Orofino - Amsterdam w/ Dj Tennis Remix [Life and Death]

Sicilian musician Luigi Orofino presents his debut single "Amsterdam" for the Life and Death imprint. The track features regular collaborators of Erlend Øye, La Comitiva, and comes with a dancefloor-friendly remix from DJ Tennis.

"Amsterdam" may sound effortless, but the laidback groove and easy atmosphere Luigi has crafted is not something that can just be conjured out of thin air. It has taken several years of playing together for everyone involved to get the perfect blend of Brazilian rhythm and Mediterranean musicality. It’s a flavour they have mastered while touring with Erlend Øye as La Comitiva, and their touring schedule has become a lifestyle. When the travel ban was eventually lifted, Luigi headed straight to meet his friends in Amsterdam, and that freedom of travel once again inspired this track. That trip brought the colour back to life, and the result was this timeless slice of sun-drenched samba rock.

The track features plenty of collaborators, all operating under Luigi’s smooth guidance. Musicians from La Comitiva and I Calafatari united in the studio, also accompanied by Lucio Aquilina (NuGenea) and Luigi Scialdone (Fitness Forever), while the lyrics were written alongside Alberto Locatelli. A fresh piece of Brazilian-tinged funk and relaxed soul, "Amsterdam" is more than the sum of its parts: it’s the sound of friends playing together and simply enjoying life.

The single is rounded off with a remix from Life and Death boss Manfredi Romano, aka DJ Tennis, who beefs up the kicks while retaining the loose samba magic. The pair met in Mexico, and kindred spirits connected right away. After swapping versions between Siracusa and also a studio in Paris, the final version materialised, full of floating Rhodes chords and cavaquinho emotions that will light up any dancefloor.

It’s a testament to the stickiness of “Amsterdam” that so many of Luigi’s friends are involved – the track reflects in the people it brings together, and in this sense, it is as much about the art of encounters as it is about the city.