Releasing a full album is one of the biggest milestones in any producer’s career, and for Italian DJ and producer Francesco Fortuna — better known as Sisko Electrofanatik — it’s no exception. Last Friday (Apr. 25), he unveiled his long-anticipated fifteen-track debut album, Starboy.
Born in Rome, Sisko found his passion for dance music at a young age. He began DJing in local clubs across his hometown and soon moved into music production, aiming to craft his distinct sound.
Starboy marks a significant moment, celebrating his 20-year career in the electronic music scene and the 10th anniversary of his record label, Gain Records. “I made around 40 unreleased tracks during these years and pandemic stops,” Sisko said. “I selected the best ones for the album.”
The album delivers a dynamic blend of techno, electronica, progressive house, and minimal tech. Some tracks, including “Fable,” “Alter Ego,” “Syntagma,” and “Elements,” were originally produced between 2016 and 2019 but have been re-edited to fit the album’s cohesive vision. “It took about 10 years, and yes, some tracks were created earlier but only released now,” he shared.
One of the creative challenges was maintaining cohesion across a wide range of styles. “It was a huge selection,” Sisko explained. I love underground raw sounds, but also melodic progressive drops. In my DJ sets, I like to mix these genres into a unique flow journey.”
His work as a sound designer also shines through, with downtempo-ambient influences evident on tracks like “Acidland.”
Vocal collaborations add a rich dimension to the album, with singers Lory and Leah Rose contributing to “Get Lost” and “Elements,” respectively.
“Get Lost” was created during studio sessions with Lorena, aka Lory, blending Sisko’s signature style with melodic house vibes. “Elements” was initially an instrumental track until Sisko found Leah Rose, whose “explosive voice matched perfectly to the version.”
Reflecting on Starboy, Sisko sees the album as a testament to his artistic evolution. “It shows my growth from minimal electro sounds to raw, peak-time techno,” he said. “Changing the BPM to a modern, faster tempo, improving my studio techniques with analog synthesizers, sound design, and piano study — all of it pushed me to a new level.”
Support from industry heavyweights like Carl Cox, Joseph Capriati, Richie Hawtin, and Amelie Lens — as well as collaborations with Gabry Ponte, T78, and Fatima Hajji — further fueled his creativity.
Although the album opens with the dystopian, high-energy title track “Starboy” and closes with the hypnotic “Alter Ego,” Sisko admitted there wasn’t a traditional narrative arc. “At first, I planned an intro and outro,” he said. “But then I decided to go directly for dancefloor impact — starting and finishing with big hype and hands up!”
Great Album !!!