I’m paZ, a guitarist, synth player, producer and mix engineer based in Modena, Italy.
I work across different projects, from my solo instrumental album (paZion): Electric Dreams (focused on expressive electric guitar), to a rock-oriented band (DNR), and a synthwave/pop project called CIAO64.
CIAO64 is where I explore 80s-inspired sounds: drum machines, vintage-style synths and melodic guitar parts, with the goal of capturing the authentic musical language and emotional depth of 80s synthpop, rather than just recreating its surface aesthetics.
My setup is a hybrid between plugins and hardware, including vintage-style synths alongside modern tools.
For guitar tones, I’ve been using TONEX as the core of my setup, both in studio and in a minimal live rig.
On the production side, I’ve also been using several IK Multimedia tools — especially the T-RackS tape machines (Tape Machine 24, 80, 99, 440), along with other plugins like Sunset Sound Studio Reverb and some of the T-RackS processors.
We’re also about to release a new CIAO64 track soon.
Here’s one track from CIAO64:
Hope to connect with other synth lovers and people into that retro sound!
So you are basically down the road from our Italian HQ? Great! Also, love the song. Nice work and excellent production. As someone who grew up during the 80s I can say you nailed it. But you probably already know that.
And it means a lot hearing that from someone who experienced the 80s firsthand, that’s exactly the spirit I’m trying to capture, beyond just the sound itself.
The cassette at the beginning of the video brought back so many memories of making mix tapes. Your production is top notch and as Peter said above you nailed the 80’s style, tone and production both musically and visually. Great job. looking forward to more.
Thank you for the review! I thought your video and song are both very good! Both of you guys sing very well too. Nice white Gibson guitar! I am into sporty cars. Do you see many Ferrari’s in your area? Since I live in the Los Angeles area, I see about one or two Ferrari’s a month in my area. I drove a first generation Miata once: it is fun, but I am 6’-3” tall and I barely fit in the driver’s seat; my left knee didn’t really fit right. I haven’t driven a newer one. I always liked pop-up headlights, even though no one seems to make them anymore. I had a 1991 Toyota MR2 Turbo (yes, another very small car) that had them. I still own dozens of cassette tapes. You definitely sound 80’s! I played in several rock bands in the 80’s playing synthesizers. I still have a Sequential Circuits Pro-One that I bought in 1981. In 1984, I played in a band at Gazzarri’s (now it’s a private club called something else) once in Hollywood, California: dozens of world famous rock bands had played there in the past. Since you’re into 80’s stuff: over the last few years, I have collaborated with Jeremy Cubert (mostly for his Chapman Stick playing) on 3 songs. Jeremy collaborated with singer Jon Anderson on one song, and bassist & guitarist Billy Sherwood (Sherwood and Anderson have both played in Yes). Not familiar with Yes? Their biggest song is “Owner of a Lonely Heart”. I have multiple Van Halen stories if you’re interested.
Hi Aaron! Thank you so much, really appreciate your kind words
That’s amazing, you actually lived and played through the 80s era, that must have been something special! And a Sequential Circuits Pro-One… wow!
Also very cool about the MR2 Turbo, I love those cars (and yes… pop-up headlights are the best ). The Miata is definitely tiny, I can imagine it’s not ideal at your height!
And now I’m really curious… I’d love to hear those Van Halen stories
OK, you are welcome! Van Halen is one of my favorite bands, and Eddie is my favorite musician ever. Van Halen played a lot at Gazzarri’s before they became famous, and played there at least once after being famous. Early Van Halen was based in Pasedena, California. This happened roughly 30 years ago: I was at a restaurant in Pasedena, and my wife noticed David Lee Roth sitting by himself about 20 feet from us; he hadn’t been served yet. I heard he could be kind of a jerk at times, though I couldn’t resist talking to him. At that point in time, he wasn’t in Van Halen, so I didn’t want to bring up Van Halen per se. He was reading a magazine when I walked up to him, and I said, “hey Dave.” He looked up very slowly and was obviously less than thrilled to see me standing there. I complimented him on his singing, and asked him a question about Gazzarri’s, but he said he didn’t remember having feedback problems playing there, as I and other bands playing there, when I did. We talked for a minute, and then he said, “OK, well, good luck to you.” I took the hint he was done talking to me, so I walked away. Minutes later, he was all chatty with at least one of the waitresses working there; what a surprise, haha! About 15 years ago, there was a coworker that lived in Pasedena. She was grocery shopping there, and she ran into David Lee Roth. He was all hitting on her, but she said she wasn’t interested; she was married. But then after telling me this story, she told me she like me better, which surprised me. Another story roughly 40+ years ago. My friend had an aerial photography business; he had a small Cessna and a pilot’s license. He had already taken aerial photos of Michael Anthony’s (Van Halen bassist & backup singer) house in Glendora; I lived in that city from 1971 to 1987…
Continued: I tagged along with my friend to Michael Anthony’s house; we had to go through a security gate to get into this rich neighborhood. My friend told me to stay in his truck, and don’t talk to Michael, because he was leery of strangers. So we pulled up to this big house, it looked kind of like a castle then. Michael was working on his yard outside, about 15 feet away from me. I would have liked to talk to Michael, but I did as I was instructed. My friend talked to Michael for a few minutes. Michael’s good looking blonde wife opened the front door, and smiled at me. If my memory serves me, I think my friend said Michael had a Ferrari Testarossa around then (the internet verified that is true), but I never saw it. About 10 years ago, my dental assistant (I am not a dentist) told me a story. She said her friend was driving along on the freeway, and a big limousine pulls up along side her car. David Lee Roth is in the back of the limo, hanging out the window of the limo, flirting with this women as they drove down the freeway. The woman said she would have accepted Roth’s advances, but she was driving to the airport to pick up her mother. Haha! I saw Van Halen play live when Sammy Hagar was the singer; it was a good show, though Sammy was clearly drunk. A few times he stumbled on the lyrics.
Looks nice! Though unless it had a lift, good luck going over speed bumps, or up steep driveways. Peter, are you in Italy, or still living “everywhere”?
Hi Aaron, these stories are amazing thanks for sharing!
The David Lee Roth ones are hilarious haha, and the Michael Anthony story is really cool too.
And the Testarossa… absolute 80s icon. Here in Italy it’s basically legendary.
Love hearing these real stories from that era!
By the way, our next CIAO64 track is coming out very soon, and I’ve been using ReSing for some of the backing vocals, it’s been super useful in the production!
Glad you liked my stories! My internet source showed a red Testarossa that was supposedly previously owned by Michael Anthony for sale, many years ago. I remember seeing a parked Testarossa up close in Glendora; it was probably red, but not sure, it was very long ago. Maybe it was Michael’s. I downloaded the free Resing, but my Mac OS10.15 is most likely too old. Maybe I shouldn’t be, though I am apprehensive about updating to the required Mac OS13/14.
couldn’t resist bringing that vibe into the video!
