In Solidsteel we believe in music and all its expressions, we “serve It” as we used to say and we support beautiful initiatives to stand up the culture, sure that music can rise up in every context and can win every challenge.
We are in continuous learning and in continuous improving of our knowledge, we love meeting new genres, new people, new movements and beliefs.
We are also a Company that produces music equipments. We make Hi-fi Racks and Speaker Stands for the High-End AV segment and Pro Audio accessories.
We are Italian and we believe in our Made in Italy excellence pervaded of beauty in every fields. “Essere italiani” means a true will of discovery and exploration, a spreading of passion of what we love.
Marco Fullone, is a very unique character, a man of profound music culture, a Music Designer, a DJ and a strong audiophile lover. We found ourselves through our common obsession: the love for music and its turning in our jobs.
This is the reason we chose Marco Fullone as the perfect figure to be Solidsteel Brand Ambassador.
INTERVIEW
Marco, it’s been a few years now since we met for the first time, right?
Yes, it was in Rome. We met at Audiogamma Stereo Days in the beautiful Auditorium “Parco della Musica” designed by Renzo Piano.
Right, we immediately shared our passion for music. You were playing some special records to test an amazing audio system there, we remember that fantastic selection… But you already knew about us…
Exactly, I am a proud owner of some classic Solidsteel pieces in my spaces around Italy.
You are a historical fan … tell us something about your life. You are a well known personality in the music business, you are a music designer and a DJ, you work for Radio Monte Carlo, one of the most popular radio stations in Italy and Europe, and you had the possibility of having amazing experiences in the industry.
I feel lucky, because I made a career following my greatest passion: music.
Everything started with it, obviously… Since I was a young kid I used to spend a lot of time in record shops in Rome, (now he lives in Milan) spending lot of money in buying music as the most of young people at that time. During the years I had the opportunity to follow my passion and to transform it in a job and in a professional career. During the 80’s I worked as editor for many music magazines as Rockstar, Audio Review and many more. It was a natural consequence to land in Radio to follow the path, until now, in Radio Monte Carlo, in which I have the privilege to work…
I grew up with my job, now it’s a little bit strange to answer questions… I am the one that usually makes interviews…
Living the Radio every day, where do you find inspiration for your music selections?
I listen to a lot of new music, I’m always looking for something new, different, original, fascinating. Aside from the news service that I receive as a Radio Monte Carlo programmer from many labels around the world, I constantly search on Spotify, Qobuz, and on many sites for DJs.
What was your greatest professional satisfaction to date?
Surely, in the radio world, my greatest satisfaction is being able everyday to choose the music on air for the “Monte Carlo Nights” program on Radio Monte Carlo.
As a DJ I would say the invitation to play in Los Angeles in 2017 with Steve Aoki for a special event dedicated to Michael Jackson. I was there for the official presentation of the 3D “Thriller” video.
When did you fall in love with the Audiophile world?
Well, for those of my generation was really easy to embrace the passion for music. You know, in the 70’s and 80’s decades there was an incredible music scene. For me there were the most beautiful productions of all times, so it was absolutely normal to purchase music and to get involved into. The Hi-Fi market was very strong at that time, it was like a pioneer period in which people began to discover that world. Music was usually listened at home, with proper stereo equipments. I had some friends, very involved in audiophile, so it was a natural consequence to rise this passion, like many others of that generation. My family gave me my first Stereo system as gift for 18th birthday and from that moment on it has been a continuous climb, deciding to invest more and more…
What would you recommend to a neophyte? An analog or a digital audio system?
I think it’s very important that people have to compare the different formats because the experience is the same but what you receive from the equipment is different if you listen the same album on a vinyl record, a CD or through a streaming platform.
For me, a turntable is the most fascinating place of a stereo equipment, it reminds me when I was a kid and when I listen music on vinyl I perceive a particular feeling, a warmer vibe…
Anyway every format has its qualities, I remember when the CD was released for the first time in 1982, everyone remained shocked. No noise in the music, a perfect clean sound that evolved also through the years. Digital music and streaming platforms, like Spotify for example, are the same, it’s practical and easy to get access at huge music libraries and discover new artists. And today there are also high quality services dedicated to the audiophile passionates, like Tidal and Qobuz.
(Don’t forget to listen the amazing Spotify playlist, selected by Marco Fullone for Solidsteel)
Tell us something about your current Hi-Fi systems and your Solidsteel racks and speaker stands. We can say you know our products very well since you have the complete range, right?
Exactly, actually I have three different audio systems, the main one is made up of the following products:
First one
Pro-ject Extenction 9 (Turntable) with a Ortofon Kontraktunt cartridge. McIntosh C52 (Pre Amp). Classe Audio CAM 350 (2 mono power amps). B&W 800D (Speakers). Audioquest Everest, Jaguar cables.
Solidsteel Rack & Amp Stand: H.6 AV Rack and Mod. A Amp Stand (old and dismissed). S-3A Power Amp and Electronics Stand.
Second one
Technics SP25 (Turntable) with Ortofon Cadenza Blu cartridge. Anthem STR (Pre Amplifier). Anthem STR (Stereo Power Amp). B&W 702 S2 Speakers. Nordost, Audioquest, Kimbercable cables.
Solidsteel Hyperspike High-End AV Rack: HW-3L in Flat Black.
Third one
Technics SL1200GR (Turntable) with Denon DL103R cartridge. Perroux (Pre & Power Amps). JBL L 112 or B&W 801 matrix (Speakers).
Solidsteel Hyperspike High-End Audio Racks & Speaker Stands: HF-4 in Gloss White and SS-5 in White.
As an audiophile, which records do you use to test your audio systems?
I have a lot of them:
in SACD: (Super Audio CD) “Gaucho” by Steely Dan, “Avalon by “Roxy Music”, “Wallflower” and “When I Look in Your Eyes” by Diana Krall.
Talking about Bluray Audio: “Rumours” by Fleetwood Mac, “In Absentia” by Porcupine Tree, “I Robot” by Alan Parsons Project.
In Vinyl: Donald Fagen – “The Nightfly” of MOFI (45s), Daft Punk – “Random Access Memories” and Peter Gabriel “PG IV” in 45s.
These are obviously the ones I care most, but the titles are so many…
As a Music Designer, what is the design for you? And how it is related to music?
Being a music designer in my industry means interpreting a concept starting from a product. From design to fashion, furnishings, art, haute cuisine, etc. I choose music to interpret the creation work and offer it to the public. The role of sound is fundamental, if you make a mistake in the selection you don’t give justice to beauty, on the other hand the right music underlines a creation with atmosphere and charm.
You are our Brand Ambassador, and we are proud of having you in our family.
I am really honored to be the Solidsteel Brand Ambassador, I am a big fan of the Company since a long time, as you know. I really appreciate the high quality, the Italian style, the great engineering behind every product and also the history long over 30 years.
For me Solidsteel is “pure cashmere”.
Grazie Marco! The whole Solidsteel Universe is ready to follow you and your next music suggestions!
Don’t miss the Live Box event we had with Marco Fullone, he showed us memorable pieces of his music collection that really delighted us!
Marco Fullone will be present for other appointments in which he will suggest great new music and select playlists for every music lover.
We want to thank Marco Fullone so much for this fantastic interview and for our Live Box event.
