Bassrush

Meet Franko Moliterno, aka Turno, a UK-based producer making waves in the rough waters of dancefloor-oriented drum & bass. Evolving his sound from what was once considered underground jump-up to a more broad and encompassing vibe, Turno has earned himself a position as innovator for the next generation of drum & bass artists.

Highlighted with several key outings on labels like Playaz, Low Down Deep and Serial Killaz, Turno cements his legacy in the form of his Vision EP for Mampi Swift’s legendary Charge Recordings, out now.

Already dominating the charts on Beatport since its release, the EP has secured the number one position for over a week on the drum & bass charts as a favorite among fans. With a sound that continues to decimate dancefloors worldwide, we thought it was high time to lock down the in-demand DJ/producer between dates on his non-stop international performance schedule.

Beyond his success on the decks, Turno cites his analytical approach and love of the music for taking him on some interesting journeys, including the start of his aptly titled Time is Now production workshop, where he tutors and mentors aspiring producers from around the world.

“Producing is a lot like problem-solving,” Franko shares with Bassrush, an attitude that’s sure to offer up some surprises as well as inspiring insights for those looking to follow in his footsteps and dedicate themselves to refining their own studio sound.

How has 2017 been treating you so far?
In general things are the best they’ve ever been right now; I love life. My Visions EP secured the #1 position on a number of charts. I’m well humbled by the support.

Congratulations are definitely in order! How did you get linked up with Mampi anyways?
Charge Recordings is a massive label, especially for me growing up. Him and Andy C were the dons back in the day, and to have a release on Charge—it’s massive! I didn’t go into the track trying to create it for Charge at first though, it just happened. After finishing the track I realized I needed to hit up Mampi, out of respect to see what his thoughts were, and he really liked it. Thankfully, Charge gave me the freedom to do a more mature Turno.

How long have you been producing?
Longer than I want to admit! I’ve been producing for over five years and DJing for over 10.

Did you go to school formally for the recording arts?
I wanted to do art to be honest with you, but the only thing left was music tech, so that’s how I initiated my love for it. I went to college to get a diploma and after that I thought, “Yeah, let me go to university and get a degree in it.” Education was definitely a big part of getting my mindset ready for the business because like I said, I’ve never gone into this like, “Yeah, I’ll just do this for fun.” I’ve had a plan from day one and it’s important to manifest that plan; to have some kind of map you can follow. Otherwise you’re just kind of shooting in the dust.

 

I've had a plan from day one and it’s important to manifest that plan; to have some kind of map you can follow.

What is your go-to DAW?
I’m using Logic X. I’ve been using Logic since I started and I’ve never put it down since. That’s definitely my weapon of choice.

Headphones or monitors?
I’m one of those guys that never liked working in headphones. Even at my mums I had my first monitors—a set of Behringer Truths. I like to feel the speaker; it’s the way I’ve always done it.

What plugins do you like for monitoring?
The multi-meter in Logic is essential. It’s like a spectrum analyzer but you can also see the stereo signal and RMS. It helps you gauge how loud your tune needs to be. Another thing I usually like is the Ozone 7. For that final boost, you can really get Ozone 7 to help your tune sound like a finished product. I also use Fab Filter Pro Q 2, which is a really good and transparent EQ. The Slate Digital stuff is also great. It’s emulations of old hardware EQs and compressors and they really add a lot of character. Sometimes I put those on the master or on separate channels.

What about synths?
I love Kontakt because you can twist things around, [along with all] the libraries with all these great sounds. Although it’s a sampler, it’s one of my biggest weapons in the lab. In fact, anything from Native Instruments is! I’ve got the latest version of Komplete and the sound quality is amazing. I like to keep myself entertained by coming up with new techniques because I get bored quite easily. I love taking a sound and transforming it completely by using another plug in.

Biggest weakness in the studio?
I’ve been so busy; I wish I had more time to make music, as I’m working on an album currently.

So there’s an album?
Yes, I’ve got a forthcoming album on Low Down Deep. I thought it was only right to put it out with Logan. Low Down Deep have always represented that jump-up sound, and the quality control is just amazing. From then onwards I’m going to be focusing on my Time Is Now record label.

Do you consider yourself a jump-up or drum & bass artist?
I wouldn’t say drum & bass artist; I’d say I am a producer. I don’t just do drum & bass.