Michaelangelo L'Acqua Talks Symmetry

Michaelangelo L’Acqua
W Hotel Global Music Director
INTERVIEWED BY DAEDRIAN MCNAUGHTON

The W hotel has hosted a series of parties celebrating Symmetry, the first album curated by the hotel’s new global music director, Michaelangelo L’Acqua.

Michaelangelo has produced runway music for over 15 years, for luxury brands, and major fashion houses like Tom Ford, Gucci, among others.

With an impressive CV, and notable collaborations with Natalie Cole, Nas, Will.i.am, no wonder the W tapped him to promote their luxury brand through music.

After all, he is the master of his craft. As an international music expert, he will introduce new plans, and ideas, like the Symmetry Live Series and Symmetry Spin Series (a dj series) to the W lifestyle. Daedrian McNaughton and caught up with Michaelangelo L’Acqua to discuss his new position and his plans moving forward with the W hotel.

PGM: Global Music Director is unique to the W hotel brand. How were you able to gain this title, and what are some of your responsibilities?

Michaelangelo L’Acqua: I guess you have to look at the background, and how I got to where I am now; through years of producing fashion shows in Milan, Paris, Berlin and New York. I own a boutique creative agency, overseeing records as an artist whether we are executive producing them or micromanaging personalities; being able to be a creative director in my company, and the ability to look into fashion world, and to see how to create environment based off tactile sensations-visual sensations and just overall lifestyle attitude. I think has brought me to where I am today, working with the W Hotel.

PGM: What are your responsibilities?

Michaelangelo L’Acqua:

Establish a new CD, and the direction of it, which I think identifies what the W brand is about on a global level.

Develop the CD beyond just a CD into a series which is Symmetry Live, the record is called Symmetry. We have about 6 concerts this year throughout  North America for our live concerts; one of which is at the W Hollywood, LA with Jenelle Monet who just released her record on Atlantic Records, and there is a tremendous buzz because she is real artist, not a manufactured one. We are really excited to kick off our Symmetry Live Series with such a future iconic artist to be. Then we will do another one in Miami, and in several other cities throughout the US.

Identify the artist that we should be associated with, set up a deal so that the W could look forward with producing events. On the same token we have Symmetry Spin Series which is our DJ series, and we travel to about 7-8 different cities throughout the US. We offer our concept based on the record also the evolution into different genres of DJ music. We will do W happenings around our for Symmetry Spin Series.

I open the hotels all over the world, so I will help curate the talent for the live performance or the DJ’s or just the music environment that we are going to create.

I consult on partnerships, who is out there that is relevant culturally, and lifestyle wise that we should be considering to work or partner with.

Advise on technical aspects as what delay the land is on digital world, and if we should move forward with it; what our options are, and where the best pads to acquire and move forward with.

PGM: When is the event in Miami?

Michaelangelo L’Acqua: During swim week

PGM: With the knowledge that the W hotel is a luxury brand, how was the selection process in finding the best music for this brand?

Michaelangelo L’Acqua: Again, I don’t need to change my normal system of operation to create something. My career has existed with luxury brand, so it is a refined taste where it is not something that you can just pop open. It is about the experience of discovery, because the people who come to the W, they are innovative, early adapters, trendsetter, and trend seekers.  I chose music that is on the cutting edge, and that represents the social movement that also reflects a higher consciousness, and lifestyle experience. That is where I draw the music from–what is cool; what is relevant, how we are going to educate our clients further through music, through design, and fashion, those are the passion points for the W.

PGM: What does Symmetry really represent.

Michaelangelo L’Acqua: Represents 3 basic aspects of a musical form that they need to create the perfect sound. I was taught studying music that if you start with the proper form, and structure then you are building your home in the right place. If you have a melody that is infectious, and somebody can sing it back to you after listening, then there is another. When there is balance to the form and melody then symmetry follows, and the visual reaction to the song has created an unconscious association to everything around you– is also created. I chose these songs because I thought they have all 3 elements– tracks that give a great response to the first listen which fortifies what the brand is about, and the lifestyle it has created.

PGM: What is your official goal for this project?

Michaelangelo L’Acqua: World domination!!! Just joking. The ultimate goal would be to take W music agenda beyond the walls of the physical structure or environment, and allow people to have it anywhere in the world, that would just keep them thinking of the W lifestyle.

PGM: Do you have any other projects you are working on?

Michaelangelo L’Acqua: I do.

PGM: Would you like to share?

Michaelangelo L’Acqua: The labor of love a mafia mock-up I want to take it off-Broadway and then to house somewhere in Vegas-a night club act and will eventually take it to the television world. a cross between the entourage and Sopranos

PGM: What’s the time frame?

Michaelangelo L’Acqua: Hopefully in the fall. I am launching it New York and then get a small theater to do it; to test it, and eventually get the backers to develop it to where it needs to go.

PGM: What are some of your hotpots when you are in Miami?

Michaelangelo L’Acqua: Miami is a different town for me–I don’t go to Miami to cut loose and get crazy. I g to relax.

PGM: It’s a place to play…

Michaelangelo L’Acqua: I  travel the world, and I am always partying at events where it’s crazy. Ican’t get to be crazy because I am the one working while everyone is partying. My partying is sitting on the ocean with a margarita in my hand just relaxing.

B Bar at the Betsey- I like it because it is so not Miami, very small, loungy and sexy.

The Florida Room- is a great place to listen to live music.

The Wall- to really bang it out. It’s a fun club.

PGM: What can’t you live without?

Michaelangelo L’Acqua: WiFi connection. Technology has given me the ability to create an illusion that I am in the same room as you are.

Symmetry is available for purchase at W The Store in W Fort Lauderdale and online at www.whotelthestore.com. For more information on Michaelangelo L’Acqua, visit www.lacqua.net.

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