Mauro Picotto

Mauro Picotto (born December 25, 1966) is an Italian electronic music producer and DJ. Previously a member of the Italian eurodance group, Cappella. He became well known as a solo artist with techno-trance tracks including "Komodo" (2000), "Pulsar" (2001, with new mixes in 2002) and most famously for "Lizard" (1999, remixed in 2000). He has collaborated with other techno-trance musicians such as Tiësto and Mario Più.

He now promotes his own techno club night, Meganite (named after an early 21st century track of his), which has run for consecutive years annually since 2005 at Privilege Ibiza. He now produces under his own record label, Bakerloo. Born in the Italian town of Cavour, near Turin, Picotto was raised in a family of stonemasons and dancers. His father ran a mason's yard called CRW, a name Mauro would later use as a pseudonym for his trance side-project.

Picotto longed to start making his own productions, but felt that to be successful he must first become a DJ. After winning the Walky Cup competition on national TV, an event for the top DMC[clarification needed] DJs in Italy, he met with Daniele Davoli who was there to promote his Black Box single "Ride On Time", and this led Picotto towards record producing. His first track "We Gonna Get", produced under the name RAF, became a Top 20 hit single across much of Europe. Another RAF release followed, alongside remixes and co-writing credits for Clubhouse (who had a European hit with "Light My Fire"), Cappella (best known for rave hits like "U Got 2 Let The Music" and "Move On Baby") and the 49ers.

A track released under his own name, "Bakerloo Symphony", ended up being Number 1 in Italy for eight weeks. Also in 1996 Picotto became a partner in Media Records alongside Gianfranco Bortolotti. 1998 saw the release of the gatecrasher anthem, "Lizard (Gonna Get You)". The track ended up being a Top 30 hit in the UK Singles Chart - and was followed by two further instalments in the reptilian trilogy: "Iguana" (#39) and "Komodo (Save a Soul)", which would give Picotto the highest UK chart position of his career - #13. This would see him make his only solo performance on BBC Television's Top of the Pops.

Picotto was the first DJ to mix live on the show. Later tracks he was involved in also made an impact on the UK chart. "I Feel Love" - released under the pseudonym CRW - reached #15 in 2000, whilst "Communication (Somebody Answer The Phone)" - which he produced alongside Mario Più - reached the UK Top 5 at the end of 1999. His remix of "On The Beach" by York, also helped to propel that song into the UK Top Five in Spring 2000, when it was selected by the record company - Manifesto - to be used as the official radio edit.

Two solo albums, The Double Album (2000) and The Others (2002), followed, as well as remixes and productions for Freddie Mercury, Jimmy Somerville, the Pet Shop Boys and U2. Upon leaving Media Records in 2002, Picotto formed Bakerloo Music, as well as a new label Alchemy, releasing several club tracks, including "New Time New Place" and the "Alchemy EP". That same year he launched his Meganite party at the Miami Winter Music Conference. In 1995 Mauro headlined the Radio 1 big weekend in Sunderland, in front of 1000's of people, one of Radio 1's highlights!!!!

Picotto has more recently released several Meganite Ibiza albums on a new label Big In Ibiza. Picotto's 'Meganite' party is held every Wednesday at Ibiza'a Privilege club.