Luciano

Lucien Nicolet (; born 24 February 1978 in Montcherand ), known mononymously as Luciano, is a Swiss and Chilean DJ and producer. He has been a twenty-time winner of different awards in the electronic music scene including the Ibiza DJ Awards, Vicious Magazine in Spain, and Swiss NightLife. His DJ sets are strongly influenced by Latin American music. While part of his childhood was spent in Switzerland, musically it would not be as influential as the Chilean and Latin American sounds he would experience upon moving to Santiago de Chile at the age of eleven. His mother along with his sister relocated there after his parents' divorce.

When he was twelve years old, his mother bought him a guitar, which was when Luciano's involvement with music began. He was the guitar player in a punk rock band at school until the age of sixteen. Not long after, he learned that electronic instruments such as sequencers and drum machines were replacing analog ones.

At the beginning of his career, his handlebar moustache was his signature image. In recent years, he has sported a hot pink streak in his hair. At the time, Luciano DJed at clubs that he was too young to attend, sometimes even being hidden backstage during police raids. In 2002, they had two tracks, which they wanted to release. His sister Amélie, who was studying to be a graphic designer in Chile, designed the album cover for the tracks. Along with the cover, she designed the logo for a label to release them, "Cadenza," which signifies cadence in Spanish. At the beginning Cadenza was supposed to be a short endeavor, a platform for releasing only a few tracks. Because of the huge success of the first EP with the track "Orange Mistake," Luciano decided to carry on running the label.

Æther Live The Narod Niki project - which involved few DJs such as Dandy Jack, Richie Hawtin, Ricardo Villalobos, Carl Craig, Zip, Maurizio, Basic Channel, and Luciano himself - was a live laptop jam session. Narod Niki played infrequently over the years 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2007 and its performances usually had an assigned theme to them. The musical symphony of five DJs and a percussionist was coupled with a visual aspect, where each sound had a denominated color synchronized. Luciano as well as Todd Graft and Loki of Micro Chunk controlled the visuals throughout the performance. Æther Live had eleven tour dates, with stops in Europe, Asia, and North America.

Ibiza Luciano had always been partial to day parties and the vibe they entail, so in the 2009 summer season when DC10 went on a hiatus, throwing a free daytime party from 4pm to midnight on Wednesdays at a beach club owned by Yann Pissenem was the obvious move. In the summer season of 2013, the party was moved to Tuesdays.

The party concept of "Vagabundos," which signifies vagabonds in Spanish, was created in 2010 by Luciano to showcase the artists on Cadenza's booking roster at Ibiza's famous club, Pacha. Its aesthetic was based on a traveling band of gypsies and performers, which was clearly communicated in their advertisement campaigns and party decor. The idea originated after a tour in Brazil, where the Brazilians would call Luciano and his label mates "vagabundos sin futuros" or "vagabonds without futures" due to their lifestyle of partying late and constantly traveling. Luciano felt the name and notion was appropriate for bohemian air of his party. Since the year of its inception, a compilation CD has been released each year after the season. Luciano mixed the first two; Argy and Andrea Olivia mixed 2013's Vagabundos CD.

Recent years

In February 2013, Luciano joined Richie Hawtin and Skrillex participating in the program "Bridges for Music" in South Africa. Valentino Barrioseta, who is a long time friend of Luciano's, runs the non-profit organization that helps reach out to underprivileged communities via music. Luciano participated in the workshop put together in Soweto, as a chance to show that music can be accessible even in remote areas. In May, Luciano, alongside his wife and sister, created the charity "One Coin For Life." His family's visit to the Arhuaco tribe in Colombia, South America in April 2012, inspired the desire to do good. "One Coin For Life" supports smaller charities that help struggling communities receive the proper health and nutrition programs they need. It is empowered by the voice, awareness, and donations from the electronic music community.

Later that year, in October, Luciano moved his family and label from Switzerland to Barcelona, Spain. The move accomplished bringing work and family closer to Ibiza and allowed for the launch of his artist management company called Aether Artists. The agency is affiliated with Cadenza and boasts eighteen new and established artists, including Luciano himself.

Production Luciano has had various projects and aliases throughout his production career. Besides working with Villalobos on Sense Club, Luciano also worked with Argenix Brito and Pier Bucci under the moniker "Monne Automne." Martin Schopf (Dandy Jack) had always been a major influence on Luciano, and the two spent many weekends playing and making music together, resulting in the project Carabina 30/30. Under his main alias, Luciano has released on labels Perlon and Mental Groove Records. His last album, "Tribute to the Sun," was released on Cadenza in 2009.

Although Luciano was not in the habit and not a fan of creating mix CD compilations, The two performed together at the Ibiza 123 Rocktronic festival.

Discography

Albums 2004: Blind Behaviour (Peacefrog Records) 2007: No Model No Tool (Cadenza) 2009: Tribute To The Sun (Cadenza)

Singles & EPs 2000: Lucie, Tom et Clementine (Mental Groove Records) 2001: 1/2 (Mental Groove Records) 2001: 2/2 (Mental Groove Records) 2002: Amelie on Ice (Mental Groove Records) 2002: Capricciosa (Bruchstuecke) 2002: Future Senses (Klang Elektronik) 2002: Cadenza (Single), Where Is Here - A Mental Groove Compilation (Mental Groove Records) 2003: Alpine Rocket - with Mathew Jonson (Perlon) 2003: Orange Mistake/Funky Daddy - with Quenum (Cadenza 1) 2003: La Limonada de Pepe Bombilla (Mental Groove Records) 2003: Membrillo - Cabo San Roque vs. Luciano (Bruchstuecke) 2004: Funk Excursion - Luciano & Serafin (Cadenza 4) 2005: Bomberos/Octogonal (Cadenza 6) 2006: In the Spirit - with Thomas Melchor (Cadenza 11) 2006: Yamoré Remix (Cadenza 9) 2006: Stone Age - Pier Bucci Luciano, Lucien (Cadenza 2) 2006: Clara Ghavani Extended - with NSI (Cadenza 5.5) 2006: Silverbird Casino - with EAT (Diamonds & Pearls) 2007: Etudes Electronique (Cadenza 21) 2007: Fourges Et Sabres (Perlon) 2008: Family - with Mirko Loco (Desolat) 2009: Versus - with Guy Gerber / Lee Van Dowski & Glimpse (Cadenza 36) 2010: 10diez10 (Cadenza Lab) 2010: Introducing Light & Sounds (under Monne Automne) (Lofi Stereo) 2012: Rise of Angel (Cadenza 82) 2013: Cachai/Dance Unity (Cadenza 84) 2014: Into The Aether Part One (Cadenza 93) 2015: Luciano, Francesco Tristano - Amnesie (Original Mix) (Get Physical Music) 2015: Luciano feat. Jaw - 7direction(s) (Cadenza 105)

Remixes 2003: Chica & The Folder - A Certain Track Schatulle EP (Monika Enterprise) 2004: Tim Wright - Thirst (Luciano's Dancehall Remix), The Ride EP (novamute) 2005: Memo - Silverspoons (Luciano Silverspooner Remix), KITCHENTOOLS EP (Lan Muzic) 2005: Argy - Love Dose (Luciano Remix), Love Dose (Pokerflat Recordings) 2006: Robag Wruhme - Wortkabular (Luciano Remix), Wortkabular (Remixes) (Musik Krause) 2008: Dave Aju - Crazy Place (Luciano Remix), Crazy Place (Circus Company) 2009: Kevin Saunderson - Good Love (Luciano's Good Love Remix), History Elevate Remixed (KMS Records) 2009: Minilogue - Animals (Luciano Remix), Animals (Cocoon Recordings) 2009: Loco Dice- Pimp Jackson Is Talkin' Now!!! (Luci Gets Loco Remix), 7 Dunham Place Remixed Part 1 (Desolat) 2010: Reboot - Uruana (Luciano Remix), Rambon EP (Cadenza 50) 2011: Ernesto Ferreryra - Los Domingos Vuelo A La Casa (Luciano Remix), El Paraiso De Las Tortugas Remixes (Cadenza 58) 2011: Recloose & Dwele - Can't Take It (Luciano Remix), Can't Take It (Remixes) (Planet E) 2011: Subflow - You Come And Go (Luciano Remix), You Come And Go (Technical Enemy) 2012: Mirko Loko - Gipsy-Q (Luciano Remix), Gipsy-Q (Memento, a record label founded by Idriss D) 2013: Rebelski - The Rift Valley (Luciano Remix) (Cadenza 88) 2014: Lopazz - Migracion (Luciano's Camaleon Remix) (Get Physical Music) 2014: Ludwig van Beethoven - Für Elise (DJ Luciano Club Remix) (LoudDjs) 2015: Popof - Words Gone (Luciano Remix) (Hot Creations) 2015: Jerome Sydenham & Rune RK - Can't Stop Not (Luciano Remix) (Ibadan Records) 2015: Basement Jaxx - Love Is At Your Side (Luciano Remix - Edit) (Atlantic Jaxx) 2015: Popof Feat. Arno Joey - Words Gone (Luciano Remix) (Hot Creations)

Mix Compilations 2002: Live @ Weetamix (Max Ernst) 2003: Party News - Electro-House (DJ Beat Records) 2006: Sci.Fi.Hi.Fi. Volume 2 (SOMA Quality Recordings) 2007: Cadenza Contemporary 01 & Cadenza Classics (Cadenza) 2008: Fabric 41 (Fabric (London)) 2012: Vagabundos 2012 (Cadenza) 2012: Vagabundos (Cadenza Lab)

DJ Awards Luciano has won the Best Tech House DJ Award 5 times and received a total of 10 nominations at the DJ Awards. 2008 Luciano Best Breakthrough DJ 2008 Luciano Best Tech House/Progressive DJ 2010 Luciano Best Tech House DJ 2011 Luciano Best International DJ 2011 Luciano Best Tech House DJ 2012 Luciano Best Tech House DJ 2013 Luciano Best International DJ 2013 Luciano Best Tech House DJ 2014 Luciano Best Tech House DJ 2015 Luciano Best Tech House DJ