MRAK

Carmine Conte (Mrak) is an Italian DJ, music producer, and visual-audio concept artist, widely recognized as one-half of the influential melodic techno duo Tale of Us and the creator of his solo live project, MRAK.

Early Life and Origins

Born in Toronto, Canada, and raised in Milan, Italy, Carmine Conte developed an early passion for music influenced by classical compositions, soundtrack scoring, and electronic rhythms. In Milan, he met Matteo Milleri, with whom he shared an ambition to create atmospheric electronic soundscapes that departed from traditional peak-time club music.

Together, Conte and Milleri moved to Berlin in the late 2000s, immersing themselves in the city’s thriving techno culture and shaping what would become the signature melodic techno sound.

Tale of Us and Afterlife

In 2009, Conte and Milleri formed Tale of Us. The duo quickly garnered international acclaim with releases on labels such as Visionquest, Minus, and R&S Records. Their distinctive style—blending emotive synth lines, haunting melodies, and driving percussion—reshaped the global techno landscape.

Key milestones include:

• Northmix / Berlin Scene Presence: Establishing deep roots at institutions like Watergate and Panorama Bar.
• Debut Album Endless (2017): Released on the prestigious classical label Deutsche Grammophon, the LP showcased their background in ambient and contemporary classical arrangement.
• The Afterlife Phenomenon (2016–Present): Co-founding the Afterlife record label and global event series. Afterlife evolved into an audiovisual cultural movement, renowned worldwide for massive visual storytelling, state-of-the-art production, and curated lineups featuring top-tier underground talent.

Solo Career: MRAK

While Tale of Us continued to headline major festivals worldwide, Conte launched his solo alias, MRAK, to explore a darker, more cinematic, and narrative-driven sonic direction.

• Debut Works: MRAK debuted in 2021 with the One EP on Afterlife, featuring introspective club tracks like "Never Ends" and "Vacio."
• Live Concept Performance: Unlike typical DJ sets, MRAK is frequently presented as an immersive live performance incorporating analog synthesizers, live sequencing, lighting design, and original visual elements.
• Musical Style: Conte’s solo identity leans heavily into neo-classical synthwave, dystopian cyberpunk aesthetics, and tension-building melodic progressions, emphasizing emotional release through deep, analog textures.