Composer & Producer

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?

A: I am incredibly proud of my self-titled debut EP "Alberto Ctllo" (2015) and early tracks like "Eternal". On this project, I took on the role of sole composer, producer and sound designer. It was the canvas where I truly solidified my artistic identity, fusing my melancholic roots with downtempo electronics for the first time, setting the benchmark for my career.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I am currently working on developing new electronic soundscapes and international collaborations, expanding my piano compositions while integrating fresh influences from cross-cultural rhythmic experimentation.

Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?

A: I highly recommend exploring mix and mastering engineers on the platform who specialise in dark, ambient and Post-rock genres, as they know exactly how to handle the wide dynamics and dense low-end frequencies inherent to Downtempo music.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Hybrid. The digital environment offers unmatched flexibility, precision and tools for experimental design in Downtempo music, but the harmonic warmth of a real instrument like the piano, alongside certain analogue processors, adds organic imperfections that bring electronic music to life.

Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

A: My promise is to respect the essence and identity of your artistic vision, while bringing technical innovation and sophisticated sound design to make your music stand out on any global platform.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: What I enjoy most is the metamorphosis of an idea. It fascinates me to watch how a simple hummed melody or a basic chord progression evolves into an enveloping atmosphere that transports the listener to another state of mind.

Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A: Question: Can you make my song sound more cinematic and deep? Answer: Yes, by adjusting the structure of the tempo, implementing layers of ambient textures and integrating harmonic arrangements that build emotional tension and resolution.

Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?

A: That making electronic or Downtempo music is just a matter of pressing buttons on a computer. In reality, it demands a deep understanding of traditional piano harmony and sharp acoustic sensitivity to make digital elements convey genuine warmth.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What is the story, emotion or visual imagery that inspired this song? What musical references or cinematic works do you have in mind for this project? Which elements do you want to stand out most: the harmony, the rhythmic experimentation or the electronic texture?

Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A: Look for someone who does not just understand the technicalities, but truly connects with the emotional concept of your song. Listen to their previous production work and ensure they know how to handle space, dynamics and atmosphere.

Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?

A: 1. A high-end stage piano (for essential composition). 2. A laptop loaded with my preferred DAW and virtual instruments. 3. A portable audio interface with top-tier conversion. 5. A pair of flat-response studio headphones (for accurate monitoring). 6. A MIDI controller with pads (to sequence my experimental rhythms).

Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?

A: I formally started my music production career at the age of 21, releasing my first single "Eternal (Into the Black Light)" in 2014, followed by my self-titled EP "Alberto Ctllo" in late 2015. I have spent over a decade honing my sound, balancing my artistic life with my professional humanist training.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I define my style as introspective, melancholic, cinematic and experimental. It is a combination of classical piano arrangements, raw contemporary electronic sound design and relaxed, steady rhythms.

Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

A: I would love to collaborate with film score composers and experimental electronic artists who explore the darker side of sound. Working with someone who shares a cinematic vision would allow me to merge my piano arrangements with massive soundscapes.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Do not clutter the frequency spectrum. In Downtempo and experimental music, space is just as important as the notes themselves. Allow sounds to breathe; quite often, fewer elements with rich textures create a far greater emotional impact than a cluttered mix.

Q: What type of music do you usually work on?

A: I mainly specialise in Electronic, Downtempo, Post-rock and Breakbeat. I am drawn to genres that allow for rhythmic experimentation and the blending of organic instruments with dark digital elements.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My greatest strength is creating atmosphere and managing sonic space. I know exactly how to manipulate silences, slow tempos and dark textures to evoke introspection, wrapping the listener in an immersive audio environment.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring a global, cinematic and deeply human perspective. Thanks to my background in International Relations, I view music as an intercultural bridge, injecting a sense of visual narrative and emotional depth into every track that goes beyond traditional boundaries.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Conceptual Analysis: I talk with the client to fully grasp the emotion and core message of their project. Structuring and Harmony: I usually begin by laying down the chord progressions on the piano. Sound Design: I layer electronic elements, Downtempo beats and melancholic textures. Review and Refinement: I tweak the finer details alongside the artist until we achieve the perfect atmosphere.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My studio is tailored to optimise a creative, hybrid workflow. It features a piano as the main harmonic centerpiece, MIDI controllers for sequencing, flat-response monitors for precise mixing, and digital audio workstations (DAWs) loaded with advanced virtual synthesisers to sculpt unique audio textures.

Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.

A: My primary work involves complete music production, composition and experimental sound design. I help artists transform their conceptual ideas into real music, building complex electronic and introspective atmospheres based around piano arrangements and slow rhythms.

Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?

A: I draw inspiration from a blend of cinema, melancholy and avant-garde electronic music. My direct influences and artistic touchstones include Mick Harris, Amy Lee and Piter-G, alongside the intense atmospheric and dramatic weight of the German film Freier Fall (2013).