Name: Domenic Cappello
Nationality: Scottish
Occupation: Producer, DJ
Current release: Domenic Cappello 's Galactic Praise EP is out June 20th via Cyphon.
Shoutouts: The Beatson Cancer Institute and AIDA.

If you enjoyed this Domenic Cappello  interview and would like to stay up to date with his music and projects, visit him on Instagram, and Soundcloud.



Production is a discipline bordering technology, art, and creativity. How do you see the relationship between these and what is their balance for your own music, do you feel?

Technology provides the tools. Art brings in emotion and storytelling.

Creativity is what links the two

Which part of the production process do you draw the greatest fulfilment from?

The end result when you see it work on the dance floor or when people tell you how your music made them feel.

For you personally, where does composition end and production start (or vice versa)?

Composition and production are deeply connected — they often happen at the same time rather than in separate stages.

Is technology something that you would like to have disappear behind your music – or is it a musical element that you want to bring to the fore and play with?

It’s definitely 50/50. The technology helps the musical element come to life.

Could you describe how your relationship with your studio/set-up feels like - is it an extension of your self/body, a partner and companion, a creative catalyst, a challenge to be overcome, something else entirely?

It’s like my creative companion or partner.

It is also a collaborator it’s also a catalyst for when I'm stuck for inspiration.

How and for what reasons has your music set-up evolved over the years and what are currently some of the most important pieces of gear and software for you?

It used to be all hardware and MPC 3000. Now it’s a mix of software, hardware and Ableton.  

My fave piece is my Step Sequencer. It was a prototype made by a guy from Glasgow called Colin which then became the Cirklon sequencers you can get today.

Tell me about the space of your current studio/workplace and how you've set it up to further your creativity?

It’s very basic and small. Not fancy in the slightest .

Late producer SOPHIE said: “You have the possibility with electronic music to generate any texture, and any sound. So why would any musician want to limit themselves?” What's your take on that?

I agree 100%

Tell me about one of your early pieces that you're still proud of (or satisfied with) in terms of production – and why you're content with them.

Honestly not sure I've ever been 100% happy with many tunes I've made -  although I'm very proud of the track ‘Niamh’s Song’ coming out on Cyphon. But that's for lots of personal reasons.

From the earliest sketches to the finished piece, tell me about the production process for your current release, please.

I usually start with chords and sound design. I mostly try and get layers of sounds that sound warm and full of depth.

I’ll mess about with the sequencer and try and get the track interesting before I add drums. If I can get it sounding good without a kick and hats then it will sound great with them .

There are seemingly infinite parameters to change, influence and shape the sonic results. From your experience, what actually makes a piece better and what sets a “finished” version apart from one destined to linger in the archives?

It’s finished when there's nothing left to take out; when you listen and feel there's nothing to add or take away.

I’ll leave a track for a few weeks after its done and hearing it fresh gives you a better perspective on whether it’s done or needs something else.

How do you see the relative importance of arrangement versus sound design versus composition (including, potentially, lyrics)?

I feel sound is more important because I’m a geek.

But as a DJ, arrangement is massive especially if you’re playing it to a dance floor.

How, would you say are your live performances and your recording projects connected at the moment? How do they mutually influence and feed off each other?  

I’m weird about playing my own tracks out.

I’ll play them at first to see how the arrangement works on a dance floor and make sure the balance is right. But after that I rarely play them as I’ve heard them so many times.

Have you used AI or generative music tools for your own productions? If so, in which way and what did they add?

I’ve used LA LA to rip a vocal for a track, that couldn’t have been done years ago without the new technology.

One big question resulting from the use of "intelligent" production tools and AI is whether the results are as important (or even more important) than the process (and the joy of creating). How do you see that yourself?

I see it as a new fancy sampler, nothing more. Just a small tool that I can use to add to the rest of my sounds

How much potential for something “new” is there still in production? What could this “new” look like?

There’s always room for something fresh.

I think it will come in the shape of sound design with new and fresh sounds being created that you haven’t really heard before.