Techno producer Pasquale Ascione, also known as Ascion, was born in Naples Italy. As a child, he was fascinated by electronics and his hunger for technology quickly matured. When the introduction to electronic music emerged, Ascion immediately indulged himself into the local underground scene. Soon he met friend and future collaborator, D. Carbone, who would play a major role in Ascion's electronic voyage. He began to experiment with different software, creating his own style and unique sounds. As his skills developed, so did his growing reputation.
USQ: Tell us about Ascion
I begin by saying that Ascion is my surname without "e" and anywhere in the world I've stayed in, they have pronounced it differently. I was born 1988 in a town called Ottaviano near Vesuvius. Since childhood I have been passionate about computers. By 12 years old, I started to wander around the web and make websites. In those days, I was very keen to house music because my sister went to parties and I could not, but I knew all the songs. After high school, I moved to Urbino with my best friend (D.Carbone) to study multimedia design at the Academy of Fine Arts. I graduated and now I moved to Berlin, the place where I feel best at the moment. I love art and, besides being an artist in the techno scene, I've made videos, pictures, different music and so on.
USQ: What was the setup that you used to record USQMIX022 and why do you prefer to use this?
I used two Turntables and a Computer. I recorded the mix in my studio in Berlin. I used this setup so that i can play promos and my unreleased stuff because I'm bored to make cds.
USQ: We can see that REPITCH 000 is on air, what was the inspiration to make this release/track [Untitled 1]?
It's what i feel as "repitch sound." Its my label and i can expose myself 100%.
USQ: How often do you play week by week and what can we wait of ASCION'S show?
I'm not playing much lately, maybe because I'm done with my old bookings and I (maybe) don't promote myself enough. But I assure you, when you can play every weekend in a month, it is very special. Especially if the crowds are people who know your music, it is very exciting. The only flaw is that they should invent teleportation, or end up hating airports! In my sets, I try to lead the audience on a sound trip. Sometimes I can be with a deep vein, or also more industrial at times, and also when I can, I like to experiment bringing on an all futuristic concept. It also depends on location and what turns me on the head. But overall I play what I like without an outline.
USQ: What is the biggest reason to move to BERLIN?
I moved here because I was not happy with the way you live in my country, and in Italy I have never found enough room for my art .Especially because I feel that Berlin is now the nerve center of a given techno scene and I wanted to live it! Here I am also inspired by what I see; I am a person that lives from many sensations including visual, so sometimes it's really nice travel with the imagination.
USQ: What do you think about the digitalization issues, production and mixing. Digital is a good way to innovate or tools will always be better to use analog?
Surely the heat from any analog-machine can never be replaced by a plug in a computer. Also the fact that touching vinyl or pressing a button is totally different. The thing I regret is that many young novices are not informed. They want everything at once. For this reason a lot of things are going wrong, especially for vinyl. The two could continue to coexist; for example, it takes the same time per track to rip vinyl, which usually come out before of the digital release, or i mean an "only vinyl" release. And you can use your computer, if you want play with traktor or something else. In these modern years everything is simplified, and I admire this progress and I use it, but we must not forget the things that led us to where we are now and support it! I do.
USQ: A few months ago, we have been listening to a very different Techno from what we heard earlier by you, what led you to take this evolution in your music?
To be honest when I started to play around with electronic music ,I did my first production at 140 bpm!I was really young - something like 14 15 years old - but already by then attending clubs, documenting about the minimal and techno music bpm were reduced and the sounds were those who could please me at that time, was the time when I followed many minimal DJs and consequently they influenced me. Entering then into the scene, with the passage of time, many tracks did not satisfy me and, after much research, I understood what kinds of sounds really give me emotions. I have definitely moved on techno scene which eventually was always in my heart right from beginning, leaving behind an "almost certain" future in the techno-minimal scene. I'm happy right now even if I do not play every weekend. I find myself in a rewarding ambient. It's nice to do what excites you and you really love.
USQ: Between running a label, producing, remixing and touring do you find the chance to listen to music that isn’t dancefloor orientated?
Yeah sure!! Just 5 min ago i was listening to "Murcof" and 10 more at "Bjork - Unravel" (live in tokyo).. i simply love her voice and also her Icelandic accent. Sometime i listen to varied electronic music, idm, 2step, dustup as well but above all I love music without rhythm when i need to relax.
USQ: What's coming for ASCION for the rest of year?
Repitch 001 as "Repitch" that is always a project between me and Davide, also some original tracks always on REPITCH recordings. Some remixes for Brian Sanhaji, Max_m, Bcr boys, Cabarete groove and more projects and collaboration that I can't speak about right now… I will also start to work at my album when i feel in the right mood.
USQ: Top 5 of best tracks ever for you?
This is one of the most difficult questions that I have ever been asked. I will list some of the tracks (dancing enabled) that always give me emotions when I am listening:
Jeff Mills - The Bells
Teste - The Wipe (5am synaptic)
Matthew Jonson - Decompression
James Ruskin - Lahaine
Regis - Speak to me
