Interview: Atabasca on Their Debut Album, Live Recording & Cinematic Jazz-Funk Sound

There’s something instantly transportive about Atabasca’s self-titled debut. A record that feels less like a collection of tracks and more like a slow-burning film unfolding in your head. The Italian trio's sound drifts between jazz-funk, psychedelia, and cinematic storytelling, all wrapped in a warm, analog glow. Something I'm a sucker for and a perfect fit for our global psychedelic playlist.

Atabasca are Luca Mongia (guitars, keyboards, vocals), Paolo Mazziotti (bass guitar, keyboards, vocals), and Valerio Pompei (drums, percussion, kalimba, and vocals). I loved reading the album's backstory and the fact that it was recorded live in single takes. Atabasca leans into its rawness, letting groove and imperfection shape the narrative. I had the pleasure of catching up with the band to talk about their origins, creative chemistry, and the world behind their debut. I featured their single "Kundela Mawedi", so following up with an interview was the next logical step, as they instantly won me over with the uniqueness of their sound.

Also, big shoutout to Daniele from Killer Groove Records, who seems to be one of the nicest folks in the industry and facilitated the interview. As a fellow label owner, it's so refreshing to talk to people like him. You can listen to the 3 singles from the album below, and get ready for the full experience on Friday.

Great to have you on board, guys! Welcome and congrats on releasing the album. How does today feel?

Thank you for having us, we are sooooo excited!

What’s the story of Atabasca - how did you guys meet and how did you come up with the name?

We have known each other for ages. We played together in the past, too. We reconnected 3 years ago, and this is when the story began.

Regarding the name, we felt we were doing something far from musical trends. We took inspiration from the Athabasca Sand Dunes, a rare expanse of shifting sands set within Canada’s evergreen forests. A unique, alien, disruptive environment, just like our music.

How do you navigate creative decisions as a trio? Does one of you usually lead, or is it fully collaborative?

We are really involved equally when it comes to decisions. We think that everyone can always bring an important contribution, so we are totally open to discussing every topic among us. Everything starts with trusting each other. 

You blend jazz-funk, afrobeat, psychedelia, and cinematic influences - was this fusion natural or something you consciously aimed towards?

Of course, we were focused on the same musical goals, and we knew what we wanted to achieve, musically speaking. During the writing sessions, we just sat and played without too many plans.

Kundela Mawedi recalls the Italian Golden Age of film soundtracks. Were there specific composers or films that influenced you while creating the record?

We’re fond of Italian film composers like Morricone, Piccioni, Umiliani, etc., but we love Tarantino's movies as well. Honestly, we didn’t take inspiration from anything in particular. 

What other artists inspired you when it comes to creating Kundela Mawedi?

The real inspiring input for Kundela Mawedi was the sound of the lapsteel guitar. Luca had just finished building his own instrument, and Valerio had a melodic idea, just recorded on his phone the night before. We just started groovin’ on it, and the magic happened.

Did the “live” recording approach you took force you to embrace imperfections? How do you think this translates / what does it add to the record experience?

Definitely yes. This means being not perfect, so being human. Humanity is what we were searching for. We truly believe that manic perfection is overrated. 

Do you think that a human-first approach and embracing the pros and cons of live music is the main thing people seek in this day and age, heavily dominated by AI?

We think that AI can’t be a substitute, maybe a tool to use for. We think that people are still looking for human and social contact, and live music is one of the main ways. 

With Atabasca as your debut, what do you see as the next evolution of your sound - will you go deeper into cinematic storytelling or explore new territories?

We really don’t know. We think that the most important thing is to remain truly ourselves, no matter what musical language we choose. 

You work with Killer Groove Records for the release of the record. How important is a good team/label in 2026, even though artists could technically do a lot more things on their own compared to 10-15 years ago?

We were really blessed to meet Daniele (KGR A&R/MD), he’s a very talented guy, a musical digger, and a never-stopping worker. Having such people working with you can really make a difference, especially for emerging bands like us.

The album is available on vinyl, too. What was the feeling of holding the test pressing, and how important is physical for you, the music you create, and your fans?

You know, it’s like having a baby! It’s the physical result of years of hard work and putting all your love and energy into that thing. It's also a physical trace that will (hopefully!) remain on this Earth. The fact that people who love our music are buying it means so much to us - we’re truly grateful!

If you could tour the world with another artist/band, who would that be and why?

It is quite hard to answer you properly, our list is too long! Maybe we would say Damon Albarn, he’s one of the most incredible, eclectic artists on the contemporary scene. Bitchin Bajas and Daniel Lanois are to mention too.

What’s on your playlist these days? Any cool acts we’re missing on Stereofox?

We just listened to Eddie Chacon, Tortoise, Puma Blue, and Natural Information Society. We dig them a lot.

What’s next for Atabasca?

We are setting up the summer tour, and we would love to play live as much as possible both in Italy and abroad. In the meantime, we continue to rehearse, and we are writing new stuff too.