Influences: Curses

Music

Berlin via New York producer Curses AKA Luca Venezia has carved out a signature sound over the last two decades, combining elements of post-punk and new wave with dark heady electronics. These influences stemmed from his youth and have since played a big part in his approach to production, as well as the music he supports through his label Ombra International, a platform for artists who blend psychedelic guitars with the darker reaches of disco and electro.

To date the label has supported the likes of Mondowski, Cannibal Ink, Theus Mago and Local Suicide, with a few appearances from Venezia, whose productions have also taken him to Bordello A Parigi, Snap Crackle & Pop and Dischi Autunno, to name but a few.

Ahead of the release of Timothy Clerkin's Unborn Remixed EP on Insult To Injury, which Curses lends his remix talents to, Luca takes us through some of the sounds that shaped him…

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LISTEN

Koyaanisqatsi Trailer (Criterion)

This movie is so timeless. One of my all time favourite films capturing beauty in destruction. If you haven’t seen this already, please please do. It is especially relevant today, given the critical state the human race has put upon Earth. The hypnotic soundtrack alone, by the master Philip Glass, is one of my favourite modern classical works as well.

Koyaanisqatsi Trailer (Criterion)

This movie is so timeless. One of my all time favourite films capturing beauty in destruction. If you haven’t seen this already, please please do. It is especially relevant today, given the critical state the human race has put upon Earth. The hypnotic soundtrack alone, by the master Philip Glass, is one of my favourite modern classical works as well.
Laurie Anderson - O Superman

My Mom had a copy of this on vinyl, and I vividly remember staring at the cover mesmerised by it as a child. Apparently, I was around five years old and had this portable record player. I’d play it over and over miming the “ha ha ha” vocal. It drove them crazy. The vocal sampling and manipulation alone was probably my first introduction to anything electronic. The trance of Laurie’s ‘O Superman’ pulsing vocals still resonates in my writing.
Ministry - Effigy (I'M Not An)

Around 15, I was beginning to get into punk and early noise bands like Cabaret Voltaire venturing into incorporating synths and drum machines. I was starting to listen to UK rave and jungle but didn’t want to lose that element of guitars, and then came across this Ministry album. It hit me more than Depeche Mode or Duran Duran, which people always assume I am a big fan of. This album has the elements of pop, but still a dark Sisters of Mercy edge. Still a big influence on me to this day.
Front 242 - Headhunter

Ok. After I heard this, I went teenage sample crazy. I used to sit in front of the TV for hours sampling random public access shows and late night infomercials and throwing them over off beat drum loops. I didn’t know what EBM was yet, I kinda just thought of Front 242 as these punk UK rave breakbeat metal heads.
Morphine - Good (Full Album)

This album is another one I discovered through my mom always playing it in the house. I was drawn to the minimalistic dark crooning jazz-punk. The rolling bass lines, stood out to me, and still stick with me – mirroring early cold wave or post-punk vibes of today.
Suicide - Wild In Blue

Vega and Rev. Thank you thank you for keeping the cool in cool. The self-titled 1977 LP was a big influence on me, but there was something different that hit me with ‘Wild In Blue’. The perfect blend of electronic and rock and roll. I think it was me being drawn back to that hypnotic pulse of Laurie Anderson’s ‘O Superman’ again as a kid. Still play this today in many of my DJ sets.
Derek Jarman's Jubilee

This film is insane, and in some parts terrifying, but the style alone has always been so attractive to me. Time travel, anarchy, the staple launch for punk fashion in the midst of the explosion of Malcolm McLaren, Westwood, Siouxsie, Adam Ant….. and scored by the legendary Eno.