As we already know, Mahesa Utara and Gianni Marino are awesome, young, up and rising producers. Noticed, nurtured and picked up by Laidback Luke, these two dudes (and Angger ofcourse) are the best that Indonesia has to offer. We had a chance to sit down and talk to them.

For those who don’t know you (yet), describe yourself in a few words?

Gianni: I’m Gianni and I like Asian food.
Mahesa: Somehow I hate to explain about myself. I’m an Indonesian producer who makes some Dutch and Baltimore beat. By the way, do you know that Indonesia and Netherlands were heavily connected in the past? (I know it’s out of the context)… That’s it for now.

Since when are you into music and how it all began?

Gianni: I’m into music since I heard that awesome music from Super Nitendo, the one from Street Fighter.
Mahesa: I’m into music since I was 8 years old I think. I remember I loved an album of a bass player named… Damn! I forgot his name, the album cover was an octopus artwork, it was mind blowing, the groove was so good that I realized, every good music contains strong groove in it. And when I was 12 years old, I learned to play drums, it was so intense, I spent about 7 hours a day just for practicing, and it was worth it. I learn a lot from drumming. My dad built a music studio for me, and he told me to learn Cubase. He told me that it’s the future, and I finally did that in 2007. I became a mixing engineer, and so I thought ‘Hey I think I can make electronic music with this skill’, so I decided to be a DJ and a music producer.

What equipment do you use for your production?

Gianni: Only my laptop. It has everything I need.
Mahesa: I use Acer laptops, ESI-U46DJ soundcard, and a pair of Alesis M1 monitor speakers.Oh and a MDR-7506 Sony headphones.

If you are not a producer and a DJ, what do you think you would be?

Gianni: Shaolin Monk! For sure!
Mahesa: I think I would be an architect, a nerdy architect.

Who’s your all time favorite producer?

Gianni: Wong Fei Hung.
Mahesa: Diplo & Switch!

Any upcoming releases from you?

Gianni: I did a remix of ‘Timebomb’ for Luke, don’t know the release date.
Mahesa: I’m doin a remix for ACIDKIDS, and another one for Angger Dimas. I’ll also start doin’ more originals so watch out!

What are your opinions about blogs? Do they help or harm more?

Gianni: Both. Cause sometimes people download a track and they love it and feel happy. Sometimes people download a track that they don’t like and throw it away.
Mahesa: There are always positive and negative sides, as for blogs, I think it depends. As long as the blog is good, I think it’ll actually help to improve the music and the scene. It’s a culture, so we can’t blame it. I’m also a product of this culture.

What’s your top 5 tracks at the moment?

Gianni:
01.Wong Fei Hung – Once Upon A Time In China Theme 1
02.Wong Fei Hung – Once Upon A Time In China Theme 3
03. Mike Posner’s Album
04. Bart Simpson – Do The Bartman (Diplo’s Bartman So Krispy Remix)
05. Mahesa Utara & Gianni Marino – Gokilll!

Mahesa:
01. Proxy – 8000 (Diplo Remix)
02. Munchi – Toma Berimbau
03. Katy B -Katy On a Mission
04. ACIDKIDS – Never Slow (Mahesa Utara Remix)
05. Kid Cudi feat. MGMT – Pursuit Of Happiness (Slink’s Hangover Remix)

I’ll name one thing and you’ll tell me your association:

Gianni:
Serbia – Russian Maffia Vodka Eskimo Hot Serbian Girls
Laidback Luke – Asian DJ
Asia – Will take over the world ! Hot Chinese girls on the street!
Piano – Learning
Bangalter – Oldschool Gangster

Mahesa:
Serbia – Milan V… LOL!
Laidback Luke – Wow!!!
Asia – Gianni Marino (China!) and Indonesia
Piano – I wish I can play it!
Bangalter – Spinal Scratch

Any last messages for our readers?

Gianni: Je wet nit wi ik ben ! Excuse me, what are u doing?
Mahesa: Stop hatin’, spread the love!

Bob Marley – Sun Is Shining (Gianni Marino 2009 Bootleg)

Soulja Boy Vs. King Samir – Crank That Samir’s Theme (Mahesa Utara Be More Mashup)

Dirty South – Let It Go (Gianni Marino More Van Be Bootleg)

Rye Rye Ft. M.I.A. – Bang (Mahesa Utara Bootleg)

The Ting Tings – Great DJ (Mahesa Utara Be More Bootleg)

Winter Gordon – Dirty Talk (Laidback Luke Remix) (Gianni Marino Remix Van De Remix)

Bruno Mars – Just The Way You Are (Gianni Marino Quik Edit)

Contact:
Gianni Marino
Mahesa Utara