Name: Giuseppe Maffei aka Z.I.P.P.O
Occupation: Producer, DJ, label founder at Fides
Nationality: Italian
Current release: Z.I.P.P.O's Morfismo EP is out via SK_eleven

If you enjoyed this Z.I.P.P.O interview and would like to stay up to date with his music and projects, visit him on Instagram, Facebook, and Soundcloud.



Where does the impulse to create something come from for you? What role do often-quoted sources of inspiration like dreams, other forms of art, personal relationships, politics etc play?

Dreams have been a significant inspiration for me, particularly during a period about 6-7 years ago when I made effort to study my lucid dreams. Movies have played a substantial role in shaping my creative process too.

Both these influences fused together have been driving my creative process a lot.

For you to get started, do there need to be concrete ideas – or what some have called a 'visualisation' of the finished work? What does the balance between planning and chance look like for you?

Concrete ideas are not always necessary to start writing music. I am guided by feelings, moods, or even a single sound that’s stuck in my mind.

Visualizing the finished work does indeed play a role in shaping the creative direction. It's almost like navigating a winding river; having a vision is like having a map, but it's crucial to be able to adapt to unexpected currents and detours along the way.

Is there a preparation phase for your process? Do you require your tools to be laid out in a particular way, for example, do you need to do 'research' or create 'early versions'?

I enjoy selecting sounds and build processing chains, much like choosing a color palette when starting to work on a painting.

I like arranging my equipment, whether they include synths, recording equipment, or patches, in a way that suits the project I'm currently working.

Do you have certain rituals to get you into the right mindset for creating? What role do certain foods or stimulants like coffee, lighting, scents, exercise or reading poetry play?

I enjoy clearing my mind with long walks when I'm in the process of writing new tracks.

Before DJing, I need to have some time on my own, during which I like listening to John Coltrane, Miles Davis or John Cage.

When do the lyrics enter the picture? Where do they come from? Do lyrics need to grow together with the music or can they emerge from a place of their own?

Lyrics often come into the picture early on in my creative process, but for the track "I Cannot Stop Thinking," it was a reverse process.



Initially, I crafted the trippy sequence using my PRO-1, followed by the drums. It was only after this stage that I realized the need for something more to captivate the listener's imagination. At that point, I went to dingo into a folder of poems and spoken words written by Celina Marie, which she had sent to me a few years ago.

Among all the recordings, the very first one I played contained a moment where she says: "I cannot stop thinking." It felt as those words were made for this track – simple yet incredibly deep.

To quote a question by the great Bruce Duffie: When you come up with a musical idea, have you created the idea or have you discovered the idea?

It often feels like a blend of creation and discovery.

As I mentioned earlier, artists like Coltrane evoke a sense of spirituality in their music, and I see myself within a vast cosmic expanse of creativity, where ideas are like unexplored galaxies, waiting to be discovered.

In this cosmic symphony, I find myself in the roles of both creator and explorer.

From your experience, are there things you're doing differently than most or many other artists when it comes to writing music?

Every artist has their unique approach to writing music - With me, it may be the specific blend of influences and genres I always like cruising that shape my work and ideas.

In the end, the process is quite personal for each artist.

Many writers have claimed that as soon as they enter into the process, certain aspects of the narrative are out of their hands. Do you like to keep strict control or is there a sense of following things where they lead you?

While I start with a concept, I'm open to detours and surprises along the way.

The most exciting ideas often are coming from unexpected directions, although my OCD keeps fighting with this - ahahah

There are many descriptions of the creative state. How would you describe it for you personally? Is there an element of spirituality to what you do?

When thinking about the creative state I like mentioning what Pablo Picasso once said: "Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life."

For me, the creative state is like stepping into a sanctuary of the soul, a sacred space where the dust of existence is cleansed.

Once a piece is finished, how important is it for you to let it lie and evaluate it later on? How much improvement and refinement do you personally allow until you're satisfied with a piece? What does this process look like in practise?

I don’t feel like I have ever completed any of my tracks. To me, you are finished with something when you decide to detach from the actual piece.

I often don’t listen to my tracks or play them after they’ve been released. They’re not mine anymore.

What's your take on the role and importance of production, including mixing and mastering for you personally? How involved do you get in this?

I've been lately involved in various aspects of production – from sound design and movie scores to electronics, of course.

When it comes to shaping sounds, I love blending these techniques right from the beginning as they all inspire each other. In this journey, where the processes of creation, destruction, refinement, and experimentation begin, I like to imagine sculptors molding their art.

While there are limitations in mixing and mastering, I'm aware that it's limitless when it comes to production..

After finishing a piece or album and releasing something into the world, there can be a sense of emptiness. Can you relate to this – and how do you return to the state of creativity after experiencing it?

When I moved to Berlin in 2015, the very next day, I printed a small artwork that said: ”Remember why you started."

This was actually created to describe how to avoid falling into emptiness; it's a reminder to move forward. Your Soul will guide you in your direction.