Venice Arms: The ‘Shine A Light On’ Mix

It’s a slight gear shift from his other project, Luca’s most well known for his dark punk-tinged club sounds under the name Curses, but with Venice Arms he can make sure he’s keeping “one foot in the rave and one hand in the wave”.

To mark the release of his second EP, Luca takes us on a trip back to those hey days and shares a few vintage pictures of him donning the 60″ wide leg trousers before hitting up a rave in Queens or Brooklyn…

Please introduce yourself… Who are you, where are you and what are you

Hey I’m Luca Venezia. Normally known for my New Wave and dark club sounds under the Curses project. Today I am the other me, Venice Arms… tapping into my teenage youth as a Junglist/Raver.

What does your music sound like? Can you draw what you think it sounds like for us (an image from the old internet is acceptable)?

This Hidden Heat Flyer from the 90s pretty much sums it up

Where was the mix recorded?

In Berlin at my studio.

What would be the ideal setting to listen to the mix?

Pumping it loud in the car. Windows down, en route to a far away warehouse rave with the whole squad hitting the roof with their fists to the beat.

What should we be wearing?

Oversized Nautica button down shirt, and reversible Colombia windbreaker, UFO parachute pants.

What would be your dream setting to record a mix: Location/system/format?

Take me back to my youth. Mid 90’s at places like Metropolis in Queens, or No1 Front St listening to Lenny Dee and Delta 9.

Which track in the mix is your current favourite?

I really wanted to incorporate some of my fav underground oldskool classics here. Bringing in classic UK hardcore was a must in this mix. It was the bridge between 4/4 and breaks for me. So I gotta say my fav track on the mix is the Decade V Nosferatu one.

What’s your favourite recorded mix of all time?

In a Venice Arms state of mind, I would have to say Sasha & Digweed’s Northern Exposure. Holds an early place in my clubbing heart.

If you could go back to back with any DJ from throughout history, who would it be and why?

I would’ve loved to play with legends like Goldie or Andy C back in the heyheydayyy of Jungle/D&B.

What was your first DJ set up at home and what is it now?

Oh wow. My first turntables were by a brand called “American DJ”. Belt Drive. At 16, I was friends with D&B DJs like DJ Seen from Raw Kuts and he came over and was like “dude. what u doin? You need direct drive you’ll never learn to beat match on those.” I eventually saved up for a pair of technics. Still have them to this day.

What’s more important, the track you start on or the track you end on?

First track is always the most important. Set the tone, let em know where we going tonight.

What were the first and last records you bought?

My verrrry first record was maybe Guns N roses Appetite for Destruction. Last is a tricky one. I recently found a copy of Moby’s “Go” Woodtick mix. Cheese but classic.

If this mix was an edible thing, what would it taste like?

Blow pop blue raspberry. We all used to have endless supply of these going to the party. Blue tongues glowing through the strobes and fog

If it was an animal what would it be?

Red Capped Manakin. You ever see on them dance? It’s wild

One record in your collection that is impossible to mix into anything?

Any Tangerine Dream. Let it be let it be

Upcoming in the world of …

I just released the second EP of Venice Arms on Permanent Vacation, Love Hz. As well a super trippy muscle bound CGI music video…

Anything else we need to discuss?

Although Venice Arms is just a side project, it is still a part of my club history. Its my way of keeping a hand and connection to my early introduction to the rave when primarily being in punk and new wave bands. I have another collab with Younger Than Me, called Y2C… and this project is the extra portal into this world for me, although my main thing is Curses. Its good to always keep one foot in the rave and one hand in the wave.