your scene. Please welcome: ALIEN T! You can witness this man in Mesa, Arizona on February, 19th. In Denver, Colorado – February 20th. Pittsburgh Pennsylvania – February 26th, and finally: Brooklyn, New York on February 27th.
What inspired your stage name?
I prefer to call it an ‘artist’ name because it wasn’t created by thinking about my performances on stage, but thinking about the feelings that I wanted to spread with my music. Indeed, Alien T is short for “Alien Terror”; it’s a feeling that people experience when they discover something for the very first time. It is a sort of fear but then, when you’re used to it, it changes into an enjoyable feeling! I chose this name because Hardcore music is unknown in my hometown, so people always seem “scared” about it, but they ignore the fact that they could love it if they would give it a chance.
Were you a DJ first, or a producer?
I was a DJ first. I always had a passion for it. In 2002, I finally had the chance to buy my first set of DJ equipment. I practiced every day and after a couple of years my skills were already so great that I started to play some moderate/huge events in Switzerland. I was also one of the winners of Megarave’s ‘New Talent DJ Contest’ in 2004. Meanwhile, I had started to try to produce my own Hardcore tracks. In that same year, I finally bought a new computer and started to seriously produce. Three years later (2007), I was able to release my first record on G-Net Records (a sub label of Traxtorm Records).
How did you get into the scene?
I got into the scene first as a follower when I discovered Hardcore in the year 2000. I was immediately addicted to it. I started searching for music and parties even if I didn’t have them close to my hometown. I had to travel at least three hours to find the closest city that had Hardcore music shops (Rome) and about six hours for the closest place that had Hardcore parties (Rimini). All these obstacles proved to me that my passion for this music was really big and motivated me to go on.
What was the first record you ever purchased?
Neophyte vs. The Stunned Guys – Nation of Domination on Rotterdam Records.
Who was your biggest inspiration in the early part of your career?
Amnesys, without any doubts!
Would you describe your first DJ gig?
My first DJ gig was in the summer of 2004 in Switzerland at the official Hardcore after party for the famous ‘Street Parade’ in Zurich; it was at the Club Niaxa in Bulach. I remember being uneasy about it but my set went great! After that performance, the promoter booked me again for even more parties!
What was your favorite party you’ve ever played? Why?
I can’t really choose just one because I’ve had so many awesome experiences; but definitely some of the big parties that I played at ‘Club Florida’ in Italy are totally unforgettable, and surely parties such as Dominator, Masters of Hardcore, and Defqon.1 were unforgettable as well!
What was the funniest moment during any of your performances?
There have been so many of those moments, but when the Hardcore Italia crew gets together, we are definitely funny!
What important changes have you witnessed from the time you got into the scene, until now?
I’ve witnessed a lot of changes; they were always caused by how the music trend was changing. I’ve noticed that the faster the music, the smaller the scene becomes. The most recent, and best period of time for the Hardcore scene was between 2005-2010 when a lot of great hits were released and there were a lot more Hardcore parties. Nowadays, the Hardcore scene doesn’t seem as big because there are very few clubs that book Hardcore events. For me, it’s all about the summer festival season and the few big indoor events during the winter, at least here in the Netherlands.
Did you ever think you would be touring the United States? What do you think the Trauma Tour will be like?
I’ve always hoped about getting a gig in the States because I’m very curious to see how American people act towards the Hardcore scene and its music; so this is a dream come true and I’m very excited about it. I’ve heard it’s pretty unusual to have that big of a lineup in your country for the harder styles so this should be lots of fun!
What is your favorite track that you have produced?
‘The Hammer of the Devil’, because it was a big risk to produce a track like that; with a totally different sound design and very slow BPM, but I did it anyway and it gave me (and is still giving me) a lot of satisfaction!
What advice would you give to up and coming Hardcore producers?
Don’t try to find the fastest/easiest way to success; the best way to improve your skill is to work very hard and try to be original because we don’t need copies!
Have any of the other artists on the Trauma tour ever inspired your work? If so, how?
Amnesys. He was a mentor for me (and still is). He opened up my mind a lot and gave me the chance to have a more complete vision about music overall.
What are your top 3 favorite tracks of all time? Why?
Turbulence ‘N’ Terrorists – Six Million Ways to Die. Simple, straight to the point, and I still can’t believe that kick drum was made in 1994!
Project Omeaga – Prednison Attack. A clear example of originality; when someone uses a sound in a different way and is able to create something that will always sound fresh and cool.
Amnesys – Refly. When this was released it was very unique track. The atmosphere of the breakdown is unbelievable, every element in it works perfectly together. A clear example that complex tracks can also be party tracks if they’re made in the right way!
What was your favorite track of 2015 (that wasn’t your own)?
Amnesys feat. MC Axys – Shockwave
Are there any exciting projects or gigs coming up you want our readers to know about?
I’m working on new solo tracks and collaborations. I’m still working on ‘Vanguard’; the concept and radio show that I manage with Amnesys where we always try to spread top notch Hardcore and more! Keep an eye on my social media if you want to be updated!