Influences: Cioz On Five Records That Shaped His Sound And Creative Journey
For Cioz, electronic music has always been about more than what happens inside the studio. From experimenting with synthesisers to discovering the creative freedom of Berlin, the Italian producer’s journey has been shaped by curiosity, collaboration and a willingness to follow ideas wherever they lead.
That philosophy sits at the heart of Raamo, the new label he has launched alongside fellow Italian Berliner Corpino. The pair first connected more than a decade ago through Knobs Bergamo, a project dedicated to bringing electronic music and live performance together. Now, after years spent developing their individual sounds, they are returning to that collaborative spirit with an imprint built around the human side of music-making.
Cioz inaugurates the label with ‘Amazed’, a three-track EP featuring two originals and a remix from Enamour. The title track combines ricocheting textures, warm bass and rising pads, while ‘Raamata’ explores deeper, more physical territory through swirling synths and Afro-house-infused percussion. Enamour rounds things off with a progressive-leaning reinterpretation of ‘Amazed’.
For this edition of Influences, Cioz shares five records that have left a lasting impression on him, from Daft Punk’s unmistakable synthesisers and Super Flu’s playful creativity to the soundtrack of his first experiences in Berlin.
Daft Punk – Da Funk
“The synth sound, iconic. I spent years trying to replicate that bite. There were no online tutorials back then. So this track made me imagine, inspired me to design my own sounds. Trial and error, trial and error... I learned so many ways to make bass sounds, but I still haven’t figured out how to make that one. Hehe! Thanks Daft Punk! Big inspiration!!”
HVOB – Always Like This (andhim Remix)
“I discovered SVT through this song. The sound design was insanely good. Andhim, from another planet. And it was 2013! Organic sounds, immersive... The music video: so cool. The vocal from HVOB was so memorable. It was a vibe. The delay sounds massage your brain. Super inspiration <3”
Super Flu – Oktavlachs
“This video (and, to be honest, all the early Super Flu videos) gave me lots of hope. I loved the DIY feeling and the genius behind it. They made me realise it’s not about the big budget, but about the main idea and the fun of doing it!
Working with them was a milestone and a dream. I learned so much from them, and they helped me take the first steps in the underground music world. Forever thankful <3”
Paul Kalkbrenner – Azure
“Well. This song and the Berlin Calling movie made me want to move to Berlin so badly. I remember the first time I visited Berlin, Bebetta invited me to make music together.
I remember riding the train to Berlin city centre, listening to this song and dreaming. A feeling of hunger, a feeling of ‘I’m in a movie right now’. Berlin has always been a dream, and it was becoming reality. Coming from a small city like Bergamo to a big one like Berlin felt like a big leap.”
Lynyrd Skynyrd – Free Bird
“9 minutes of song. It teaches you that you can do whatever you want with music: start slow, speed up, change key, tell a story... and what a song! It gave me so much energy during my adolescence. Transformative energy. This song could turn a bad day into a good one, blues into positive energy.
This is what I wanted to do with music as well: telling a story that transforms you.”
Cioz’s selections reveal an approach to music shaped as much by experiences and creative philosophy as by particular sounds. Daft Punk sparked his curiosity for synthesis, HVOB and andhim opened up new possibilities in sound design, and Super Flu demonstrated the value of imagination over production budgets. Meanwhile, Paul Kalkbrenner became part of his personal connection with Berlin, and Lynyrd Skynyrd showed him how music could tell a story and transform a listener’s mood.
Those ideas find a natural home in Raamo, where collaboration, experimentation and genuine human connection are central to the label’s identity. With ‘Amazed’ marking its first release, Cioz is bringing that philosophy into a new chapter of his career.
