Hey everyone - welcome back at the discotheque!
It's been a hot minute since the last post - and to make up for that, today's post is extremely special - as we get to hear from one of future funk's most respected producers - Cape Coral. Known for blending high energy, punchy post disco, slamming beats and hip hop - and with releases on Business Casual, Future Society and Club Coral - over the last decade, he's become one of the most iconic (and brilliant) producers with an extremely distinct style. Alongside this - he's a talented graffiti artist too!
Without further ado - I'll let the man himself do the talking!
For those who don’t know you yet, who are you and what kind of music do you make?
Hi, my name is CAPE CORAL. I’m a future funk producer—no longer very young, at least on paper, but with the same enthusiasm I had when I started. My music is rooted in sampling and in a deep love for funk, disco, and everything that carries groove, soul, and personality. It’s nostalgic by nature, but at the same time very personal, always trying to respect the roots it comes from.
You’ve been making music as Cape Coral since early 2015: which artists inspire you the most in your work overall?
I draw inspiration from every artist I listen to—but I only listen to a certain kind of music. Anything that has a funk influence, directly or indirectly, inspires me. There was a time when almost every genre carried a strong funk foundation, and it was never predictable or generic. Every artist added their own contribution to funk, reshaping it in a unique way. That sense of individuality is what I still look for today.
Starting from that, which artists inspired you to begin making future funk ten years ago?
Just one, without any doubt: Onra. Everything started by trying to imitate him. His way of handling samples and blending funk, hip hop, and atmosphere opened an entirely new world for me. He was the starting point from which I later tried to build my own identity.
Your most popular track online is the fantastic “Ritmo.” made with Android Apartment. How did that track come about and what was it like working with him?
Alberto and I were already friends at the time. We were part of an Italian vaporwave collective and played shows all over Italy, and during the same period we were also involved in the Future Society Collective. The collaboration happened very naturally—there was mutual respect, shared experiences, and a common musical language. “Ritmo” is simply the result of that moment and that context.
From there, what gear did you have while producing your first album Slowed Midnight, and how did you source samples back then?
I’ve always sampled exclusively from vinyl. I’ve been a vinyl collector for as long as I can remember, focusing mainly on ’80s funk. At the time I was using an MPC Renaissance along with various studio machines. I worked primarily inside the MPC software, then exported the stems to Logic Pro for mixing. It was a very hands-on, straightforward workflow.
How do you achieve the distinctive sound that defines your entire discography? It’s absolutely unique!
By sampling only very specific funk and disco records with particular sonic characteristics. There’s a huge amount of musical research behind it—hours spent listening, selecting, and discarding. And most importantly, I try to avoid direct stylistic influence when producing. I listen a lot, but when I work, I isolate myself to keep my sound uncompromised.
Let’s change subject for a moment: when did you start doing graffiti and working with spray paint, and who were some of your main inspirations in that scene?
I started back in 1997, just for fun, with some friends. Next year it’ll be 30 years. At the time, I had friends who were very good at graffiti, but they stopped after a few years. I didn’t—I turned it into a lifelong passion. At the beginning we didn’t really have influences: there was no internet, it was extremely hard to find magazines or VHS tapes, or even see other people’s pieces. Hip hop culture had just started spreading in my city, and we wanted to be part of it. I began as a break dancer, then naturally moved into graffiti.
This is a random question: what’s your favorite drink?
Over the past few years I’ve become almost a health-conscious person, and I barely drink anymore. That said, I adapt easily—I don’t really have a favorite drink. Basically, anything works depending on the situation.
If you had the chance to work on an album with four of your musical heroes, living or dead, who would they be and why?
MNDSGN, because he’s pure talent—everything he touches turns into gold. MF DOOM, because there’s nothing that needs to be added to his name. SebastiAn and the whole Ed Banger era, true revolutionaries of electronic funk music. And DJ Premier, so I could steal as much knowledge as possible and then escape his studio like a thief.
Going back to your original work, among all your major releases, which one is your favorite?
TELESEX555. I believe it’s my most mature album, the one where vision, sound, and identity finally aligned.
What piece of music equipment have you always dreamed of owning?
Honestly, I’m at a stage in life where if I want something, I just buy it. But owning an original Roland 707 from that era would definitely be cool. I wouldn’t really need it, but it would be amazing to have it there, just to look at every day.
If you could live in the world of a movie, which one would you choose?
Without question Breakin’ (1 and 2) or Wild Style.
What does your studio look like now? What do you use to make beats in 2025?
My studio is full of gear—really full. But as I always say, the best companion on this journey is still my hand, a mouse, and a MIDI keyboard. You don’t need anything else. That said, I keep buying new tools; recently I got an SP-404 MK2 and I’m having a lot of fun with it.
Among my favorite tracks of yours are the legendary “Lovely Slut,” the fantastic “707 Hotline” released by Future Society, and “Play Dirty.” Can you share some production secrets behind these strong tracks?
They’re three completely different tracks in terms of structure and approach. There’s no real secret—just staying faithful to yourself and your sound. And a lot of plugin research, always used in combination, to achieve that specific sonic blend that defines my music.
If you had the opportunity to go on a world tour, where would you go to honor the world with your music?
Definitely the United States. Unfortunately, I suffer from panic attacks and can’t handle very long flights, which has always limited me. The US is where funk, graffiti, and everything I’ve been doing since day one were born.
Is there anything blog readers can expect from you in the near future?
I have many albums on my hands—some almost finished, others still to be completed. But for the past couple of years I’ve been dealing with a creative block that prevents me from releasing anything. I really hope to unlock myself again soon.
What advice would you give to aspiring artists, both in music and visual art?
Always stay true to yourself. Unless you’re Puff Daddy… but I don’t think anyone truly envies that.
Would you like to mention anyone?
Yes. I want to thank my mother for supporting me my entire life in every possible way, and Carla, my girlfriend, with whom I share a deep passion for funk in all its forms.
There you have it, everyone!
You can find Cape Coral everywhere - but I'm going to link his Bandcamp page and his Instagram (where you can find his incredible artwork!)
I would like to thank Cape Coral greatly for agreeing to be interviewed on the blog - it is the biggest honor. Thank you man!
Go and support the guy - and as always, keep enjoying your stay at the discotheque.
is cape corallllllllllllllllllllllllll
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