interview
photos courtesy of Nora Bentivoglio
6
D’Erasmo, active part of the band since 2008.
The controversy over X Factor maybe is not
so important, but from a journalistic standpoint I have to ask you at least one question about it: I’d like to know what the
band thinks of the issue.
The band fully supports Manuel’s choice. We
think it’s the right time for him to take that
place , bringing his own vision of music, as
well as taking advantage of the visibility that
will result, to carry on with even greater credibility and effectiveness the causes we feel
strongly about. See the issue of copyright or
the theme of the professional musician for
example. But also the opportunity to continue organizing festivals and events, always
attempting to raise the bar of the artistic proposal and debate in this country.
Your choices about lyrics and music have
always been clear and honest, but it seems
that none of your previous albums was characterized by pain like this one. Was it difficult or the freeing aspect prevailed?
Certainly the cathartic aspect was very
powerful and composing and writing the
album somehow relieved us from all the pain
we experienced . We wanted an energetic and
powerful album of rebirth. To sublimate all
that bad and painful we had to face in recent
years was perhaps the most difficult, but also
most rewarding, course to achieve this result.
God or search for answers from the same is
present in many songs on the disc. Although perfectly human, is it not strange for the
band of, for example, of “1.9.9.6”?
God is there, in the album I mean. And also
very present. But I think it’s more a spiritual
presence in a broad sense. There is a lot of
spirituality in this album. Having said that,
we are not believers, it is more in fact a state-
ment about his absence.
Surprised at the number one ranking for a
such a “difficult” record?
Ideally yes. Not that the last album had entered lower in the charts. The last two got in at
second place. Ballate per piccole iene at third.
Sure FOLFIRI, published just at the beginning
of summer is an even bigger achievement.
Really, we feel a big public hug. For us and for
these songs.
Which are the Italian bands that awaken
more your attention right now?
Personally speaking, I like Iosonouncane. Il
Teatro degli Orrori. I heard Krano few nights
ago playing before Zu (which incidentally remains one of the best live Italian bands
around) and they surprised me positively. A
good project is the one of Alfio Antico with
Colapesce. I’ve always liked Verdena, especially for the obsession of work on music.
Alas, nothing new has hit me recently.
I welcome any suggestions!