Healthy Business

By Claudio “Sid” Brignole

AL August 24 - September 1997

Sano Business has been synonymous, until now, with Bassi Maestro and DJ Zeta

who, after their past experiences, a year ago decided to go their own way, setting up a business that immediately turned out to be very active, with clear ideas and with that ingenuity and promptness that characterize good businesses. On the occasion of their first vinyl release, after so many mixtapes, we took the opportunity to talk with Bassi in addition to the new record about how difficult it is to carry an organization like this on one's shoulders, verifying, again, whether there is a possibility of making a living doing only Hip Hop.

Tell me about Healthy Business? How long has it been in existence?

“It's a year now, we started last August, that's when we conceived, Zeta and I, the logo and the working method. The idea was that we had to carry on this mixtape stuff because we felt that it was not possible for us not to do it, so we set up our own thing, since it was time for them to get to know us. Starting from scratch is not the same as carrying on an established thing, but we got the results anyway.”

What were the goals you wanted to pursue from the beginning?

“When you start something new, you have to give yourself a certain image from the beginning and a working footprint that then remains unchanged over time. Already the choice of the name Sano Business is meant to mean that we raise money to make our stuff but we do it in a healthy way because what moves us is passion anyway. Then from the beginning we set out to make high quality productions, within the limits of our possibilities, which are those of self-production and not the recording studio.”.

One of the aspects that made you stand out right away was the fact that you focused on diversifying the mixtapes, not just making ones with the hits of the moment...

“Yes, we wanted to focus on projects that no one in Italy had done yet, for example to record a monographic tape like we did with B.I.G., or a tape with remixes of the songs.”

How did you arrange for the actual smazzo?

“We have done everything ourselves, selling both through mail order and in a few selected stores. Of course, we're talking about hundreds and not thousands of copies, as happens in such cases.”

Are you doing just that right now, or by necessity, do you also have to do other things to get by?

“This is a hobby that becomes a profession, but it can't support us; we can barely keep up with expenses.”.

You are also taking the policy of small steps--first the mixtapes, today the EP “Micragnous”...

“Yes, we bought a few machines and recorded it at home; this is a small satisfaction; getting something out of our house on vinyl.’.

So is the “Science Fortress,” which you have written on the record label, your home?

“The Science Fortress is the name my machinery has, which is in my house for now, but will soon have a more suitable location.”

The reference is to the Great Mazinga, mythical Japanese series of our childhood....

“Yes, I was already thinking of an alias with the name Kenzo Kabuto...”

The EP has four pieces, why did you decide on this “format”?

“The idea was born in America: Zeta and I had been in New York and Chicago for two weeks, and just when we were on our way to the second city we reasoned about what we had seen, which was a figure of independent productions by artists who come up with three to four strong pieces and get to sell like ten thousand copies. We thought that we could do something like that ourselves, without the need for there to be a nice cover, but focusing on good work that could go underground without any other pretensions.”.

So this was a choice, not a necessity?

“No, it was not a necessity; now I am producing my new record that I will record by August, and while recording it at my home, I hope to be able to push it beyond self-production, reaching higher.”

So finding a record label with which to go out bigger...

“Yes, while retaining the independence of being able to continue making our own productions, records like “the micragnoso,” every three months. There is demand in the market and then now others are doing it, and if you keep this tight market of about two thousand copies per record alive you could stay pretty much in it with expenses and earnings.”

Do you think there is a chance to keep this market alive in Italy?

“For now, yes, there are a lot of radio stations, a few people who are into it, some out of passion, some out of interest.’

What is the meaning of the title “Micragnous EP”?

“It is the translation of the term “micragnose” which means ‘ignorant’ and made with little means and little money, because that was the starting idea and that is how we worked.”.

You chose to press the record only on vinyl...

“It was a brave decision, for those who don't feel like using vinyl can record it on cassette and put the record in their collection.”

Healthy Business means that we raise money to do our stuff however we do it in a healthy way because anyway what moves us is passion

How did the choice of the recordʼs participants come about?

“As far as La Cricca Dei Balordi and Marya are concerned, they are two productions that will have a follow-up, the former with a demo coming out in August and Marya following. With Lyricals and Area Cronica I had already done stuff and I'm doing great because they are good and working with them is pleasant, we understand each other immediately and there is an understanding. As for Left Side, he is an mc's I had always wanted to do something with, as he is among my favorites in Italy, so I was pleased to work with him for his first solo product.”.

Then thereʼs your song “Te Te Ne Accorgerai” , after a while as a producer youʼre back in front of the microphone.

“The piece is just a play on writing style, the things I am writing now reflect, instead, my past year in which different things happened to me, pieces that you will hear on my next lp.”.

You didnʼt make the basis of “Youʼll Notice.”.

. “Yes, DJ Hakeem who with Brodo are the new affiliates of Sano Business made it, when I heard that base I went crazy and absolutely wanted to sing on it. We're going to do things with them in the future as well.”

So far have you had satisfaction with what you have done?

“Yes, although it is difficult to compare with larger entities in distribution and promotion.”

Despite the difficulties, do you think that the road of self-production is still worth pursuing?

“Yes, I will run it parallel to whatever stuff happens to me, even if I make money with a major.”

Since Marya and CDB are in the Ep, I thought Iʼd ask them a few questions as well, just to let you get to know them better in anticipation of their upcoming productions. Letʼs start with Marya whom I ask to tell me a little bit about how she is between two now well-known brothers, namely Esa and Tormento...

“Before knowing my name, many people know who my brothers are. I am very pleased, however, because the three of us have a very good relationship. I have always followed them and this area I also got to know thanks to them and since our rooms are adjacent to each other, by necessity I absorbed everything. The thing that bothers me is that they don't know my name, I'm just Esa's sister or Tormento's sister, and that makes me lose my identity a little bit.’

You are working on your own solo work, Bassi told me earlier....

“Yes, the idea came a little bit to see if I am able to materialize something, measure myself.’

So when will you be ready for the demo?

“I'm hoping for early fall; I like the idea of the demo because I find it right to take it one step at a time and come out, then, with a record being already at a good level, I don't want it to be able to say -good for being the first record-.”

And to conclude we also hear from one of the Balkans, Cush for the record....

“In Cricca dei Balordi there are three of us: me, Double T who is the DJ and producer and Rido, we come from Stresa, Lake Maggiore and our story is similar to many others. We started collaborating with Sano Business some time ago after we met at a jam.”.

Your demo is now out...

“Yes, there are nine tracks, seven of them produced by Double T, one produced by Fritz Da Cat and one remix by Bassi. We recorded everything at the famous Fortezza Delle Scienze.”.