Though his remix of Cidinho & Doca “Rap Das Armas” topped the pop chart in the Netherlands, it was “Epic” with Sandro Silva, that truly launched Quintino into the stratosphere. That track is credited as the one that made the big room house explode. A steady stream of big productions (Dynamite, Slammer, Aftermath) has kept him on top of the festival lineups. Embracing the '90s house meme, he did a cover of Nomad’s “Devotion," which led to “Freak,” his update of the Adina Howard song with R3hab that sounds like nothing he has done before. Not afraid to shake things up, we anxiously his forthcoming EP.
RS: What was the inspiration for covering “Freak”?
Quintino: I have a thing for old vocals. I used to play UK Garage music and UK bassline. I had an Adina Howard vocal in the record and it was one of my favorite, but I couldn’t play it anymore because the music evolved. I still wanted to play it so we cleared the vocal and instantly started to work on the project. The whole week, I was so happy.
RS: I have to be honest, when I saw R3hab and Quintino on a record I didn’t expect it to sound like that.
Quintino: We wanted it to be like that, we didn’t want it to be the same as it always is. There are people that like it and people that don’t like it, but it was a statement that we make everything. We want to have more girls on the dance floor.
RS: That is what we all want, more girls on the dance floor! Is this a sign of the sound for the new year?
Quintino: It is a combination for me, this record is groovier and you can still play it in the clubs. The people like it and you can sing along with it. In six months I am going to do a festival EP that is pure bangers and after that I have a new single which is the follow up.
RS: Let’s go back a step, was “Devotion” the same kind of inspiration?
Quintino: Yes, I always look to old records. Everyone from Notorious B.I.G to hard style people have done it because you get inspiration from it. If you like a good record and can create it to your own sound why not? It’s perfect.
RS: Did you sample the sax or replay it?
Quintino: Sampled it.
RS: Going back a little further, you created “Epic” which basically launched the whole big house thing. So I want to look to you, what is coming next?
Quintino: Diversity. Back in the days when it was still underground, we came out with “Epic” and it was the biggest big room record. Now there are so many people doing so many things so it is diversity from Valentino Khan to “Freak” to “Threat” and it is more genres. I love that.
RS: Very cool. So you remixed “Hey Ricky” for Nervo, is there a Nervo and Quintino track coming?
Quintino: We haven’t worked on a project yet but when we see each other and when we email, we talk about it and send some stuff back and forth but we haven’t finalized anything. I think it will come though
RS: Are you married?
Quintino: No
RS: So which of the two girls do you like better?
Quintino: I see them as family, I have known them for 5 or 6 years. When you see someone you think she is hot or you think that she is a cool chick and you want to hug them and give them a kiss and be part of the family. There is a difference and you know it from the first second.
RS: If you could play for any soccer team which soccer team would it be?
RS: If you could play for any soccer team, which would it be?
Quintino: That’s easy, it’s Ajax Amsterdam. I am from Amsterdam and I am a big fan, but for the top league it would be Barcelona. Good weather too.
RS: What is the best restaurant in the world for pasta?
Quintino: I worked in an Italian restaurant, that is where my name is from.
RS: Really? What does Quintino mean?
Quintino: My name is Quinten. I worked in an Italian restaurant at the bar and I was always late and the owner said “Quintino, why are you always late?” From then on everyone started to call me Quintino and so when I started playing my name was already there.
RS: That’s awesome. Your Supersonic show is every week on Sirius XM. How do you keep going with new music every week like that?
Quintino: First I search for the new generation. I get a lot of demos and I always try to fit in one guy that is unknown and a cool record that may not be the perfect record but it is going there. I try to motivate these guys, it’s really cool. If I put it online those guys are so happy and it motivates them to work even harder. I try to play stuff that I don’t always play at festivals but still like.
RS: Is that kind of how it was with you and Laidback Luke?
Quintino: Yes, he did that with me and I want to give back to other people. I should continue the process.
RS: When they do the movie of our life, what actor is going to play you?
Quintino: I know what everyone is going to say, they always make jokes that I look like Enrique Iglesias.
RS: You actually have the mole also.
Quintino: Yeah Nervo always makes fun of me, they always post it online and now everyone is saying it, it’s like the joke of the tow