Benny Benassi

• Genre: Dance Pop
• Benny Benassi Website

About

The worldwide dancefloor domination of Benny Benassi's "Satisfaction" has proven very, well, pleasing, to this lifelong fan of 1980s electronica, and indeed the influence of Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode and Giorgio Moroder can be clearly heard in the track's mechanized vocals and lush, driving beats. Benassi describes this dirty electro-house style as "hypnotech," and claims that the bassline for "Satisfaction" was created by his cousin Alle Benassi drawing inspiration from the sounds of traffic outside his hotel window. Much in demand for remixing duties, Benassi prefers to handpick what he likes and turn down the rest, going for quality rather than quantity. So far he has sat behind the mixing desk for Outkast, Goldfrapp, Robbie Rivera and Electric Six, among others. Production work includes his solo full-length outing, Hypnotica, along with his and Alle's "Benny Benassi presents The Biz" project, a more minimalist soundscape blending techno, electro and house. In 2004, Benny was nominated for three Dancestar awards and won for best video -- which just goes to show what you can achieve with some semi-naked women and a set of power tools.

- Nicholas Baker