Sick Luke: “I am a chameleon: I would like to work with the pop world”

Sick Luke today feels a “white fly” compared to the common imagination of the trap scene, which in 2016 helped to detonate with its productions. The Producer Romano, 31 years old, became Father and his new album “Dopamine” (neurotransmitter and Catecolamine crucial in the brain and in the human body, responsible for motivation and pleasure), which tells his love for music, is contaminated by various genres. But above all it opens a larger window on another world, the pop one, which Luke would like to explore more and more. Eighteen the names involved: Blanco, Simba La Rue, Lazza, Tony Effe, Tedua, Alfa, Piccolo, Thasup, Capo Plaza, Sayf, Nayt, Rose Villain, Clams Casino, Venerus, Ele A, Glocky, Side Baby and his father Duke Montana.

This is a very different album from the previous “X2” than 2022, which was more dark. Why was it important to change?
Because I wanted to demonstrate that I can do anything else. Even in “X2” I actually played, working with names such as ram, Mecna, Cosmo and Pop X, and not only with sphere and others of my circle. For “dopamine” I went even further. There was no Covid as during the processing of “X2” and therefore this work is really different.

Have you worked in the studio and therefore not at a distance?
Yes, I did session with everyone. With the artists I speak, I compare myself, there is a direct relationship. And this can only happen in presence. At first I said to myself: “‘Dopamina'” must be a trap disco. But then I realized that it would not be interesting, that I had to open myself.

Hence the idea of ​​making more shiny products? Has paternity influenced sound ideas?
The mood has always been to surprise with different music. Even with the Dark Polo Gang it happened, I think of a project like “Sick Side”. The paternity certainly prompted me to be more open. Growing up a child does not make you want to get out of the passing machine guns and bazooka (laughs, ed.). In this project there are brighter pieces, it is true, but in any case there are also those who push as “Money Machine “and” Keanu Reeves “.

“Since you are there” with Alfa talks about a child. But Alfa is not a father. How did you work on the texts?
When he came to the studio and we met, he said to me: “Are you a father, right? Can I write a piece on your son?”. I told him yes, I seemed to try to give voice to what I would like to say to my son Teseo. It is a song that can reach more people and photographs my desire to expand my sound.

Is the women with Tony Effe a return to the future of the Dark Polo Gang?
Totally. Tony writes texts that make the blood boil, but also extremely self -ironic and fun. And this is. Remember Dark, remember a certain way of approaching music.

The Combo Blanco and Simba La Rue?
Blanco proposed it to me. I was hit. Blanco made a piece with Mina. From Mina to Simba it is a proper moment (laughs, editor’s note). I liked his desire to get involved.

Is Piccolo is one of the protagonists of this album?
I wanted it in two tracks on purpose. If it were “free”, I would take it and do a giant job with him, to the dark pole gang, because it is very strong for me. I see it a lot in the style of Kid Laroi and Post Malone. I recommend listening to his album “Amaranto”.

“Father’s day”, in feat with your father Duke Montana, in which you too even rappes and songs was a necessary piece
For me yes. The ending of a Sick Luke album must have a piece with his dad. And it is nice that, since my son Teseo is also evoked in the text, in some way three generations are celebrated. I don’t think that such a thing has ever been seen in Italy.

Of father and son who sing together, in reality, yes. Just think of Cristiano and Fabrizio De André. Anyway: why does it make sense to make a producer album? Much ended up in forgotten early.
For me it is a way to show everyone what I am able to do. Think of the piece with Tedua: I made him go back to pierce as he hadn’t happened for a while. I try to get the best out of everyone. Many producer albums are a hodgepodge of things and feat. Inspired by Future and Metro Boomin, in fact, I made several songs with individual artists, without other interventions. Producer discs are forgotten not because they are not valid, but because they cannot tell the project in my opinion.

On this record there are several pop pieces. Is the next goal to work with big names in Italian pop?
They have to call me. I am mega open to work with all pop artists. After “X2” I had caught with Coez. I did session with last. Pop artists work in another way. I made session, for this album, with Calcutta and Claudio Simonetti dei Goblin. I am a chameleon, I like to contaminate myself.

But why do they have to call you, you can’t offer the foundations?
Because I write, but many do not answer (laughs, editor’s note). I wrote to Tiziano Ferro, with whom we exchanged messages, I wrote to Elodie, I wrote to last. Last replied. I insist eh, I don’t get offended if some do not answer me, I do not give up: I have the ambition to bring freshness even in that genre.