Inside LUSU: Wiwek and Mike Cervello on Creativity, Rituals, and What’s Next

LUSU is back on HI-LO’s imprint, HILOMATIK, with their newest solo track, ‘Imagine’—yet again showcasing the duo’s characteristic cinematic techno sound. It's time to dive into the profiles behind this rising project: Wiwek and Mike Cervello.

What are the first steps you take when writing or producing a new song?

Wiwek: “First, you need to hear it in your head. You don’t even need to hear the music, but you need to hear the vibe. Then you translate it into some musical part. Sometimes you already hear the music as well. Sometimes you already hear a vocal or something, and then you put it on board."

Mike Cervello: “It works best if you already have a general idea, but sometimes ‘little accidents’ can happen along the way too.”

When and how did you realize that you wanted to become a professional artist?

Wiwek: “When I heard Tiësto on the radio when I was 11.”

Mike Cervello: “I come from a family with a lot of musicians, and my brother was a hip-hop DJ back in the day. I grew up with it, and it just naturally came to me. I actually played as a DJ before I even produced music. I just started making beats — some crappy hip-hop beats on FL Studio. I liked it so much that I kept doing it after school, and then you just get better at it. There wasn’t a specific moment in time… I just rolled into it.”

Which of your songs would you like to improve if you could go back in time?

Wiwek: “’Transition’. We’re gonna rework that one, put a remaster on it. We played that tune in our sets, and it's always one of our top moments. We made that track when we made our first EP, when we were still discovering the sound, the mix, the master, and what works best for LUSU. Now we can improve it.”

Do you have any particular routines or rituals before going on stage?

Wiwek: “The same as when we’re here in the studio! We have a Kinder Bueno, and there we go…”

Mike Cervello: “And a cup of coffee.”

Wiwek: “That depends on the time!”

Mike Cervello: “We did a show during ADE at the HILOMATIK stage. Someone who was working there gave us some fresh coffee, and it was so good. It was an early set, and it really opened my eyes.”

Wiwek: “And the coffee in Portugal! It was 6 AM, so we slept, had a cup of coffee, did the show, and started our day that way. That was good.”
 
Do you have any upcoming tracks that you can already give us a sneak peek on?

Mike Cervello: “Well, we just released our song ‘Imagine,’ it’s out now on HILOMATIK. If you want to hear some new IDs, I think it’s best to check out our live set during Parookaville, which is up on YouTube. It’s a nice preview of what we’re going to do in 2025.”

Have you ever faced creative blocks, and if so, how do you overcome them?

Wiwek: “The most success I’ve had with overcoming creative blocks is by actually not making music. Just go do something else for a week and not listen to any music, then the hunger can come back. Your ears need that sensation again, and then: boom—you’re back! That’s one way for me."

Mike Cervello: “When I had those creative blocks, it was actually because I didn’t really know what I wanted in music. Then just go outside, walk in nature…”

Do you have any passions or hobbies outside of music? Any favorite movies?

Mike Cervello: “When it comes to movies… when I think about a real cinematic experience, I’d go for Interstellar. In IMAX… huge.”

Wiwek: “I love traveling. I love kicking other people’s asses on FIFA. And yeah, some reading from time to time and getting to know the world a little better.”

Get "Imagine" On Beatport Now