Anfisa Letyago discusses Neapolitan DJing and House music
From Siberia to Napoli, how Anfisa Letyago rose to global prominence.
Anfisa Letyago is a Russian producer and DJ who relocated to Naples, Italy, at the age of 18 to pursue a career in music.
Since being adopted by Neapolitan culture, she has published her second project, 'Bright Lights EP', with Nervous Records in January, signed a deal with Vinyl on the Afro Acid label, and embarked on her debut tour. Carl Cox, a prominent British house and techno producer, also co-signed her.
I wanted to discover more about how the city of Naples shaped Letyago.
DM: How has Italy helped shape your musical style since? And what is it about Neapolitan culture that you feel is unique?
AL: I started my career in Napoli as a DJ in 2009 where I was playing at a lot of Italian clubs. I have been in Napoli for so many years and here the musical underground roots are strong.
There are so many legendary Neapolitan DJs such as Gaetano Parisio, Marco Carola, Joseph Capriati, Luigi Madonna, Markantonio, and many more. I think I’m lucky both as DJ and producer because I have the chance to grow, exchange views, and refine my sound by living in this charismatic city.
DM: When did you know you wanted to become a DJ and why?
AL: My start was natural, I have always been keen on looking for new music, I can stay for hours listening to music. But some tracks/songs, impress me so much that I cannot keep them to myself, feeling that I need to share them with others. This is what naturally drove me towards this profession and motivated my passion and love for it.
DM: Who were the DJs that influenced you?
AL: I love the 'Neapolitan' techno producer Gaetano Parisio and I love the power and charism of Carl Cox. I would have to say those two along with David Morales and Louie Vega due to the passion that shows on their DJ sets.
DM: What is it about house music that you feel attracts a large audience?
AL: House music is connected to our souls. It’s ancestral and touches your inner feelings. It can be enjoyed by everyone and is a genre for all ages. It's democratic, so phenomenal that it has many declinations: acid house, deep house, progressive, tech-house, and so on.
Carl was the first to believe in me and the first who started supporting me. From the very first day we met, I remember when I gave him my music to get feedback and he played my tracks the same night, and he liked all of them!
Since then, he’s never stopped supporting my music, playing my tracks at some of the best stages in the world, from Tomorrowland to Creamfields and Sonar.
Last month in an interview for DJ Magg’s Top 100 powered by Beatport, he stated that I’m his favourite artist and confirmed that I’ll be playing alongside him at the Resistance Ultra Music Festival in Miami. I was speechless! Carl is a mentor to me in both life and music.
DM: You’ve had an amazing 2019, what can we expect from you in the future?
AL: I’m closing the year in the best way ever, playing in New York with Nervous promoters and Stereo Montreal in Canada. On New Year’s eve I’ll be at Cosmo festival and on New Year’s Day you can catch me at Hyte in Berlin.
Then I start 2020 with an EP on Vinyl with a remix by Mark Broom and Marco Faraone and hopefully do many more gigs around the world. What I’m most looking forward to in 2020 is performing at the Ultra Music Festival, I hope to see you guys there!
