For those people that haven’t heard of you before could you tell us a bit about yourself your story?
I was born in Italy and started my first band aged 15. I moved to London aged 19, started a band, and later performed both solo and acoustic and also “electric” with a band. When I play solo & acoustic the songs acquire a bluesy flavour. Starting from the ‘90s I performed all over Britain, Europe, and in the US, often opening for both Blues artists like Ray Charles, John Lee Hooker, BB King, John Hammond, Pops Staples, etc.. and Rock acts like Nico, Johnny Thunders, Steve Marriott, Wilko Johnson, etc.. also thanks to being Nico’s “boyfriend” for a while and to being friends with Johnny Thunders and Stiv Bators (Dead Boys, The Lords Of The New Church).
My first album with worldwide distribution, The Best-Kept Secret In Rock’n’Roll, came out in 2012, followed by Love And Death (2014) and Three Minutes To Midnight (2016). On these 3 albums I wrote, arranged, played, and produced everything myself (except for a few songs); I know they’re sort of lo-fi, but I thought that what was missing in the “form” was made up by the “content”, so to speak, also because there’s a lot of variety in my repertoire and because I make videos for all my songs on a shoestring budget, but the result is whole albums in “video format” that can be watched as films in their entirety (on my YouTube channel or website, for instance) – which I don’t think is a very common practice at all in the music industry, especially for independent artists.
My latest album When My Train Comes (11/2020) was instead recorded live in the studio with an acoustic band, somewhat going back to the Blues which has always been at the roots of what I do. Urban Blues/Rock’n’Roll for the 21st century, that’s who I am and what I do.
Who inspired you to get on the stage and perform?
As a kid Rock’n’Roll to me was Elvis and 1950s Rock’n’Roll and Doo Wop, I was a teenage “greaser”. I then became a fan of The Rolling Stones, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, etc.. but I realized that they were from a different, bygone era. Punk Rock – especially Ramones, Sex Pistols and Johnny Thunders – revitalized Rock music and that led me to their precursors: Lou Reed & The Velvet Underground, Iggy Pop and The Stooges, MC5, New York Dolls, The Modern Lovers (their first album) and David Bowie.
I like a lot of different types of music, from Beethoven to Duke Ellington to Ali Farka Toure, but I would say that what I do is in a direct line of descent from what they now call “Proto Punk” (Lou Reed and The Velvets, Iggy Pop, Johnny Thunders, etc..) and also the Blues (Howlin’ Wolf, Elmore James, Jimmy Reed, John Lee Hooker, etc..)
As a footnote, I would mention that in Italy I’m considered as a “prime over” of Punk Rock and New Wave in books, magazines, newspapers, etc.. and that about 10 years ago The (re-formed) Yardbirds, a favourite band of mine, considered having me as their front-man, but nothing really happened with that for a variety of reasons. But I was very, very happy to meet them and play with them!
Are there any particular artists or albums that have stuck with you and informed your sound?
Yes, the artists mentioned above and then some, like Sly Stone. The way I play guitar is derivative of bluesmen like Robert Johnson but also the artists I mentioned earlier. For instance, I play slide guitar and harmonica which one would associate with the Blues rather than with Lou Reed, Bowie, Iggy Pop, early Punk Rock, etc.. Of course, I could mention hundreds of albums which have been an influence… in fact, too many to mention… My aim has always been to be myself and create my own style, sound, etc.. however simple it might be.
Do you have any songwriting rituals?
Well, I’m not sure I can take full credit for what I write. I will songs into existence by thinking of what I would like to write about, and then suddenly the songs appear, perfectly formed, by themselves. Sure, I arrange them, perform them, etc.. but where the basic songs come from is a bit of a mystery to me. If a song is 4 minutes long, it seems to me that it took me seconds to write it. This is a sort of psychic process that’s been happening since I was a child and which I do not fully understand and I can’t really explain. Hank Williams – universally considered as one of the greatest songwriters ever – once said: “People don’t write music, it’s given to them”, which is absolutely true in my case.
Where do you draw inspiration from when writing songs?
All my songs are based on real people and events that actually happened. Realism is the key and my songs are always set in an urban landscape. But I “de-personalize” the songs and make them as “universal” as possible: if I write a song about the end of a romantic relationship, I try to erase personal details in order to end up with something that listeners can identify with. I mean, for instance, who has not suffered from love, relationships, break-ups, etc.. in their lives? Or bereavement or loneliness, etc..?
My songs are written for people to like them. I think people deserve better than pre-fab, disposable Pop, hence my music is for people to be able to dance to and have a good time but also something poignant and with some substance that relates to their lives at the same time – and by taking the shortest, more direct route, like singing clearly, using language in a certain way, etc.. just like the music is very direct and with a no-nonsense type of approach. In fact, I don’t think it’s difficult for listeners to figure out what any song of mine is about.
Could you tell us about the writing/recording of the ReverbNation competition-winning track “Downtown”?
Downtown musically is a bluesy number that sounds like a catchy Pop song. It was recorded live in the studio, no overdubs, as a 4-piece acoustic band: I on vocals, Dobro and harmonica plus piano, double bass, and drums. The sound engineer was Andy Shelley who did the digital re-mastering of Beatles films like Help, among other things, since he’s a fan of mine and a fantastic sound engineer.
I think it’s a catchy song but not necessarily one of my best songs. The song is very simple: it’s about going for a night out with friends but it has a touch of melancholy: the song’s “narrating voice” is that of someone looking for true love; nothing can make you feel as lonely as being alone in a crowd of people enjoying themselves and/or having a party. It’s also a reminder of how life was until recently and how it should be because for almost the last two years we’re been practically forbidden to live our lives – and worldwide.
What are some of your favourite venues to perform at?
I can’t name specific venues as they change the name, close down, etc.. all the time. But I prefer clubs and small theatres, as there’s a more intimate atmosphere than open-air concerts, large venues, festivals, etc.. although I enjoy performing live and I will perform everywhere. To me it’s important that the audience enjoy themselves; I don’t go on stage to self-aggrandize my ego; I go on stage to give the audience a show that they can enjoy, songs they can relate to and remember fondly later, hopefully.
Here at Artistic Echoes, we are always on the lookout for new artists do you have anyone to recommend?
I wish I could, but nobody comes to mind right now. Maybe that’s a shortcoming of mine, I suppose: I’m so busy with my own music and I’ve been doing this for so long as to have a very clear idea about what I do that I don’t often pay attention to other acts as I should, perhaps. Having said that, many new bands I see leave a lot to be desired. Recently another artist said to me “You’re the last man standing” – as far as Rock’n’Roll is concerned.
What plans do you have for the rest of the year?
I have 5 singles/non-album tracks that I could release with a few unreleased songs as an album. I could also release another acoustic and Blues-influenced album like When My Train Comes for which I have already recorded several songs. I’m not sure. My last album came out only 9 months ago and my last single, Days Of Wine And Roses, was only a few months ago (July 2021). I would like to have a stable band to perform live regularly, but that’s not always easy to put into practice because finding the right musicians can be very, very difficult. That’s the biggest and more persistent problem for me because I like to play live and with a good band.
