Club The Future is a series of conversations with various crews, ranging from emerging talents to those with a long-standing presence in the clubbing world.  Each week, we explore the ever-changing landscape of nightlife, shining a light on the creativity and innovation that continue to shape the clubbing scene.

Before listening to them today Friday Oct. 11th at BASE Milano for WE/US: Chullu X FAROUT, and while waiting for their next party at Fucine Vulcano on Oct 19th, we sat down with BALLEREMO, the project created by Ludovica and Matteo and joined by Simone, Ortensio, Luca and Giordano in the last 2 years. As the collective say: ‘Our aesthetic and cultural dimensions blend elements from dub, post-dub, bass music, and the vibrant sounds of African, Central, and South American scenes.’
In a world where music is ever-evolving, BALLEREMO stands out for its ability to blend diverse influences and create something truly special.

Where does the name come from? What does 0414 mean?

The name comes from a WhatsApp conversation on January 1st, 2021. We were stuck at home because of Covid, and I texted Matteo, “I want to dance.” At 4:14 AM, he replied, “We will dance.” [BALLEREMO in Italian]

Considering the dramatic moment we were living, that message felt like a promise, more powerful than just saying, “I care about you.” I thought about turning it into a poster and hanging it in my house.
From that moment on, anyone who passed by would take a photo of it.

The words around “Balleremo 04:14” are from the track “All Under One Roof Raving” by Jamie XX, which is an anthem and homage to the 90s UK rave culture.

The alternating recorded voices in the track capture the core values of that scene during that specific time: “We don’t need anybody, we are independent” is one of my favorite lines, so I made sure to include it in the poster too.

In an increasingly digital world, how do you think the clubbing experience can keep its authenticity and human connection?

It’s a tough question with no easy answer. We have to accept that it’s 2024, and whether we like it or not, the digital world is a part of our daily lives.

For instance, banning phones in clubs might seem like a solution, but it’s not sustainable and doesn’t fit our culture. That’s something we’ll leave to Berlin for reasons we all know.

Instead, it would be great to help people understand why using digital devices in that context can be harmful—not just to others, but also to themselves.

The message can’t simply be “Live in the moment.” It has to be explained in a way that makes sense. We also have to consider people who are experiencing clubbing for the first time and don’t have that reference point.

At the same time, we should accept that for some people, “living in the moment” might actually include using their phone.

People go clubbing for all sorts of reasons: they love the music, they’re curious about the artist, they don’t want to stay home, or maybe they’ve had a rough day and just want to disconnect. (Those are just a few examples.)

The real solution, especially from organizers, isn’t to ban phones but to encourage more mindful use of them. And why not, maybe educate people that capturing a moment should be about reliving that feeling later on, without violating anyone’s privacy.

To maintain authenticity and human connection, hopefully, we’ll head in a direction where digital tech supports the memory of the moment instead of being the core of the experience.

What we’re trying to do with Balleremo is show people how incredible it feels to hear an artist play on a sound system, surrounded by friends and strangers, and let them naturally forget they even have a phone in their pocket.

What cultural and musical influences do you consider essential for creating a new narrative in contemporary clubbing?

Understanding history and why we play what we play today is crucial. It’s more than just a DJ in a room full of people. What’s also crucial is the respect for all the sounds that were born and evolved in different places, far from our own experiences.

Playing dub just because it’s trendy is wrong and disrespectful. Same goes for any genre. Not doing your research or not thinking about the message behind what you’re playing can be a slap in the face to those who live and breathe it every day.

All cultural and musical influences are vital for building contemporary clubbing, but only if they’re deeply understood and honored.
Of course, there’s different types of clubbing. Some aim for quantity, others for quality.

In our opinion, quality is what brings long-term success and allows you to build something that lasts. Without wanting to sound pretentious, this is what Balleremo is aiming for.
I’m not a big fan of the word “narrative” because it sounds like we’re telling a story or fairy tale.

People who organize certain types of events shouldn’t be telling stories; they should be showing the community that there’s more out there than what they already know. The ultimate goal is to include those who are ready to embrace the new and the unknown.

How can clubbing promote social well-being and community, beyond just being a place of entertainment?

People will realize it’s not just about entertainment when we start giving more space to individuals and care more about building real connections. It’s no coincidence that more people are getting into clubbing now, even though it’s always been around.

We’re in a post-Covid world where human interaction was denied for months, and we’re still slowly recovering. Our habits and priorities have changed. Before, we led very work-focused lives; now, we’re more distanced from that.

We live in a disillusioned and extremely individualistic society, and we’ve lost the ability to feel part of something in the real world, while trying to be “champions” on social media.
Clubbing, on the other hand, allows you to create real and lasting relationships. I’d say it’s the art of letting go.

Over the years, we’ve had the chance to talk to many people during our events (and not just ours), and some have told us, “I hope I never run into my coworkers here.” If you think about it, it’s weird, like they’re doing something forbidden that might affect how they’re seen.

But then, they ended up meeting outside the work environment, and they realized they had similar stories, personalities, and found a space to connect more in those 4 hours at the club than in 365 days at the office.

In simple terms, clubbing should be the real flagbearer of social well-being because it allows anyone to never feel alone and always feel safe.

What changes or trends do you hope to see in clubbing in the next ten years, and how do you plan to contribute to this evolution?

We hope to see more people passionate about club culture, and more generally, about music culture in all its forms and history. We want people to dive deep, do their research, and appreciate the art of DJing—the mental and sometimes even physical effort that goes into preparing hours of sets.

As collectives and organizers, we have a moral obligation to preserve but also innovate a culture that has grown over the years—not because of us, but thanks to others. So yes, let’s get inspired by as many cultures as possible, and even bring them back to life, but without violating the core values of this movement. We need to take care of it.

We hope people will become more aware that the DJ booth is for those playing, and the dancefloor is for everyone else. Mixing two tracks and putting up an Instagram video doesn’t make you an artist.
What we hope for the most is that the right recognition and support come in for those running projects in this space, to make it easier for all of us to keep pushing forward.