The story behind "Lizard" by Mauro Picotto | Muzikxpress 191

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Mauro Picotto is an Italian DJ and producer who is active in the music scene since the 80s. He first started as a DJ, but later he also started making his own music under lots of different project names. He was involved with projects such as R.A.F., , C.R.W., Megavoices, Plus Staples, Lava, Megamind and many others.
Under his own name Mauro Picotto, he did releases such as “Komodo”, “Iguana”, “Pulsar”, “Proximus”, “Back To Cali” and many others.
For this week’s vlog I sat down with Mauro, to ask him about the story behind one of his biggest classics “Lizard”. But we also spoke about his brand new artist album "From The 80's Til Now" and more!
Enjoy and thanks for watching!
Also check out my interview with Mauro Picotto about "Komodo"; • The story behind "Komo...
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#mauropicotto #trance #techno

[@mauropicotto5825]

Thanks Twan and see u at Meganite in Ibiza on the 17th of August 2023 ✅🎧❤️

[@muzikxpress]

🔥🔥🔥

[@rudboels3205]

Have fun in Ibiza Twan 🙏🏼

[@ady2416]

Me too been sat up all night clenching my phone lol regardless of notifications enabled 😆

[@ady2416]

Unfortunately we can never go back and I've tried....... There's no future without the past This channel is the holy grail.

[@muzikxpress]

@@ady2416 thank you! More to come, spread the word 😉

[@jonpeley]

Mauro Picotto deserves a full series. Pure legend.

[@vittya4373]

I especially love his techno stuff with Riccardo Ferri. Tracks like Verdi, Sturm Und Drang, Baguette were important parts of my childhood 🙏

[@jonathanwelchbmnc7615]

In the late 90s and early 00s Mauro was king 🤴

[@rudibakker2102]

Komodo is one of the first tracks that made me fall in love with trance music. Somewhere in 2001 i was sitting in the backside of the car. My dad was driving and this song was playing on the Dutch radio. I instantly felt in love with it. I still remember that moment i was 8 or 9 years old.

[@DjDugiUK]

Legend doesn't do it justice. England loves you Mauro

[@MikeCorsten]

I could listen to Mauro all night long his musical knowledge is amazing and his passion is infectious. Definitely goes down as a legend in music. Thank you Mauro Picotto

[@throttlebot]

I could actually listen to his life stories for hours. What an absolute legend. Amazing tracks completely different to the other tracks around during the 1999 trance explosion. His techno crossover stuff in the early 00's was also amazing. New Time, New Place, Awesome and the outstandingly hard Baguette. Great interview with one of my favourite DJs/Producers.

[@igorbogdanoff4517]

Picotto’s re model in 2005 to the meganite sound was superb and totally surprised me. I didn’t think he could get any better. The Picotto / Ferri collaboration is pure magic

[@AdamRThomasMusic]

picotto one of the greatest ever and one of my biggest influences. he's still very much got it too

[@tuanbe]

I always forget this dude's name so I just sing the Pulsar lyrics. But what a legend. I visited the island of dragons a few years ago and guess what I was listening to while on the plane. Can't wait for the interview!

[@kodaloid]

I didn't realise R.A.F was Mauro, nor that he was a part of CRW, that makes him the producer of one of my favourite tracks of all time CRW - I Feel Love (R.A.F Zone Mix). Would love to see him talk about that one too. Great interview!

[@cjpeeton]

Mauro Picotto is the best . So many tracks i love from what he did .

[@MichaelBoogerd]

09:39 Bizarre Inc he says... as the inspiration for a track with a unexpected change of mood in the track.

[@gazamblegaming6610]

Bizzare Inc.- Playing with Knives

[@andreventer9231]

my all-time favorite song

[@siddharthsurte4316]

I discovered Mauro Picotto Lizard from Cosmic Gate album, - 20 Years [Forward Ever Backward Never] and Kaboom 😊 I fell in love with all the Classic Techno, Hard Trance and Electronic Music of Mauro Picotto. To be honest, I am hard die fan of Martin Garrix and Cosmic Gate, but after listening to Mauro Picotto thanks to KZbin contributors, I was able to listen to all Mauro Picotto Classics right from Bakerloo Symphony 1996 till date. Mauro Picotto is my favorite and also I am a die hard fan of his. My favorite Mauro Picotto songs are Komodo, then Lizard (Claxxix Mix), then Verdi Megamind Mix, then Iguana all versions and then Like this like that (a very funny song). Mauro Picotto Music is similar to banging night club Music and Techno Parades in the Europe in the late 90 before Millennium. I heard a sample of Techno Parades Banging music on Ssrf spiritual who say it is Tamasik Music, which is false 😂. I wish to thank them so that I could confirm the above Music style. A harsher version of Cosmic Gate - Your Mind and few samples are played on this website 😂. I really love this Music style. Also Kaweco German Fountain Pen Brand has created a fountain pen to tribute Mauro Picotto it seems 😂 as it released Kaweco Collection Iguana Fountain Pen. I have two pieces of them with Medium Nib. Link to view and buy this pen below - www.kaweco-pen.com/schreibgeraete/fuellhalter/877/kaweco-collection-fuellhalter-iguana-blue. Also Pilot has a Fountain Pen named Lizard Mr. Animal Collection Fountain Pen. Gonna buying it soon 😊. I wish some Brand release an item and name it as Komodo Dragon. 😊 Rohrer and Klingner has a ink named Verdigris which reminds me of my favorite song 🎵 - Verdi (Megamind Mix). Finally, I wish to say that Mauro Picotto is a TRUE GEM whose Music will be remembered for ever. I ❤️ Mauro Picotto Music.

[@bhaveshshah2604]

What a legend!

[@ady2416]

Best 30 minutes of my life used up nicely legend thanks to twan and Mauro.

[@muzikxpress]

Thanks so much!!

[@jn5433]

You was f’cking the girl of your dreams while listening to this interview?

[@MichaelBoogerd]

a hard trance legend back in the day... many a night lost in GodsKitchen with this guys tracks or himself playing... a true innovator.

[@Angelicax8]

Heart full ❤ Nothing like a nice guy behind the guy you admire on stage 🥲. I love how he was so clear about his change of priorities through the years! 😊

[@muzikxpress]

Hope you enjoyed the interview! And yes, he's super nice! Great guy!

[@laszlocseke7919]

I expected to talk a little bit about "Binary Finary - 1998", because for me, it seems the melody inspired by that track.

[@ady2416]

I just wrote this comment but it didn't publish so I write again lol R.A.F.... from way back in the day the CDs singles I would hunt down in my youth with a mix with these 3 letters stamped to it. I remember ordering we've got to live together from our price a week before it was due to be released fresh out of the cardboard box I can still remember the staff opening the box along with toxic two rave generator i got at the same time lol In 1994 the excellent just take me higher was released on media records in the UK here in the UK it was so hard to locate... found 1 copy in HMV shrink wrapped i had a smile on my face for the rest of the day 😀 Because I only had an earlier version on a CD compilation media sound of the future my girlfriend at the time bought me for my 23rd birthday for that track alone ..the CD single had a tweaked version I just belted out endlessly on my panasonic cobra boom Box.. I followed this guy since 1991 once I learned his name alias etc and collected all CDs I could find... having palpitations waiting for this interview 😆

[@ady2416]

Wow the words names and places you just mentioned in that reply !! Its like nostalgia in a bottle and I've just necked a pint of it !! All flooding back if i keep reading Comments like this I will have so many tears in my eyes I won't be able to watch the video ! I get all that you say i was the same every Monday down to HMV for the new releases his stuff was always on import only remember imports and white labels ? The back street record shops on holiday I used to dive into i want all this again !!!!😑 It's making me feel very strange one minute I'm dancing Around smoke filled clubs buying music reading the inlay of the records..the next is im Just dreaming it....putting paper to pen well keyboard to screen!! A lot not from that era will never Experience the sheer great time it was buying records from shops hands on ( no online business).....of our favourite artists flickeing through vinyl crate digging l feels so strange talking about it like it really is a time gone by ..... I'm so glad this guy does these interviews with artists we just love It means so much to fans well more than he probably knows..... Respect to him and his time !!!

[@DjDugiUK]

First saw Mauro at Golden Sankey Soap. Smashed the granny out of it. His 6 hour sets at Gatecrasher were also legendary. Top dj top bloke

[@Peter-or8oc]

Mauro my friend you are part of clubbing history I remember first hearing it at Wigan pier and the roof blew of the place , thank you my friend for making happy memories :-) :-)

[@mikimaravi6788]

Lizard , the super clássic 🔥💪🎹🎵 thanks Mauro 👏👏

[@mactube72]

Most Genuine and exciting interview in your series..growing up with this sound makes me a convert to Dance and Trance music. Absolutely amazing Mauro! And thanks Twan for bringing these insights into our favourite time of our lives.

[@muzikxpress]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@djvoid1]

Mauro had such a muscular sound at the time. Really led the way from the 90s to the 2000s hard trance sound more than anyone except for maybe Ferry and Scot project

[@SilverSai]

In what way did Ferry Corsten contribute to Hard Trance except for Eon - Pocket Damage?

[@sepeherfarzaneh9064]

What a legend and knowledgable person...and most of all seems to be a very nice guy!

[@muzikxpress]

Oh yeah he’s super nice! What a legend!

[@seiyaenergizer]

Picotto was a huge influence for me on trance and techno style on 2000's era. Thanks for this interview!

[@davidk4744]

Oh, great one. Stunning tunes back in the early 2000 played in the clubs. 🙏 Really interested in his opinion on the "let me show you lizard" bootleg.😊

[@stefanw7138]

Thank you. I’ve been listening to Mauro Picotto since early 90s. Just bout the new album.

[@Carl-vq6ww]

Omg Twan, star for this, This track is legendary, still a banger now.

[@bartomiejdolny7555]

Thanks Twan, great interview as always :) Thanks Mauro for all your music. Me too have great memories from 25 years back. Those were the days 😎

[@EDMclassics]

What a track!! One of those instantly recognizable tracks from when you first hear 'Gonna Get Ya' mixed in and then that stomping beat. The perfect blend of trance and the harder edge of Techno from the time in '98. And then that euphoric breakdown, OMG. It was like the Bohemian Rhapsody of the day. I only bought the 'Megavoices Mix' on vinyl a year ago. It's THE only track from the era that when I put a needle down on the record it actually brings a tear to my eye as it brings back strong memories of a bygone era of clubbing. Thank you Mauro for the wonderful memories 😊❤

[@rfish2]

Adam Beyer played this one at awakenings festival last week. Never heard it before, but still sounds so fresh!

[@Gigidag77]

Nice to hear confirmation of how "Komodo/ Save a Soul" came to be. I'm lucky to have found the original track with the Sweet Lullaby sample before he had to change it. played on a set by Mario Piú in italy. "Ocean Whispers" and "Angels' Symphony" (with Gigi D'Agostino) are probably my favorite of his earlier works.

[@afterhourpower]

Great interview, nice to hear about the origin of the vocal sample. Mauro Picotto seems like a great guy.

[@muzikxpress]

Thank you! And yes, I was curious were that sample came from, but he keeps it a secret haha

[@DjProducerTerrex]

Picotto one of my main Hero's ! He is so much more then Lizard Komodo and Iguana or Proximus. Pegasus superclub remix one of my favorite tracks that i stumbled up on true Dj Jean his madhouse dj mix cd ! BXR Sacrifice Underground Media Records ! Nukleuz noisemaker Nukleuz Benelux and Germany.. Much Love for Picotto and Crew !

[@JanMiedema88]

What a fun and kind guy. Komodo is still a banger that you can play on any party. Doesn't have to be trance-related at all. A wedding party or whatever, it's still a big stomper. Lizard is more for the trance heads I'd say. A great classic nonetheless! 🙂

[@stephenspencer9233]

Thank you twan and Mauro picotto, awesome interview. He made and remixed so many great tracks.

[@muzikxpress]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed the interview! :)

[@oscarguillermozunigazapata9627]

Que gran entrevista, se nota que a Mauro le encanta hablar de sus producciones. Siempre he sido su fan, en todas sus facetas, trance, techno, house, melódic, etc... Ojala algún día venga a México.

[@millso]

Amazing Twann ! Can't wait for this one.

[@furryrug5998]

Much love from Glasgow Scotland Mauro❤️ Lizard was an anthem here in Glasgow //The Arches

[@worldgrea]

Never been a real fan of these tracks like Lizard or Komodo. But his techy productions like Verdi or Baguette. Damn, those were the days! Good thing was, he used to play techy at his gigs.The Verdi mix of Pulsar, when i heard it live the first time; unforgettable \o/

[@marcel1463]

What a great song, what a great interview! Thank you again Muzikxpress.

[@PrettyBlueThings]

Fantastic interview, Thank you! Mauro is a legend ❤

[@muzikxpress]

Thank you! And yes he is!

[@djdarroo]

Komodo , lizard , like this like that ✈️🫡🫡🫡🫡

[@muzikxpress]

🔥

[@l.borges6547]

Great interview mate! Mauro Picotto is a legend.

[@muzikxpress]

Thank you! And yes he is!

[@noelnasty]

what a legend

[@ReeltoRealDemoTapes]

He loves to talk and has been right there from the beginning, little prompting from you Twan…unheard of!

[@iaindouglasmcwilliam8684]

RAF...The soundtrack of many very youthful memories. Megamind - Taub = Un Monstruo! Great that he mentioned Digital Boy. Okay, alright will be forever take me back to a time. Early Capella and Italo disco also. I was too young (born 77) but was blessed to have friends (my friends) who were several yrs older, so i always got the best there was. Its okay though as we would have a boodie box and a football...great times. We were all learning our trade too as amateur dj's. Thanks Muzik Express and P.I.C.O.T.T.O OH DJ, DJ!

[@greyloop]

Another great interview Twan. Mauro is such an inspiring person, has so much interesting stories to tell. Grazie Maestro!

[@muzikxpress]

Thank you so much!

[@EdgyNumber1]

M.A.U.R.O.P.I.C.O.T.T.O.D.J.D.J!!! Gonna get ya!!!

[@sequenza]

Legends!

[@743degrees]

I remember hearing Lizard (Megavoices Mix) back in the summer of '99 and there was nothing else around that was quite as raw and edgy sounding. It was from that point onwards that I sought to purchase any Picotto release or remix as I knew it'd be a winner. I was never disappointed 😌 Thank you Twan for another insightful interview 👍

[@retrodj78]

Lizard, Komodo, Like This Like That were the soundtrack to my early 20s. Great interview.

[@electronomist]

What a great guy to interview... legend.. used to love his sets live. Very engaging and seems a fun easy guy to interview. Very enthusiastic and informative... love this one Twan

[@muzikxpress]

Thanks is much! Glad you enjoyed the interview with Mauro! Loved talking to him!

[@pdawson06]

Great interview, Twan. Mauro is a really top bloke!

[@muzikxpress]

Thanks so much!

[@TonyOldskool]

Guys a legend, loved seeing him play at Insideout at the Arches in Glasgow

[@mrfleamino9350]

thank you ,another Italian Superstar

[@francescotanzcocco]

Grande Mauro Picotto ❤❤❤❤❤..... Insieme a Mario Più e Gigi avete fatto la storia..... ❤❤❤❤❤

[@enzoeltrago2362]

Techno legend and Italian pride

[@KeirMurphy]

Brilliant, thank you Twan! I thought it was interesting his view on nostalgia. Trance etc used to be a future sound yet many in the scene are backwards looking these days. Mauro has really gone through some musical style changes - from the mid 90s work, to the tech-trance/techno around 2002-2004 ish, to more mainstream EDM/Housey sounds today.

[@muzikxpress]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the interview with Mauro!

[@johnderwin2119]

Temple theatre in Dublin back in the day Mauro was like a God in that club good times

[@PAZPERDEE]

Thanks Twan, I never knew Maura was RAF!!

[@Cykelpump33]

R.A.F - Ocean Whispers (Dreamhouse Mix) is his greatest composition in my book.

[@frank_mm]

Great again !! Mauro king at beginning of 2000’s

[@siddharthsurte4316]

Buying Pilot Metropolitan Lizard Mr. Animal Collection Fountain Pen is like I say Gonna get ya Lizard. ❤️ Mauro Picotto

[@rfish2]

Thanx for asking about the equipment!! Ask him next time how he made that lead in the break! He forgot to tell that haha

[@aaronrennz]

Thanks Twan amazing video. Mauro is a true legend and created such a unique sound. Love the story behind the ‘womp’ bass line. Will be searching eBay later for a second hand bass station ❤

[@muzikxpress]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the interview!

[@sascha_van_der_blondhorst]

I'm so sorry for not being able to be there yesterday when the premiere started cuz I was looking forward to this interview...Well, I'm watching it right now.) Anyway my "👍" is already there. ✊😉 Mauro's "Lizard" still remains a pure gem and one of my favorite techno-trance classics of all times for me! The lead melody still blows my mind whenever and wherever I hear it - it's so simple and so genius at the same time, while that reversed bass in the beginning just makes your feet start to dance🕺💃 no matter if you want it or not. 😄 Mauro definitely knows how to ignite and rock the crowd.🔥 I think many would agree with me if I say that his old productions like "Lizard", "Iguana", "Komodo", "Proximus", "Like this like that", "Pulsar", "Back to Cali" and others still beat the most of nowadays music. And yeah, as a linguist, I can't help but notice Mauro's typical but nevertheless so beautiful Italian accent (which I really love about all Italian people as it's not a bug but a feature!😁) - I could listen him speaking forever!🤗 Twan, you never disappoint! Good job! Keep it coming, Man!😎 UPD: Comparing the 3 "reptilian" tracks with a good girl changing her dresses is TOP!💥💥💥😂👏👏👏

[@bartomiejdolny7555]

New time new place is another epic track from Mauro / R. Ferri

[@muzikxpress]

I love that track!

[@angelizadracon]

😝😀great fun, great energy!

[@Luca_Gravel]

Grande Mauro! sono del Meganite Forum, ho ancora la foto al Cocoricò, che serata!! LA tua produzione migliore è Planet

[@TomikBrdy]

Lava - autumn is imho his best track. Also megamind remixes are great

[@DJHazzaBeats]

Amazing interview. Enjoyed watching this 😃

[@muzikxpress]

Thank you very much!

[@DJHazzaBeats]

@@muzikxpress You’re more than welcome

[@hockleyrebelDJ]

Hey Mauro loved watching you at meganite ibiza early 00s that speedboat at mamboes. Remixing Lizard my fav Mauro track WDP Project Vs The Lizard Man .. hope you approve and luv to play at meganite ibiza even loos in priviledge ✌🏿 ciao

[@tunnis7us]

great interview from the wobble bass legend :D

[@muzikxpress]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Daniel_de_lux]

So interesting! As always twan. Old school trance sound its getting back! Even the big names are coming back to 99s sound. by the way LUMINOSITY BEACH FESTIVAL its ready ! Cheers 🍻

[@NathanPatton]

Would be funny if you had had him drink tea during the interview 😉 Thanks for another great interview Twan!

[@muzikxpress]

Haha good one! And thank you, glad you enjoyed it!

[@OffTheShelfDJ]

This interview is like the Daft Punk Giorgio Moroder track but with Trance

[@johnblade6684]

Picotto's style is unique. He's definitely one of the best dj/producer on the planet. My top 3 tracks are cyberfood, taub, like this like that.

[@Grimehouse]

Love this one. Should have held him hostage in that hotel room until he gave 30 interviews

[@muzikxpress]

Haha I hope to do more interviews with him in the future. After almost 6 years of Muzikxpress we finally made these 2 happen, so sometimes it takes a bit longer, not always that easy when certain producers / DJs aren't in my area that much ;-) But hey, good work needs time hehe

[@HexxuSz]

these are gold

[@muzikxpress]

Thank you! More to come soon!

[@edgarkleijne9155]

LEGEND!!

[@td1487]

Great interview. Thanks for letting Mauro just flow. It was really interesting to understand his mindset and not just the tracks. Sounds like your audio setup is much better now with (sounds like) your voice being from the actual interview. Great stuff! I will check out his new album now. 😎

[@muzikxpress]

Thank you! And glad you noticed, invested in some better material and found a better way to improve the audio quality.

[@1970boggy]

He's a very cool guy

[@DJThijzzzz]

What a legend!! Thanks Twan:)

[@muzikxpress]

Any time, glad you enjoyed it!

[@dominictran8495]

9:30 I think Mauro was talking about Bizarre Inc, notreally sure which track, but my guess is "such a feeling"

[@muzikxpress]

Yeah I didn’t get it at the time of the interview, but someone else also pointed out he meant Bizarre Inc (maybe “Playing With Knives”).

[@alexwright7535]

So interesting to hear where the idea and vocal came from for Lizard. Great interview Twan!

[@muzikxpress]

Thanks so much Alex!

[@TheHorseValse]

Nice one! 🙂👍

[@MrJef06]

This interview strongly reminds me of the intro of Daft Punk's "Giorgio by Moroder" 😉

[@muzikxpress]

Is that a good or bad thing? 🙈

[@MrJef06]

@@muzikxpressa good thing I would say 🙂

[@BATCHFNECOSSE]

BXR all these picotto track's bang man...

[@muzikxpress]

So good right???

[@BATCHFNECOSSE]

@@muzikxpress oh yeah, i have the version of lizard on virgin records and it's different from any other one, it bangs for 12mins tall Paul remix on the b side too

[@prestigious5s23]

One of the better interviews unhril he said no pineapple on pizza.... I Love pineapple on pizza

[@muzikxpress]

😂

[@trancextend]

This man is a legend and no producer can ever reach his status. He started what others did not. Techno exists because of this guy.

[@Del-Blanco-Diablo]

i'm sure i met him in glasgow at inside out or maybe it was freefall. cant remember if it was a friday or saturday...

[@mikeypafu]

I love his music and I was clubbing to the sound of those tracks growing up. but it will be an understatement to say that he was taking inspiration of the melodies of faithless's god is a dj in his track pulsar and Binary Finary's 1998 in Lizard - that was a bit bugging

[@mrfleamino9350]

Thank you Twan ,please next with Molella

[@muzikxpress]

I can only do interviews with people who live nearby me (south of The Netherlands) or with people that visit The Netherlands for gigs or so. I have never seen Molella on a line up in The Netherlands, so I doubt this will ever happen....I would love to interview him but I don't have a travel budget for these interviews, sorry!

[@mrfleamino9350]

@@muzikxpress oo i understand ok thank you 🙏 for answering me appreciate that so i will try to bring Molella here in Amsterdam than , since i m Italian living in Amsterdam ✋

[@sergeyklimenkov]

So, did he named a synth he used for detuned saws?

[@moonmixes7535]

I started my journey with electronic music (more or less) after seeing set of Mauro from Mayday Dortmund 2000. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZy6k52CdqaXpdU In my opinion it was gold era of techno music and that set just blown me away. Even today I have goose bumps watching it. It was this atmosphere you can't get anywhere else. One year later I was at mayday Poland 2006 and since then electronic music was always present in my live. Thanks Mauro :)