Daniele Antezza’s (a.k.a. Inner8) recently announced label, Holotone, will release its first EP, Tetramorph, on March 21.

Like most of Antezza’s previous releases—both as production duo Dadub and Inner8—it’s a deep, engrossing, and ultimately rewarding collection of highly detailed sonics which push Antezza’s sound further forward. The EP will also feature Japanese artist Koichi Shimizu, who lends his expertise to the EP’s closing cut.

Antezza will officially launch Holotone with a showcase at Berghain on January 30, followed by two shows in Bangkok and Tokyo on February 13 and February 20, respectively. In the lead up to the launch, XLR8R had a chat with Antezza about Holotone’s identity, his collaboration with Koichi, and the upcoming showcase at Berghain.

As Tetramorph is the first EP on Holotone, what can we expect from its debut? How would you define the identity and purpose of Holotone?
The Tetramorph EP is my personal artistic contribution to Holotone. I haven’t conceived it as a precise definition of the kind of sounds that Holotone will release in the future or as a sort of label “manifesto.” The reason why I haven’t is because I don’t want to specify the identity of the label to any specific music genre. I don’t usually like to look for definitions when I talk about music and art, because it should be a pure free expression of an artist creativity. The purpose of Holotone is to be creative and challenge the boundaries of classic ideas of genre, to deconstruct the artistic path and be able to liberate creative energies instead of reproducing existing aesthetics. In my opinion, the beauty of art is exactly in the power of its creation, and looking for a definition might contribute to annihilating its magic.

For the last track, “Aufhebung,” you have collaborated with Japanese sound engineer Koichi Shimizu. How did you cross paths and what made you decide to produce together? Which elements and techniques did Kochi add to this track?
The first connection I had with Koichi was a few months ago when a mutual friend put us in contact. We started to share feedback about our music and then he sent me his album, “Otolary,” released for his own Revirth label, which I found extremely beautiful—because in my opinion it is a perfect example of how it is possible to combine an extremely technical attitude with a very sensitive and meaningful artistic approach, what I really love when I experience music.

During the composition of my Tetramorph EP, the idea to propose a collaboration to Koichi came naturally—he immediately accepted and we created “Aufhebung,” sharing our sounds via the internet. What he added is his deep knowledge into modular synthesis and sound design plus his elegant aesthetics, giving to the track the exact “aura” I was missing. It was a fresh and spontaneous creative flow, and am looking forward to trying again when I’ll be in Asia next month, but this time jamming live.

Holotone will be launched with a showcase at Berlin’s Berghain Kantine and is followed by a “Holotone Asia Showcase” in Tokyo and Bangkok. What kind of vibe would you like to establish at these events? Will it be different comparing Berlin to Asia? How have you selected the artists involved in this first showcase in Berlin?
The vibe I want to create is, artistically talking, a vibe of freedom of expression, for the artists and for the crowd. I want to push eclectic and almost anarchist approaches, not the standard practice. Standards are useful to market and manage, but they tend to paralyse the revolutionary power of art. For the Holotone showcases, I want to bypass the separation between “party” and “experimental event,” because the music itself must be an experience with no need of categorised behaviours. Just express what you feel. Do you want to express yourself dancing and moving your body? Do it. Do you prefer to stay silent and enjoy the performers sound design? Then do it. I don’t think there will be big difference between Berlin, Asia, or (as I hope for the future) other countries, because, for me, music has no physical dimension—if it is true and pure in its aim, then we can speak and understand the same language all over the world.

The artist selection for the Berlin Holotone Showcase (GRÜN, S13, Alexander Stone, Sofus Forsberg, Ina Ynoki, Cubert, Linus Gabrielsson and myself as Inner8) has been inspired by my huge admiration for all of them them—in my opinion they are all extremely talented artists, and they all have a very true approach in what they do. I think they will make the event really special. They are also artists that for different reasons have contributed to inspiring my journey during these last few years, because having the possibility to share opinions, ideas, and so on, with people like them is a treasure, and it is rich.