Camille Luciani stands as one of the most exciting and authentic rising DJ/producers on the melodic techno scene, fuelled by an innate desire for originality and progression. From minimal beats to epic apex moments, Camille has ventured beyond genres and possibilities, building a distinguished back-catalogue founded on both emotion and technical knowledge.
With releases on Steyeoke Black, MOOD Records and Renaissance Records, Camille has caught the attention of many a-leading artist and his cuts have proven commonplace within the touring playlists of such artists as Pan-Pot, Dubfire, Paco Osuna, Joris Voorn, Sasha, John Digweed, and many more. His most notable release comes in the form of his remix of The Temper Trap’s “Sweet Disposition”, which received staunch support from Tale Of Us, Adriatique, ARTBAT and more. Choosing quality of quantity, Camille’s humble discography is reserved for only the most innovative of cuts. As a result, the flourishing star was chosen by Tomorrowland as one of the Top 20 artists of 2020.
Levelling up his impact in 2023, Camille’s new IOMA persona showcases a fresh perspective on his sound palette, and with a host of Track IDs already circulating the community, this year is already proving to be his most emphatic and fruitful to date.
THE INTERVIEW
CR: Hello Camille, Glad to have you on Canadianravers how are you doing and where are you chatting from?
I: Hey guys, thank you for your kind invitation and for sharing the Livestream. I am genuinely appreciative of all that you have done up until this point. I am doing well, and it feels great to be back. I was a bit anxious, as it has been three years since my last appearance, but the time away allowed me to come back stronger. I am now prepared and delighted to share the results of my three years of hard work. I am currently in Corsica, enjoying the warm weather with a peaceful mind while having great productivity.
CR: Tell us a little bit about yourselves, your musical journey, and where did the name ‘IOMA’ come from?
I: I grew up here in Corsica with a musical education (mix of Classical, rock, rap, and electronic music) until I was 18. After that, I was in Nice for my studies until 2016. The next step for me was to enjoy and discover festival experiences as I had never been to a festival before 19. I wanted to go abroad and discover some of the most famous festivals in the world, such as Time Warp, Sonus, Off Barcelona and more. After 24, I decided to return to Corsica and focus seriously on music. I started as Camille Luciani with releases on Steyoyoke Black, Mood Records and Renaissance. However, after a long reflection, I decided to change my name to something shorter and easy to remember, which also had meaning to me. The name is my father’s family name I never had the chance to have. Luciani is my mother’s name. My father is the person who really helped me with my musical education, and I wanted to honour him for that. I switched the Y from Yoma, the original name, and I switched for an ‘I’ in order to mix my mum’s European origins with my dad’s Colombian/Asian roots. That’s how the name IOMA was born.
CR: Tell us a little bit of the story behind the Idea of playing in the middle of the solar panel field, the process, the hurdles and what made you choose this location.
I: Ecology is getting more and more attention in the music industry. I wanted my comeback to have the most positive impact possible. Not only within the music community but also for the world. Also, the project represents a modern and futuristic aesthetic. We thought that playing in a solar panel field could be a great opportunity to showcase something we had never done before, so we did our best to find the perfect location. It was very challenging, to begin with, to find the contacts of some of the people who were working at the solar panel site, and we didn’t know how to start.
We first contacted a company, but we didn’t get any replies. So we tried another the same, but nothing happened. After that, I wanted to explore new locations with municipalities, but the project didn’t interest them. I was discouraged when suddenly, out of nowhere, we managed to contact Corsica Sole and set up a meeting. It appeared that they liked the project, so we set a date for the set. The next challenging part was the weather, as we needed to find a sunny day for the occasion. The problem is that the weather at that time constantly changed daily, so it was very challenging. We had to change the date 3 or 4 times before getting a good one. And even on the day of the set, the weather was very cloudy, which was not the best for the vibe we wanted for the stream.
I remember being so disappointed after all that work had been done to get the perfect weather conditions. With so much luck, the sun started to appear a couple of hours before recording. I still don’t know what happened except that it was a small miracle. But in the end, we can say that the result was worth it. Indeed, we were amazed by the reaction from people. It is very overwhelming to see all of the positive feedback. By inspiring others to improve the world, I believe our mission with the stream was complete.
CR: A lot of festivals and artists are taking the initiative for sustainability these days to reduce waste. What is one thing that everyone should be focusing on that can help change the environment?
I: It really depends from one region to another in the world as we might not have the same environmental awareness. However, reducing the consumption of single-use plastics such as straws, plastic bags, and disposable cutlery is an absolute priority. Indeed most of them end up in landfills and the ocean, harming wildlife and ecosystems. Bringing reusable bags, using metal straws, could be an alternative. These small changes make a big difference, and I am glad we have made significant improvements. I think we are going more and more in the right direction.
Cigarette butts are also a major source of environmental pollution. According to the Ocean Conservancy, cigarette butts are the most commonly collected type of litter during beach clean-ups. Proper disposal of cigarette butts in designated places could reduce pollution. Education could also teach smokers about the negative impacts of cigarettes on the environment and encourage them to dispose of their cigarette waste responsibly.
New Zealand is doing an excellent job of reducing cigarette consumption and I am sure we will follow their steps.
CR: For your tracks, is there a method you follow or just create based on playing around with the instruments or picking up samples and loops?
I: A bit of all of them. I like combining analog synthesizers and virtual instruments to create melodies and chords while utilizing samples to create percussive elements. My go-to synthesizer is the Prophet and other vsts, but I'm currently exploring the Roland TR-8 and other analog drum machines in order to have a new approach to making music.
CR: Is there anything else you'd want to change about the current state of dance music?
I: I don’t know if I am the right person to say what things should be changed as I am new to this scene. However, stopping categorizing underground and mainstream, I would say, could be something to try. Those etiquettes tend to block people from using their full potential. Also, it could lead to stereotypes and judgments like “mainstream djs do this kind of music for the money or for the fame”, which might not be the case. In the end, if what you do makes you happy and has a positive impact on the world, that is the most important thing. It’s all about knowing your musical tastes, getting inspired by them, and supporting what you like.
Additionally, a more inclusive scene regarding minorities would be great. Significant improvements have already been made, and we are on the right path.
Prevention of drugs is also essential, even if there are more and more security and medical aids present at festivals. It is very important to sensibilize people as it can lead to addiction and harms your well-being and personal life. I have been through that, and I know how difficult it can be to get out of this because of your environment and pre-designed ideas.
Also, we could work on more meaningful experiences for audiences rather than just focusing on commercial success. That means prioritizing creativeness and authenticity over formulaic productions. Also, inviting the local scene to some of the most significant festivals in order to propose something different is a plus. There is so much talent everywhere that we don’t need to invest such a huge amount of money to make people have a great time. Sometimes, a great new concept with unknown artists is all we need.
CR: Aside from DJing and Producing music, what makes you happy?
I: I like taking care of myself through exercise, reading, learning, and spending time with my friends. I used to travel a lot 3 years ago, but because of work commitments, I haven't had much opportunity. However, I am planning to do it more in the upcoming years as it is something that helps to open your mind and be more tolerant of the world and its diversities. I am also actively working on being happy with the simple things in life, such as watching the night sky or being more conscious of the present moment. This is a very challenging process and probably the hardest for me, but I am working on that daily.
CR: What has been your biggest accomplishment of 2023, personally and professionally, besides this live set?
I: We are at the beginning of 2023, so that’s very tough. But I would say quitting cigarettes for more than a year now. I wish never to go back there anymore. It’s significantly increased my confidence and well-being. There are only positive changes to come with quitting cigarettes. The DVD from Allen Carr was the solution for me as it breaks all your beliefs on why cigarettes are essential. This 1-hour dvd can change the lives of so many people. Regarding the pro, I am on my way to making a concept store in Corsica. It’s a very challenging process, but I am on my way to also making it happen next year, hopefully.
CR: Now, to wrap it up, anything our followers should know about regarding the rest of 2023?
I: I have worked on so much music for the past 3 years that I want to share it all through my socials shortly. The goal is to give as much as possible to the community.
LIGHTING ROUND FOR IOMA
1. Favourite Fast Food?
None.
2. Go to meal when you’re sick?
Never.
3. Favourite drink to order?
Mojito Myrthe all the way.
4. First Rave as an attendee?
Chantier 109 Crossover in Nice. Dusty Kid as headliner. Unbelievable energy.
5. First celebrity crush?
Natalie Portman.
6. Favourite comic book character?
None. I don’t read comics.
7. All-time favourite song?
There is no favorite record as it really depends of my mood and my listening periods. However these records still follow me after many years : Pink Floyd - Echoes / Daft Punk - Touch / Nicolas Jaar - Took Me Out Of The Dark Rain / Nils Frahm - Re / Nina Simone - I Love You Porgy
8. Go to vacation spot?
Peru and Cairo was an amazing human and spiritual experience. I would like to try Easter Island also at some point.
9. What is your guilty pleasure?
Chocolate Fondant.
10. What is your hidden talent?
Making unfunny jokes all the time while being optimism.
11. Which social platform do you use a lot?
IG, Soundcloud.