Italian-born electronic music artist Gianluca Zanna has been making waves across the global dance music scene with his innovative approach to production and heartfelt songwriting. His latest collaboration ‘You Are My Destiny’ featuring Claudette Lyon has captured audiences worldwide, earning extensive radio play and prestigious industry recognition.
What sets Zanna apart is his unique creative process—describing his brain as his “main instrument,” he uses cutting-edge voice-to-MIDI technology to transform his musical visions into reality, working with a network of talented arrangers and musicians from around the world. His partnership with Irish artist Claudette Lyon, which began as a chance Facebook connection, has evolved into both a personal and professional collaboration that’s redefining their artistic trajectory.
The success of ‘You Are My Destiny’ has opened remarkable doors, from Rolling Stone features to Times Square billboard placements, while establishing Zanna as a force in the independent music world through his own Zanna Records label. Beyond music, his diverse background spans everything from martial arts instruction to entrepreneurial ventures, including his sound effects business SoundFX.com, which is currently available for sale.
In this candid conversation, Zanna opens up about his unconventional production methods, the serendipitous meeting that led to his collaboration with Claudette Lyon, and how “You Are My Destiny” became the breakthrough hit that’s taking their partnership to new heights. He also discusses his ongoing $1,000 contest seeking a male vocalist for his upcoming ‘Single and I Like It’ music video, his philosophy on music-making, plans for Zanna Records, and what’s next for this dynamic creative duo.
Can you share a bit about the direction, sound design, and production techniques you explored for “You Are My Destiny”? I’d love to hear any technical details about the different layers in the track.
A little secret about me. I play a little bit of every instrument but at the end when it comes to the recording studio I play nothing. My main instrument is my brain where I can envision and hear the sounds and the different instruments and layers.
I use Vochlea voice to midi software to create my musical visions before recording, then I have a team of several amazing arrangers and musicians from around the world like Andrei Murariu from Romania or Duumix from Croatia that help me to record my musical visions. So, I am not really into technical parts but I focus on the melody that is must, if I cannot sing the song under the shower a cappella that song for me does not work.
And the lyrics of course, because I believe that music and lyrics together can create emotions, and at the end, the song is about giving emotions, not technical dexterity. So to answer your questions… ‘You are my destiny’, no matter if the original version or the remix, I express my ideas and layers to my arrangers who deliver amazing final products using sounds that are from this generation.
What do you admire most about Glaudette Lyon’s talent, both musically and outside of music? How did the two of you meet, and how did this collaboration come together?
I met Claudette January 2023 on FB, we hit it off immediately and we found out that we share passion for music and self-defense. Claudette is a true fighter, she almost got killed a few years before during a violent attack and she never gave up on coming back from that trauma and she found the energy to inspire other people to never surrender to violence but learning how to defend themselves.
Musically she has a great live experience since she has been playing live since she was 16 and she also became Ms Ireland in 2018 in NY. I love her voice that is versatile and can adapt to different types of style. We also fell in love immediately and we started to create together our own songs and now we are starting performing live as Luca and Claudette.
How did the opportunity to feature on the Times Square billboard come about?
We made #3 American Next top Hit Maker and the organization this year gave us the opportunity to fly to NY and get a photoshoot with Rolling Stone on Sept 26 and an article. From there we also have the billboard.
Aside from your own work, what are your top five current releases at the forefront of dance music?
I do not follow much the current music. I am kind of old school. When comes to dance My playlist includes: Robert Miles, Giorgio Moroder, Jean Michelle Jarre, Leila K and La Bionda brothers from Italy. The closest thing to today’s artist I like David Guetta for his way of remixing some of the old hits like ‘I am Blue’ that was one of the songs I used to like.
What’s one of your favorite timeless records?
Jean Michelle Jarre ‘Oxygen 4’ the pioneer of electronic music.
What’s one takeaway or lesson you’ve gained from working with Brian Reeves?
That the best professionals are humble and always ready to help to make your music sound the best putting their ego aside and simple but perfection often is best. Having the honor to work with Brian gave me the inspiration to start my own Record Label Zanna Records and move from songwriter to music producer and independent label.
As a songwriter and publisher with ASCAP, what does your role involve? What’s on your to-do list this week?
I am learning about everything. Besides creating music that is my main work, from the original ideas to working with several arrangers from around the world, I learn how to work on radio marketing promotion (we have now ‘You are my Destiny’ on more than 3000 airplay around the world).
And find distributors with like Moon Media. And licensing songs all over the world like for movies or televisions like I am doing now in Italy and Europe. My next goal is to find now a major label for distributing my catalog around the world so I can focus more on making music.
What are some of your favorite or most successful songs you’ve published?
‘You are my Destiny’ is now definitely one of the best received songs around the world, along with the Future Remix.
But also I have tracks that are now being licensed for television sync like ‘Memories’ ‘Storm XXX‘
How did you come to own soundeffects.com and soundfx.com? What led you to eventually sell them?
In my american life I had several business enterprises, among those I was SoundEffects.com and for many years I was one of the top Sound FX online retailer business. I sold Soundeffects.com but I still own SoundFX.com that is for sale
What’s next for Zanna Records? How does the label operate/distribute, and where do you see your releases being played the most?
Zanna records was born to produce and distribute my own catalog of over 120 songs and the new coming songs. I am working now with former Mega Records Executive and co-founder Claes Cornelius from Denmark, the man who discovered and launched artists like Ace of Base. The goal we have to is to license all over the world my songs to local record labels, and publishers.
At the moment Zanna records digitally distributes my catalog, but soon we are working on a global distributor and publisher/.
https://www.gianlucazanna.com/post/gianluca-zanna-reunites-with-claes-cornelius-after-30-years-to-celebrate-a-legendary-musical-journey
I love the Zanna Records boots! What are some of your other favorite fashion items or styles? Do you have connections or friendships in the fashion industry?
I just love to create style of boots or shoes that fit my lifestyle. I am not really into the fashion industry, but I have found an italian company that makes amazing shoes according to my specs and now we are selling them all over the world.
What’s your favorite Italian dish?
I am from Rome and I like simple but strong recipes, and of course pasta. one of the most simplest but favorite meal I like is spaghetti aglio olio and peperoncino. But all the ingredients must be organic and gmo free.
What are some of your favorite clubs or events to attend?
I am not a club person but I am starting a tour with Claudette called Global Live Streaming Tour where we broadcast live shows from deserts, mountain peaks, waterfalls, and other unexpected venues using portable 4000-watt sound system. To follow us join our mailing list at LucaClaudette.com
https://www.gianlucazanna.com/post/hypno-dance-duo-luca-and-claudette-announce-revolutionary-global-live-streaming-tour
Are there any rising talents you’d like to shine a light on?
I do not really follow the music scene. I do not even listen to the radio and I do not own a television so I have no idea 🙂 sorry. In this way I find my sound not influenced by what’s going on now.
What are some of the first lessons you teach in Krav Maga? And what are some of the more advanced lessons or deeper philosophies you’ve learned from the practice?
The best defense is attack, you never stop fighting until the fight is over, and the fight is over only when you win or you are dead. And the better fight is the one you can avoid because violence is not a videogame.
Who ended up winning the Zanna Records $1,000 Contest for the male actor role in the “Single and I Like It” music video?
I am still looking for the right singer. Please give a shout out.
What are some of the other major publicity opportunities you’ve had over the years—like appearances on NBC or other major networks?
I was featured on tv stations like NBC to tell the truth, as main guest, or special guest on Extreme Gong or LA times and several publications. Next month we are starting with Claudette a circuit of live interview in Phoenix, Las Vegas and Los Angeles with NBC affiliates.
