Tamborder

If I like it, I play it. If I don’t like it, I might play it anyway. Tamborder is the alias through which Federico Romanzi explores a personal musical dimension, far from labels and built around rhythmic research, cultural curiosity, and unpredictability. The name comes from a hybrid instrument invented by the Neapolitan percussionist Tony Esposito: half percussion, half electronic. A definition that perfectly describes the spirit of the project — suspended between tribal roots, electronic groove, and constant experimentation. The Tamborder project was born from the need to create and perform music without feeling tied to a specific genre. His sound absorbs influences mainly from the Global South — particularly Africa and Latin America — blending them with the most current trends in club culture. Genres are categories useful for those who sell music, not for those who create it. This philosophy is also reflected in his DJ sets, often long and built as an unpredictable journey shared with the audience. The goal is not simply to make people dance, but to surprise them, unsettle expectations, and constantly change direction. The tracks he selects are never organized by genre but by suggestion: folders with evocative names such as “isoletta,” “navicelle,” and “tamburo,” allowing him to connect pieces from very different musical worlds that share a similar atmosphere. It’s not unusual for a funky arrangement of a 1970s TV theme to coexist with European electroclash or Middle Eastern disco. A fundamental chapter of his journey is his connection with Africa. After living for six months in Kenya — Federico is also a certified safari guide — Tamborder explored local music scenes, particularly around Malindi and Nairobi. From this experience came artistic collaborations and influences that directly shaped his productions, such as the tracks “Sana,” “Imetoka,” and “Kwetu Africa.” His discography reflects this openness: productions that move across different sonic worlds while maintaining a strong rhythmic identity. Among the most notable releases is the single “The School,” created with Rodyn and released on Metropolitan Records, which has surpassed three million streams on Spotify. With the Kenyan singer Sofia Nzau he created several tracks, three of which appear on the EP “Oceans Planet,” along with a fourth, “Mukenu,” which marked the beginning of his collaboration with EGO Italy and led to the production of the singles “Hideaway,” “In the Name of Love,” and “Follow Me.” Alongside his music production, Tamborder also founded his own independent label, Tamborder Dischi, a creative space designed to develop and release music without artistic compromises.