Chatting with Laurine: the physics of authenticity

The density of a magnetic field depends on the intensity of the force that generates it.
It is a simple, almost naïve equation from physics, yet it explains how certain energies unconsciously orient everything around them, almost without meaning to.

Within the trajectories of music, it is not easy to find artists who truly respond to the rules of a magnetic field. There is often a great deal of excitement around movements, collectives, clubs. And, even more often, behind that excitement lies a stale idea of the need to appear, to push one’s art onto another level, merely to show something to someone.

The strength of Laurine lies precisely here: in a spontaneous authenticity that has never really tried to be something or someone else, other than an artist who brings her own idea of music and community every time she steps behind the decks or organises a Slow Life gathering with her family of artists. Just as happened on the last weekend of November in Berlin, aboard the Hoppetosse boat.

Taking care of her music and of everything that has orbited around it over the years seems, for Laurine, to be the mission that has nourished not only her career, but her entire life.

The focus that guides her musical choices speaks of a passion deeply rooted in instinct, one that always leaves room for a vision willing to push beyond its own limits. And in a musical landscape where the comfort zone seems to be the fastest way to reach an audience and profit from it, this constant desire to evolve generates exactly that magnetic field force mentioned a few lines above. Do not misunderstand me though. Laurine does not trigger energies unconsciously and unintentionally alone. Any form of artistic expression requires hard work, years and years of trials and setups to find one’s own direction, one’s own voice, in a stormy sea that sometimes seems determined to test how much you are willing to endure.

And what is art, if not our perhaps last form of resistance?

We asked her directly.

Let’s start with something simple, yet fundamental. How are you? How are you living this period of your life?

Hi Ale, this period is marked by a great sense of calm, something quite rare for me, since my life has always been characterised by frenzy until now. I feel strong, clear-headed and centred, and this gives me the opportunity to observe myself and work on a very deep inner level. I must say I am enjoying it

On the last weekend of November, the classic family gathering took place at Hoppetosse. Or maybe we should say “at home”? Would you like to tell us how Slow Life has evolved over the years and what the goals are for the future?

Speaking of calm… sometimes you also need a touch of healthy madness, and in fact I am still without a voice! I am truly satisfied with how the weekender turned out. The musical journey across 34 hours, the quality of the crowd, the sound system perfectly tuned. Every element was in the right place and contributed to creating what, for me, was one of the best parties we have ever organised. I came out of it with a heart full of hope. It is still possible to recreate a healthy, serious and respectful clubbing environment, where everyone is present for the same reason: to listen to good music, have fun, and share an authentic experience together.

As for Slow Life, things have always been fairly stable since the beginning. Today we continue with the label, the parties and… I am sorry to disappoint you (hehe), but we do not have big goals for the future, other than continuing to do what we have always done, for as long as possible and always with the right motivation.

The concept behind Slow Life seems to reflect what you would like to see in the world: positive energy, a sense of belonging to a community founded on respect, and a conscious happiness that generates constant gratitude. In a world where numbers matter more than quality, you have always responded with authenticity. How do you see the scene today in terms of authenticity and evolution?

First of all, thank you. You managed to express a complex concept with great clarity and sensitivity, representing us perfectly. As for your question, I would say that the moment the scene is going through is part of the continuous cycle of change that characterises everything in life. There are good phases and less good ones, but it is precisely thanks to the difficult ones that we learn to value the good. At the moment, to use a euphemism, I would say the situation is a real “intestinal gift”. But I like to think it is just a passage, a necessary phase to once again recognise and appreciate things that we may have taken for granted in the past.
There have been other moments when things seemed to be going in a bad direction. For example, when vinyl appeared destined to disappear with the arrival of Traktor. Yet in the end, what is true, substantial and authentic has always managed to survive and will continue to do so. Everything else is temporary.

Was there a specific moment, a sort of turning point, when you noticed a strong change in the current electronic scene?

Yes, I would say around 2015, when social networks started to occupy an increasingly central role in our lives. From there, the scene began to change quickly and, in many aspects, to deteriorate exponentially.

Electronic music culture was born from experimentation and from the need of many subcultures to feel part of something. Do you think these paradigms are still present in today’s scene?

Of course. The desire to belong to something is part of human nature. Clubbing, in this sense, has always had a unique power: creating connection. The difference lies in awareness, in choosing to belong to something real, founded on substance rather than appearance. Because only what is true can truly nourish the soul in the long term.

Speaking of the soul, the soul of your music has always been nourished by essential “dogmas”, without ever conflicting with constant research. Would you like to tell us about this?

Constant research goes hand in hand with evolution, which is inevitable and necessary. But if it is not rooted in something authentic, it risks losing meaning or leading you in the wrong direction. For me, these “dogmas” are exactly that: fixed points within continuous change, a compass that guides me while I explore new directions. One of my main dogmas is authenticity. For me, it means choosing music that truly reflects what I feel, without chasing trends or fashions. It is a long journey to understand who we really are and which music truly represents us. Everything is constantly changing, so moments of confusion are inevitable. I always welcome those moments with gratitude, because without crisis there is no evolution.

Given today’s market and society, it can be hard to maintain inspiration. Yet you seem not to lose focus on what truly matters to you. Where do you draw this energy from?

First and foremost, from within. I feel a deep ethical sense in everything I do, and every action or decision is accompanied by a visceral signal that tells me whether it is right or wrong, whether it is aligned with a high frequency or not. It is impossible to ignore and plays a fundamental role in maintaining focus. At the same time, I am very lucky to be surrounded by people who inspire me, who have helped me understand many things and become more aware, and above all people who share my values. With them, I can exchange ideas, grow, and support each other in staying true to what truly matters to us.

After more than twenty years of career, is there something you wish had remained the same as when you started playing? And something that has changed but you do not miss at all?

If we talk about the scene in general, there are many things I wish had remained the same, but I will try to choose three: the absence of social media, the absence of the sync button, and the large number of clubs. The first two have been detrimental to what a DJ should represent, to the skills required. It is like having to perform surgery having only ever played Operation. They also affect the growth process, which requires time to develop the abilities needed to truly call oneself a DJ. The third concerns the decline of clubbing and is one of the things that saddens me the most. In the late 90s and early 2000s in Italy, you could say that if you lifted a stone, you would find a club underneath. There were countless options, and each had its own musical personality. Today the situation is the opposite. Clubs have almost disappeared, and the few that remain struggle to survive. We are in the era of festivals, which can be wonderful experiences, but nothing compares to the connection created in a club, with few lights and the booth at the same level as the crowd. What I am happy has changed is the way we search for music. Back then, I did not even have a computer and could only buy records at my local shop. Today, with platforms like Discogs, we have access to a vast library of music with a simple click, which has been a fundamental step in the evolution of DJing.
As for my personal journey, there is nothing I wish had remained the same or changed. Perhaps the only thing is the innocence I had when I started playing. I was freer, less structured, but also more naive.
Today everything in my sets must be more meticulous: the flow, the selection, the concept I want to express. There is greater awareness in every choice, which also brings a stronger sense of responsibility and self-criticism.

What would you say to Laurine at her very first gig in Barcelona, when she did not even want to play?

You will always be nervous before playing, accept it!!

You and Cecilio recently moved from Berlin to Spain. How does this relocation influence your music?

Music reflects a personal and unique frequency that each of us carries within. Every time I have moved, it was because something inside me wanted to change and move forward. Moving to Málaga came from the same need: progress.
When you evolve, this inevitably reflects in your music. It happens unconsciously, but little by little you are drawn to new sounds and frequencies. This has been very stimulating, opening new territories to explore and new concepts to propose.

The constant search for evolution has guided you since the beginning. Do you find this approach in every aspect of your life?

Absolutely. And paradoxically, sometimes in order to move forward, you need to stop. If we do not stop, we cannot listen to ourselves and understand which path is the right one.

Give yourself a wish for the future.

Be happy, be at peace, and let everything else flow.