Just Fame recently got a chance to interview Mastermindz. We got insights into his work, his upcoming shows and much more!
Q1. First of all it is great to have you on Just Fame and congratulations on your wonderful set at Miami Music Week! We’re excited to delve into it shortly, but first, we’d love to learn more about you and your musical journey. Can you share with us some of your earliest memories of music and how you got into music?
Thank you so much for having me! It’s an honor to be featured on Just Fame. One of my earliest memories of music goes back to when I was a little kid with a small portable cassette player — a proper old-school tape radio. I must have been three or four years old, and I would take it with me everywhere. I used it constantly, up until I was around eight or nine.
That obsession slowly turned into a deeper curiosity. I started to wonder how those sounds were made, how songs were built, and eventually that led me to explore DJing, production, and sound design. Looking back, I think music has always been my way of understanding the world and expressing what I feel inside.
Q2. You perform under the name Mastermindz — what’s the story behind that alias? What does it represent to you?
Mastermindz was originally born as a duo. The name — with the “z” at the end — was intentionally edgy, meant to reflect our passion for the harder styles of dance music, especially hardstyle. At the time, the idea was to build a project focused purely on that sound.
Over time, the project didn’t take off the way we hoped, and eventually I continued the journey on my own. But we remained friends, and I decided to keep the name — not just out of respect for what we started, but because it had started to evolve in meaning for me.
Today, Mastermindz represents something much deeper. It’s about unlocking the power of the mind through sound. About creating emotional intensity, storytelling, and a sense of connection that goes beyond genre. Even though I’m now the only one behind it, the name still carries that collaborative spirit — it’s about energy, unity, and the shared experience between artist and crowd.
Q3. We loved your project Harmony. Kindly share the process that you followed while you were working on that project.
Harmony was born during a period of personal reflection and emotional chaos. I was going through a lot internally, and I needed to find a way to reconnect with something meaningful — both in music and in life.
The idea started with a single word: “Harmony”. I asked myself, what does harmony mean when the world feels unbalanced? That became the core of the entire project. I built around contrasts: hard and soft, raw and melodic, light and dark. I wanted every track and set to reflect that duality and tell a deeper story.
Q4. In the process of creating your projects, can you share an unexpected source of inspiration that took your work in a surprising direction?
One of the most unexpected sources of inspiration came during the production of a remix that ended up becoming a kind of accidental bootleg.
Originally, I was working on a melodic and emotional remix of “In The Stars” by Benson Boone. The goal was to keep it serious, cinematic — very atmospheric. But at some point during the process, I randomly threw in a viral TikTok meme, just for fun. It completely flipped the track on its head. The result was so wild and unexpected that I named it Crazy Bootleg.
At first, I didn’t even think it would leave the studio. But something about that chaotic blend — the clash between beauty and madness — felt… real. And the more I listened to it, the more I realized that both elements actually complemented each other. It was chaotic, but it worked. That moment planted the seed for what later became the Harmony project: the idea that two completely different energies can coexist and even elevate each other.
Ironically, that same bootleg ended up being played by Timmy Trumpet on the mainstage of Tomorrowland last year. Sometimes, inspiration really does come from the most unexpected places.
Q5. Over the years, how has your music and performance style evolved? Are there any new elements you’ve incorporated recently?
My style has definitely evolved over time. Both in the studio and on stage, I’ve always tried to find something that sets me apart from others. Today, every set I play is a musical journey — never just a simple track selection, but a real narrative. And no two sets are ever the same.
I’ve also brought back something I used to love: when I perform live, I use a MIDI controller to trigger samples, sounds and loops I’ve created myself. It’s a nod to how things were done in the late ’90s and early 2000s — more raw, more human, more alive.
One thing I’m considering now is integrating custom-made visuals into the experience. But to be honest, I’m still a bit hesitant. Visuals are becoming so overused these days — they look spectacular, but sometimes they overpower the music. And for me, the music has to remain the heart of everything.
Q6. You’re here in Miami for Music Week — how does being surrounded by so many artists and creative energy influence your vision? Has it sparked anything new?
Miami Music Week is always intense — full of energy and creative collisions. Every corner of the city breathes music, and it’s impossible not to get inspired. Being here reminded me that beyond the trends, authenticity is what lasts. It gave me fresh clarity and sparked new ideas I’m already sketching.
Q7. You’ve received support on the mainstages of Tomorrowland and Ultra. How does it feel to know your music is being played in front of hundreds of thousands of people?
Honestly, it’s surreal. Seeing your name or hearing your sound on the mainstage of Tomorrowland or Ultra — in front of thousands of people — it’s one of those moments where you stop and go, “Wait… is this really happening?”
It’s not just about exposure. It’s about knowing that something you created in your own little world — in a studio, alone, chasing a feeling — somehow made its way into someone else’s setlist, into a crowd, into a shared experience.
When Timmy Trumpet dropped my bootleg at Tomorrowland, or when tracks got support at Ultra Japan, South Africa, or Miami, I felt both proud and grateful. Because it means that the emotion, the energy, the intention behind what I do… it reached someone. And that’s the most powerful thing music can do.
Q8. What is Art according to you?
To me, Art is truth. It’s the raw, unfiltered expression of something that words alone can’t explain. Whether it’s music, painting, dance, or even silence — if it makes you feel something real, it’s art.
Art isn’t about being perfect or following rules. It’s about translating emotion into form — and that form can be anything. Sometimes it’s polished, sometimes it’s chaotic, but if it’s honest, it has value. In my case, art happens when sound becomes a language. When a melody says what I can’t.
When a kick drum hits not just the body, but the soul. That’s what I chase every time I create — something that connects beyond logic, something you don’t just hear, but feel.
Q9. With The Power of Harmony and Back2Trance, you’re navigating two very different sonic landscapes. How do you shift between those two worlds creatively?
Even though The Power of Harmony and Back2Trance explore completely different sonic worlds — one being intense, raw, and hard-hitting, the other cosmic, emotional, and uplifting — at their core, they’re both driven by the same vision: balance.
Creatively, it’s not about switching genres. It’s about shifting energy. Sometimes I feel the need to express intensity, distortion, controlled chaos — that’s where the hardstyle lives. Other times, I need space, melody, and transcendence — and that’s where trance takes over. What connects them is the idea of Harmony — not as a sound, but as a concept. Both sets are structured as journeys. Both tell stories. And both are built around the emotional response I want to create in people, whether they’re headbanging or closing their eyes with their hands in the air.
Q10. Looking ahead, are there any new projects or directions you are excited to explore in your career?
Absolutely. This summer I’ll be back in Ibiza for my Back2Trance residency — every Monday in August — and I’m incredibly excited about it. That residency has become a space where I can really explore the deeper, more emotional side of my sound in a special, intimate atmosphere.
Beyond that, I’m working on new material that pushes the boundaries of both sides of the Harmony concept — experimenting with sound design, vocals, and even some cinematic influences. I want to continue building live experiences that aren’t just sets, but full-on journeys.
There’s also something brewing that combines music with storytelling and visual art, but I’m still letting it grow organically before rushing into it. The main goal is always the same: to create something that connects people — not just through energy, but through meaning.
Q11. Any hints for our readers about any upcoming collaboration or new projects that you are working on?
There are a few exciting things in the works, but I can’t reveal too much yet. I’ve been connecting with some amazing artists — in both hardstyle and trance — and we’re working on something that blends our worlds in new ways. I’m also developing a more personal liveset format to expand the Harmony experience.
Q12. Lastly, as we ask all our guests on our platform, do you have any closing thoughts that you would like to share with the world and our readers?
Yes — I just want to remind anyone reading this that we’re living in a world that’s increasingly loud, fast, and chaotic… and that’s exactly why we need to create space for meaning.
Whether you’re an artist, a listener, or just someone trying to find balance, don’t underestimate the power of connection, emotion, and intention. That’s what Harmony is all about — not just in music, but in life.
And if I can leave you with something that’s always guided me since the very beginning, it’s this: “Follow your dreams. Because each of us has a pair of wings — but only those who dream, learn to fly.”
About the artist: Carlo Simonelli, known by his stage name Mastermindz, is an internationally active DJ and music producer, blending raw energy with emotional depth across the hardstyle and trance spectrum. Born in Lucca, Italy, in 1988, his musical journey began with a strong foundation in audio production and DJing, refined through advanced training at Alar’s Recording Studio and early support on Italy’s m2o radio network.
For more details follow the artist on his official social media: Instagram/@masterminz_official
