ETTORE DELLA CAMPA – From Milan to Menorca

Excerpt from Issue 370 – Spring 2025

Photo: Ettore playing with Wanderlust © @jhonfotografia_

ETTORE DELLA CAMPA – FROM MILAN TO MENORCA

We first met Ettore through sailing as he is a skipper with a boat for charter in Mahón Harbour. Ettore is also a talented musician and sound engineer, playing the keyboard with local artists such as Paolo Scarpa and Dani Juanico. Having heard many stories over the years about his musical past, including working with artists such as Mark King, Matt Goss, Robert Miles, Bobby Brown, and Justine Mattera, we sat down with him over a coffee to retrace his past and the steps which led him to Menorca.

Ettore’s journey began in the vibrant city of Milan, Italy, where music was a familyaffair. Among his relatives were the renowned chef Gualtiero Marchesi, the founder of Italian nouvelle cuisine, and his wife Antonietta Cassisa, a classical pianist and daughter of a famous soprano. Antonietta’s piano lessons from the age of five ignited Ettore’s passion for music. Her daughter, Simona Marchesi, a harpist with a house in Menorca, also played a significant role in his musical upbringing.

Ettore’s early years were marked by his attendance at an artistic school, where he specialised in jazz piano. His nights were often spent playing in nightclubs until the early hours. He played in several Italian bands, including Death SS and Exilia, where he connected with guitarist Elioalien. Having lost his father at the age of 11, Ettore chose to help his mother in her graphics company instead of attending university. His first motorbike was funded by his work designing logos, along with additional work in a music shop. It was not long before he converted a room in their house into a music studio, filling it with 24 track mixing desks.

Ettore’s first significant job was with the distributor of Logic, a digital audio workstation by Emagic, later acquired by Apple. His role involved software installation and synchronising machines in studios. This job allowed him to tour Italy, showcasing Emagic’s products and funding his studio. It was during this time that he met House DJ Joe T Vannelli and collaborated on setting up JT Company, a studio in Milan. Together, they produced music for adverts and remixes for big names, including an album for Matt Goss, formerly of the pop band Bros.

Joe remixed the lead single from Matt ́s album The Key and it peaked at number 1 in the Italian dance chart. Ettore’s engineering skills shone through as he produced and engineered Matt and Joe ́s joint album Co*Bra. Ettore’s friendship with Matt Goss led to some memorable encounters. He once opened the door to his studio to find 100 girls screaming on the stairs and a guy he didn’t know standing in front of Matt, holding a drink. Matt introduced him to his friend Robert, saying he wanted to show him the studio. It was only after they left and his girlfriend arrived, saying, “I just saw Robbie Williams downstairs” that he realised
who Robert was. Ettore also met Mark King of Level 42, who recorded bass lines on a couple of songs with Matt and they kept in touch.

At JT Studio, Ettore built a reputation for remixing music for advertising clients like Nike, Campari, MSC, and Nestea. In 2000, he left JT Studio to work independently and collaborate with Gianfranco Clerici at Screenplay, where he met his partner Ilaria.

Ettore’s passion for sailing led him to skipper yachts, spending a summer in Mallorca. A mechanical issue with the autopilot during a trip back to Italy brought him to Mahón Harbour. Enchanted by the island, Ettore and Ilaria decided to move here in 2014, seeking a quieter life. Ettore built his own studio and continued producing music for documentaries and advertising, while also running his Bavaria 42 yacht named Raintown as a charter boat.
In Menorca, Ettore connected with local musicians and played at various venues, starting in Restaurant Way playing the piano. He soon met Tolo Mercadal and his wife, both well known music teachers, and played with them for their family concert at the Albert Camus theatre in Sant Lluis. He has also played at the theatre with Wanderlust and with project Sputnik dedicated to young local musicians.