By Zach Collier
NOCUI is the musical alias of Italian composer and producer Leonardo Di Fiore, who’s based in the vibrant city of Berlin. Known for his electrifying soundscapes, NOCUI's music blends rich textures with catchy rhythms and deep philosophical concepts.
NOCUI’s journey started with classical piano training and transitioned into electronic sounds as he got older. He honed his skills in sound design and eventually landed a residency at Riverside Studios Berlin, a testament to his talent and dedication.
Perhaps most fascinatingly, while studying Neuroscience in Boston, NOCUI explored how music affects our emotions. This unique background enriches his artistry, allowing him to explore themes and ideas most haven’t even considered.
For example: his latest record, Italian Robot, is due out November 28, 2024. The album aims to provoke thought about the complex relationship between humanity, society, and technology through a series of critical questions. It challenges listeners to consider whether technology enhances our lives or leads us to avoid our humanity. Themes include the dangers of passivity, the desire to delegate responsibility to a data-driven system, and the potential for "supertechnologies" to deconstruct and replace traditional belief systems.
Italian Robot also asks: does fear drive our reliance on technology? And will this reliance lead us to trade genuine human interactions for artificial solutions?
All of these questions are incredibly relevant in 2024 – which is as absurd as it is awesome. The future is here, my dudes.
You can hear NOCUI interrogate these themes in an exclusive live set for tmrw. His latest single, “Bring Me Light,” dropped on October 4. Make sure to follow NOCUI on Instagram and watch his entire live performance of Italian Robot below!