Sunlightsquare
British Italian producer blending Latin, jazz, and house music.
Claudio Passavanti, a British Italian music producer, pianist, and digital entrepreneur, works under the stage name Sunlightsquare and also runs the YouTube channel Doctor Mix. His music spans Latin, jazz fusion, and house, and he performs live at festivals and clubs internationally. He has collaborated with notable artists including American drummer Steve Gadd and bassist Will Lee. On YouTube, he reviews synthesizers and breaks down synth-pop songs.
In 2008, his cover of Stevie Wonder's "Pastime Paradise" received support from Gilles Peterson, Joey Negro, and Jazz FM DJ Peter Young. The following year, Passavanti recorded a live album in Havana, Cuba, at Radio Rebelde's studios, released in February 2010 as 'Sunlightsquare Latin Combo'. Titled *Havana Central*, it earned critical praise; *Blues & Soul* magazine called it "superb". His 2011 album *Britannia Shing-A-Ling* was described by BBC magazine as "a triumph".
His discography includes albums under various names: as Dr. Mix, *80's Non-Stop Retro Nite*; as Claudio Passavanti, *After Hours Ritual* (1994); as Eramo & Passavanti, *Oro e Ruggine* (1998), which won the Mia Martini critic award for the track "Senza confini"; and as Sunlightsquare, *Urban Sessions* (2005), *Mutations for Piano* (2006), *Urban Latin Soul* (2008), *Let's Groove* (2009), *Havana Central* (2010), *Britannia Shing-A-Ling* (2011), and *King Yoruba* (2014). Singles include "Pastime Paradise" (2008), "I Believe in Miracles" (2010), "Para Guarachar" (2010), "Super People" (2015), and "Celebration of Oggun" (2016).
- field
- Music production, piano, digital entrepreneurship
- nationality
- British Italian
- known_for
- Latin music, jazz fusion, house music, YouTube synthesizer reviews
Quick Facts
- Origin
- London
- Genre
- Neo soul, nu jazz, boogaloo, salsa, house
- Years Active
- 2004–present
- Label
- Sunlightsquare, Yoruba, BBE Music
- Website
- sunlightsquare.com
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Claudio Passavanti, working under the name Sunlightsquare, has collaborated with international artists including American drummer Steve Gadd and bassist Will Lee. His 2008 cover of Stevie Wonder's 'Pastime Paradise' was championed by Gilles Peterson, Joey Negro, and Jazz FM DJ Peter Young. In 2009, he recorded a live album in Havana, Cuba, at Radio Rebelde's recording studios, released in February 2010 as 'Sunlightsquare Latin Combo' titled 'Havana Central', which Blues & Soul magazine described as 'superb'.
Reader's Guide
Sunlightsquare's significance lies in his cross-genre work as a producer and performer, bridging Latin music, jazz fusion, and house. His album 'Britannia Shing-A-Ling' (2011) was reviewed by BBC magazine as 'a triumph'. As a YouTuber under the alias Doctor Mix, he reviews synthesizers and explains synth-pop songs, extending his influence into music education. His discography includes albums under multiple names, such as 'Urban Sessions' (2005) and 'King Yoruba' (2014), and singles like 'I Believe in Miracles' (2010). His legacy is marked by critical acclaim for projects like 'Havana Central' and the Mia Martini critic award for the track 'Senza confini' from the album 'Oro e Ruggine' (1998).
Did You Know?
- Sunlightsquare is also known as Doctor Mix on YouTube, where he reviews synthesizers and explains synth-pop songs.
- His 2008 cover of Stevie Wonder's 'Pastime Paradise' was championed by Gilles Peterson, Joey Negro, and Jazz FM DJ Peter Young.
- He recorded a live album in Havana, Cuba, at Radio Rebelde's recording studios, released in 2010 as 'Havana Central'.
- The album 'Oro e Ruggine' (1998) won the Mia Martini critic award for the track 'Senza confini'.
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