Interview: Sensazione Stupenda
- Apr 26
- 5 min read
Updated: May 12
Meet Sicily’s hottest new record label, Sensazione Stupenda. We spoke to DJs, Castel, Marco Colomba and Giovanni Savoca about their passion for music, the rise of Sensation Stupenda and their upcoming gig to London, where they will be performing at Star Lane for the Extended Bank Holiday Fest on the 3rd of May.
Let’s start at the beginning. How did you all come to meet and build up what is now Sensazione Stupenda?
Castel:
Sensazione Stupenda was born in Palermo as an idea from a group of DJs who wanted to bring a diverse and unique product to a land as difficult as it is beautiful. Some of us were already friends, others became friends over time, all united by passion.
Has it always been a dream and a passion to perform and create music?
Castel:
Performing and creating music has always been a goal of mine since I was a child and it has given me the opportunity to fully express everything I believe in.
Giovanni:
Yes, absolutely. Music has always been essential to my life. The DJ set is the moment where I can truly express myself: reading the crowd, building a journey, and creating a connection with the people in front of me.
I also believe (and I say this in a very personal way) that this passion came to me naturally from my father. In the 1980s, he was a DJ at Radio Taormina. Even though I lost him very early, when I was ten, I feel that connection has somehow remained and still lives on through what I do today.
Marco:
Absolutely, even if it was an unconscious game at first. I have a vivid image of myself in middle school: I spent my afternoons burning compilations onto CDs and then bringing them to my classmates' birthday parties. In a certain sense, I was already doing my first DJ sets and curating the selection for an audience, even if the equipment was rudimentary and the dance floor was a friend's living room.
What began as a simple desire to share the music I loved quickly became a career. I went from CDs and living rooms to full-blown clubs in a very short time, but the spirit remained the same: the search for the right track to make the people in front of me vibrate.
Speaking of performances, you are going to be playing at Star Lane this coming May Bank Holiday as part of Extended London’s Bank Holiday Fest. Are there any major differences in performing in the London scene compared to others?
Castel:
It’s my first time in London; I’m sure I’ll find great energy and club culture.
Giovanni:
Yes, I think so. London has a unique energy, different from other cities. The crowd is musically very open-minded, but is also used to a highly structured clubbing scene with many different layers.
I’ve already had the chance to play in the city in very different settings — from Room 2 at Fabric, to E1, as well as spaces like Studio 9294 and 93 Feet East — and each one has its own distinct identity regarding both the crowd and how the music is experienced. Star Lane also fits into this dynamic, with its own personality.
There’s a strong dancefloor culture: people come for the music and the DJ set, which always creates situations that feel alive and never predictable.
Marco:
Yes, we’re playing at Star Lane, and we can’t wait!
It’s a venue with an incredibly raw soul that reflects exactly the energy we want to convey in this set. Compared to other European scenes, the main difference is that London allows—or rather, requires—you to dare. While in other cities, clubbing can sometimes be more tied to a minimalist aesthetic and a very linear and rigorous progression, the London dancefloor is a true blend of influences.
Here, the audience is so open-minded that it allows you to break the mould, moving from dry sounds to dirtier and more unpredictable influences without ever losing the groove. For us, performing in such a context means having the freedom to dare and experiment.
Have there been any unforgettable moments while performing in London? Is it somewhere you would like to keep coming back to?
Castel:
This will be my first performance in London.
Giovanni:
Yes, several moments have really stayed with me. Playing in London has always been special, especially because of the variety of contexts and people you meet.
Some nights have had a very strong energy, especially when you feel the crowd responding directly and without filters.
It’s definitely a city I would return to often, as it’s also one of my favourite cities.
This is one for you, Giovanni. Do you have a go-to location when visiting London?
Giovanni:
When I’m in London, I move quite freely between a few areas I already know and that have become part of my routine. I often pass through Soho and stop at Phonica Records, which is a must every time I’m in the city.
When I have time, I also like going to watch a Premier League match — I love English football!
In general, I try to experience London simply, without strict plans, but by returning to those places that have become reference points over time.
Where would you like to see yourselves performing in the future? Is there any place you aspire to book?
Castel:
One of the venues I would love to perform at is Fabric in London. I have been following Fabric’s programming and communications for many years, and I am absolutely in love.
Giovanni:
Definitely in context with a real club culture, where music leads everything, and the DJ set carries genuine weight within the night.
I’m interested in moving across different scenes, also outside of Italy, because every city has its own way of experiencing the dancefloor and its own history.
And yes, I’d love to play in the legendary Room 1 at Fabric.
Marco:
Looking to the future, my compass points to those places where sound culture and the listening experience are prioritised. Club-wise, my absolute point of reference is Offenbach's Robert Johnson: I consider it a true temple of minimalism, where the relationship between DJ, audience, and sound system is almost sacred. It's exactly the kind of intimacy and acoustic precision I seek for my music.
As for festivals, I'm fascinated by the infinite sonic journeys of Sunwaves in Romania and the magical atmosphere of Dimensions in Croatia, but I definitely aspire to stages like Dekmantel or Houghton. These are venues that have redefined the global quality standard: festivals where you don't simply go to 'play,' but to present an uncompromising musical vision in front of an incredibly attentive and knowledgeable audience.
It’s been great speaking with you all. To finish, is there anything exciting coming up that we should look out for from you?
Castel:
We have many projects in sight, we started our own label where in the first releases we had important guests such as Miroloja, Nu Zau, Leon, Jamarh, E.T.H., and the first edition of Aura Festival at the temples of Segesta with guests such as Francesco Del Garda, Traumer, Quest, Onu Ozer and many others.
Marco:
The pleasure was all ours, thank you for this chat. 2026 will be a year of great confirmations for us. Without giving away too many spoilers, we can tell you that a "hot" Sicilian summer awaits us, full of important events that we can't wait to reveal.
But the news we're most keen to share concerns our label, Sensazione Stupenda Records.
The next release will feature E.T.H (Italy) with an exceptional remix by Nu Zau: an artist we deeply respect and who perfectly embodies the attention to groove and sonic detail we want to promote.
In addition, we already have several dates scheduled around Europe that we will announce soon. Starting in London is the best way to kick off this new phase.
Written by Drew-Alexandra O’Keeffe
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