Ettore Passafiume, founder of Semantic, shares his journey in the music industry, beginning as a passionate fan exploring SoundCloud. In 2012, he started with a personal channel, searching for the latest remixes with his cousin, and soon discovered his love for DJing and producing. In 2013, he transformed his channel into a DJ/producer profile under the alias “TORREX” and released his first remix, reaching 1,300 organic plays. This motivated him to pursue music more seriously, eventually leading to his first record deal after winning a remix contest with Canadian producers, resulting in an EP release.

His big break came when he signed with Saifam Group in 2015, allowing him to release singles like “Degeneration” and “Gangster.” His success grew as he gained recognition in Sicily and across northern Italy, performing at notable events and sharing the stage with renowned DJs like Gabry Ponte and Sak Noel. Through SoundCloud, he was scouted by DJ Niltox, which led to collaborations and a tour in Spain. These experiences inspired Ettore to study music business and marketing, ultimately leading to the founding of his music network, agency and label, Semantic Sounds, in 2017.

An important turning point in his journey was acquiring the Followeb.de platform, dedicated to artist growth through download gates, smart links, and follower acquisition on major streaming channels. In the years that followed, Ettore released his single “Please Don’t Stop” from Time Records with the Most Wanted, collaborating with famous artists like Adam Clay and Besford Koni, and launched track that received broad support, even being played at San Siro stadium in Milan (Italy) and on Mediaset television programs.

Shifting from performance to promotion, Ettore began supporting emerging artists and developed Followeb, a platform to aid music promotion.

Ettore firmly believes in continuous growth through collaboration and active learning, asserting that promotion and strategic partnerships are key to breaking through in today’s music industry.

For him, learning by doing is essential: this approach has enabled him to reach thousands of followers and millions of streams on SoundCloud, Spotify and other channels for tracks released under his Semantic label.

With a constant focus on learning and improvement, Ettore encourages artists to commit with dedication and concentrate on realistic goals, emphasizing the importance of perseverance even in the face of challenges, never losing sight of the long growth journey that defines a solid artistic career.

Ettore’s story emphasizes the importance of hard work, continuous learning, and strategic promotion. His advice to aspiring artists is clear: invest in quality music, leverage collaboration, and master promotion techniques to build a lasting presence in the industry.

Throughout this journey, Ettore has been joined by his lifelong friend and collaborator, Giulio Lodato, an expert in graphic design and branding. Together, they co-founded Semantic Sounds, and Giulio has been instrumental in every milestone, from establishing Semantic Sounds to launching new ventures. Since 2022, the Semantic Agency division has been dedicated to artist management, marketing, publishing and communications, supporting both artists, companies and brands in launching and expanding their digital presence.

The mission of Semantic is clear: to help artists, producers, authors, talents, brands and businesses leave their mark in music and other industries. Semantic’s vision centers on providing the tools, strategies, and expertise needed to empower creativity and drive success in a constantly evolving digital market.