Ranger Trucco welcomes his first guest artist to ‘range.’ to open the label’s 2024 schedule as up-and-coming Belgian Lunoize delivers his two-track ‘Mint Tea’ EP.
A name undoubtedly backing up the early promise, having emerged as one of the scene’s hottest rising names, West Coast DJ/producer and label boss Ranger Trucco looks set for an extremely busy 2024 after clocking up his most active 12 months. Alongside music via Archie Hamilton’s MicroHertz and appearances from Club Space to Splash House, his’ range.’ imprint has become a central hub to showcase his growing sound, housing six seasonal offerings since its launch in the spring of ’22 while becoming one of the hottest new labels on the circuit - exemplified via its position within Beatport’s Top 10 selling Minimal/Deep Tech labels of 2023. Opening the New Year in late January brings a new chapter of the project’s evolution as Trucco welcomes external artists for the first time, with Belgian talent Lunoize landing to kick things off via his ‘Mint Tea’ EP.
MIX
Tracklist:
1) Julien Fuentes - Wake De Man (JF Dress It Mix)Â
2) Jentzen - YuspaÂ
3) Kevin Over - VirginiaÂ
4) Lunoize - Mint TeaÂ
5) Ryan Crosson - D!!!Â
6) Lunoize - Count DraculaÂ
7) DJ Sneak, Demuir - Music’s UndergroundÂ
8) Jay Shepheard - BullfroggingÂ
 9) Lunoize - SaxomophoneÂ
10) Lunoize - PartytimeÂ
11) Kevin Saunderson, KiNK - Idyllic
INTERVIEW
Thanks for joining us today. Where are you writing to us from, and what have you been up to over the last few weeks?
I’m writing from Ghent, my hometown in Belgium! I have been working a lot: my job as a video artist brings me a lot of joy, and in my spare time, I make music. A creative life is a fulfilling life for me! Next to that, I’m training my new puppy to be a good dog ;)
Tell us about your journey into music and what led you to this point.
Music has always been a very important factor for me. I started music in school when I was 10, playing saxophone and drums. I always had a drive to express myself, push my limits and show the world what I’ve got. From the age of 17, I got into electronic music and started DJ’ing local events. I attended my first proper rave at 20 years old (pretty late) and fell in love with house music. Ten years later, I am still in love, and I try to incorporate elements & feelings that resonated with the countless hours I spent listening & dancing to on the dance floors worldwide.Â
How do you effectively promote yourself as an artist?
I’m trying to use my abilities as a videographer to make reels that promote my music. Next to that, talking to artists & sending out my music in the hopes they will play it out. It is still one of the best promotion tools to have a big artist playing your tracks live, and it’s one of the best compliments you can receive. Bonus points if you’re on the dance floor, experiencing the buzz from hearing your own tracks! One of the best moments for me was hearing PAWSA playing out my release on Solid Grooves at Amsterdam Dance Event.Â
Tell us about your latest release.
My latest release is the Mint Tea EP, which is out on range. I have been talking to label owner Ranger Trucco for quite a while, and he has been playing & testing out my tracks at almost every gig. It’s been a real pleasure to put out my music on a label with such excellent communication and professionalism. I’m the first external artist on the label, so it’s an honour! Mint Tea has Arabic influences, which is a ‘risk’ because there’s not a lot of Tech House music out there that incorporates these elements. I’m happy it’s well received!Â
What has the feedback been like from your latest release?
I’m still receiving a lot of positive comments on my Instagram DM’s, saying they love the EP. Getting messages like this gives me a lot of joy & drive to continue this journey as a music producer. The countless hours in the studio are reaping their benefits.
How do you take care of your mental health?
For my mental health, I tend to take regular breaks with social media. Before the release date, I deleted the apps for two weeks because I tend to compare myself with other artists a lot. It’s a struggle many producers face these days. Alongside that, I read books, take cold showers, and go to the gym about four days per week. This is what works for me. I am a classic overthinker, so these things keep me out of my head.
Talk us through your creative process.
My creative process is showing up daily. I don’t really believe that inspiration strikes out of nowhere. Inspiration comes from showing up daily! Some days, it takes me a whole day to come up with an idea. On other days, it only takes 2 hours to make a whole track. And these tracks are, 90% of the time, my best. It’s crazy how it works.
What advice do you have for other artists?
My advice for other artists is: always stay true to yourself. Don’t force, and take your time! Going to events and talking to other artists helped me a lot in my career. Organise your own event, invite artists, and pick them up from the airport, which gives you an hour to pick their brains and get to know them. With a bit of luck, you’ll stay in their memories, which can help you land an EP if they have a label.
What is your biggest goal this year, and how close are you to achieving it?
My biggest goal this year is to produce at least 1 track per week. I used to set goals like putting out an EP on ‘label X’ or playing at ‘club X’. But these kinds of goals have other external factors you can’t control, and I ended up being frustrated. Setting a goal that you actually can control really helps you further in your career & mindset.
Lastly, what can we expect from you in the future?
I have two EPs in the works. One will be released in March on NEED and another on Ray Okpara’s label. And for the rest, this will remain a mystery for me as well! Exciting, isn’t it?
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