Emanuele Naima: Reimagining Rhythm, Sound, and Steve Reich

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes, I sit down with Italian guitarist, composer, producer, and sound engineer Emanuele Naima. Our conversation begins with Steve Reich's music and expands into a thoughtful exploration of sound, collaboration, and the freedom to pursue more than one creative path.

Emanuele tells me how his interest in minimalist music and academic research led him to reimagine all three movements of Reich’s Electric Counterpoint. By combining classical and electric guitars with synthesizers, handclaps, and snare drum, he honored the composition while creating a distinct atmosphere for each movement: memory, stillness, and conflict.

We also trace Emanuele’s musical life from beginning classical guitar at eight to completing 12 years of conservatory study. He shares the wonderfully varied music that filled his childhood home, including Pink Floyd, Aretha Franklin, Elton John, jazz, psychedelic music, and Michael Jackson. That open listening continues to shape a career that moves naturally among classical guitar, R&B, funk, ambient music, sound design, production, and live performance.

Emanuele also reflects on his work with Puka Shells Bling, the influence of playing funk and dub with other musicians, and the way collaboration changes everything from touch and tone to harmony and time. We close by discussing his ambient compositions, work with dance and choreography, improvised techno, and his willingness to keep experimenting without forcing every musical interest into a single identity.

Key Takeaways

• Emanuele’s reinterpretation of Electric Counterpoint began as part of a potential PhD proposal and later developed into a complete recording project.
• He combined classical guitar, electric guitar, synthesizers, handclaps, and snare drum while preserving the dynamics and structure of Steve Reich’s composition.
• Each movement became a different image for Emanuele: a memory, a peaceful refuge, and a scene of conflict.
• Twelve years of conservatory study gave him a classical foundation, while funk, dub, R&B, ambient music, and production expanded his sense of rhythm and sound.
• His childhood listening moved freely among Pink Floyd, Aretha Franklin, Elton John, jazz, psychedelic music, Metallica, Madonna, Lady Gaga, and Michael Jackson.
• Playing with other musicians taught Emanuele how touch, energy, harmony, tone, and placement within the beat become part of a musician’s identity.
• Rather than committing to a single narrow path, Emanuele is embracing experimentation across ambient music, dance, live performance, synthesizers, and improvised techno.

Music from the Episode

• Electric Counterpoint - I. Fast - Emanuele Naima
• Electric Counterpoint - III. Fast - Emanuele Naima
• Equilibri - Emanuele Naima

About the Podcast

The Bandwich Tapes is a podcast about music, the people who make it, and the experiences that shape a creative life. I sit down with musicians, songwriters, producers, and other artists for thoughtful conversations about craft, collaboration, careers, and the moments that happen both on and off the bandstand.

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