Curses on Carving Out a Sound, Surviving Hype, and Finding Freedom in Berlin
- Filip
- May 19
- 3 min read
What happens after the “I made it” moment? According to Luca Venezia — aka Curses — that’s when the real work starts. The New York-born, Berlin-based artist opens up about creative longevity, making peace with your voice, and why Berlin is the perfect place to forget everything and start again.
Known for his haunting blend of post-punk, EBM, and new wave-infused techno, Curses is more than just a DJ — he’s a producer, label founder, and someone who’s spent over two decades building and rebuilding himself through sound. In this episode of Playful Podcast, Luca reflects on the journey from NYC to Berlin, and how finding his authentic voice as an artist meant letting go of trends, expectations — and even the idea of “making it.”
“I had this moment where I was like, oh wow, I’m finally here… but then you realize, that moment doesn’t last. The hype fades. What stays is the reason you started making music in the first place.”
From Early Hype to Lasting Impact
Before Curses was Curses, Luca was deep in the New York music scene — where co-signs and blog buzz often meant everything. He remembers the pressure of the early bloghaus era, and how fleeting those highs could be.
“There was a point when I had a track that blew up… and I really thought, ‘This is it, I’ve made it.’ But honestly, those peaks are illusions. The artists who survive are the ones who evolve.”
Now, with years of DJing around the world and running his label Ombra INTL, he’s focused less on breaking through and more on staying honest — even when that means going against the grain.
Why Berlin Feels Like a Creative Reset Button
For Luca, Berlin isn’t just a party city — it’s a place where creative reinvention is expected. Unlike other scenes that pressure artists to stick to one niche or brand identity, Berlin encourages experimentation.
“There’s this freedom here to fail, to try new things without pressure. You can DJ one night, produce something totally different the next, and nobody flinches.”
That openness gave him permission to reconnect with his darker influences — like Bauhaus, Depeche Mode, and early Italo — and weave them into his techno sets and productions. The result is a sound that’s as cinematic as it is club-ready.
Finding Your Own Sound in a Saturated World
When asked how to stay true to your sound in a scene that’s constantly shifting, Curses is clear: ignore the noise, tune into your instincts.
“Don’t force yourself to sound like what’s hot. That energy comes through. People can feel when it’s not real. You’ll always connect more deeply when it’s honest.”
He encourages artists to think less about audience expectation and more about emotional expression — to make music that feels like them.
What’s Next for Curses?
Beyond DJing and running his label, Luca is focused on collaboration and mentorship. He wants Ombra INTL to be a space where emerging artists feel supported to be weird, political, personal — whatever their version of real is.
And he’s not done evolving. Whether through his live shows, new releases, or unexpected creative pivots, one thing is clear: Curses is an artist who isn’t afraid to disappear and re-emerge as something new — again and again.
“Authenticity isn’t something you find once and keep forever. It’s something you return to — like a muscle you have to keep using, or it fades.”
