W Hotel music director brings ‘Symmetry'

Michaelangelo L’Acqua made a recent appearance on the ones and twos at the W Buckhead to kick off the debut of Symmetry, the seventh CD in the W’s series of music compilations. For L’Acqua, the newly created position is a culmination of many years of doing what he does best. The job entails producing the CDs, which are part of the soundtrack in hotels, as well as advising on different partnerships including music festivals and more.

The New York native’s first foray into music was as a young violinist. Then he heard jazz by Charlie Parker.

“I became obsessed with it,” said L’Acqua of Parker’s trademark bebop. “I have always known I would be doing music.” He went on to earn a music degree from The New School Jazz and Contemporary Music Program.

L’Acqua was music director for Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent under designer Tom Ford. He has also worked as a recording artist, scoring music for almost 200 commercials.

At the W, L’Acqua’s hope is to bring lively music to the early adopters and trendsetters who tend to be W customers.

“It is about discovery and finding the right people you think should be showcased,” L’Acqua said. That includes artists like Daniel Merriweather, the Australian import L’Acqua tapped almost the moment he stepped off the plane in New York. L’Acqua did an exclusive remix of Merriweather’s “Impossible” for the Symmetry CD.

Other acts featured on the $15 CD, sold in W Hotels The Store or online at www.whotelsthestore.com, include Bebel Gilberto, The XX, Little Dragon and Empire of the Sun.

“I would like to embrace the ever-changing environment of the record industry,” L’Acqua said. “And I would like to discover how the W can be part of that.”