Q: Hey, can you tell us a bit about where you come from, and what made you want to start a career in music?
A: I’m from a small town in the south of Italy, I started to play guitar when I was 12 or 13 and then I became very passionate with rock music.
I mean all the music where there’s someone who plays guitar solos in it. Classic rock like Zeppelin or Deep purple or pink Floyd and all the rock of the 80’s especially U2.
Then I started to listen to heavy metal and and go to concerts obviously. I really like live music and its power. At 15 I wrote a song called “ feeling masks” and that’s when it all began, meanwhile I played and sang in various cover bands and then I felt the need to start writing songs and record them. So what drives me is pure passion, passion for music, I guess.
Q: And what other artists have you found yourself listening to lately?
A: Now I listen to Rammstein and Ghost. But when I want to relax I listen to Paul Simon or Lou Reed or Van Morrison. I don’t listen to new music though.
Q: Who were your first and strongest musical influences, and why the name ‘ANIMATE’?
A: U2 and Red hot Chili Peppers I guess. I really like the guitar playing of Frusciante and The Edge. So simple but so profound, they had a huge impact on my life and on my guitar playing. When we started the project with the bassist there was the lockdown due to covid19. So we thought of naming the band “inmates” for obvious reasons. Then it became “ANYMATE” because we want other musician friends to have a part in it and then became ANIMATE. “ give life” to the project give it a soul (anima means soul in Italian).
Q: You have just released your new single, ‘Unbound’. Is there a story behind it?
A: “ The night of the falling stars” ( 10th of August ) is a very special night in the area where I live. It is called the night of the falling stars because that night is the peak of activity of the perseids meteors shower. So people wait all night long until dawn looking at the sky to spot the falling stars. And they usually party hard getting really drunk. But I had a very bad day at work, I was tired and I didn’t want to go out with my friends , so I pictured myself lying on the ground, looking at the sky to spot the falling stars in a very special place by the sea called “ the little hill”. With that image in my mind I wrote the song.
The song is about letting people make their own choices. It is about putting aside all the desires and all the fears and let them go on with their lives. It is about letting them “find their own place”. Unbound, indeed.
Q: Can we expect a new EP or even an album from you in the near future?
A: Another acoustic single called “ the colours of a new day” will be released soon. Then another alternative rock song but this time very very heavy.
Q: What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?
A: There are really two different and separate dimensions when it comes to talk about Animate. The acoustic one and the alternative rock one.
I want the sound to be clear, immediate and that goes straight to the point. Whether it is a guitar part o bass line or a lyric line, the goal is to make people feel emotions and resonate with them.
The key elements are the lyrics and the simplicity of the sound.
Q: Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it, or are you expecting something more?
A: To me it is all about the journey. It’s the writing process that I like the most. I really enjoy it. So giving shapes to the songs is what satisfy me.
Q: Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song?
A: When I write songs could be the lyrics or the music I write alone. But the process could be very easy or very frustrating. For Unbound I wrote the lyrics first then I found the chords and the vocal line with an electric guitar. It is not the easiest thing to do in fact all the artists write the music first and then sings along the song trying to find the best vocal line that fits in. It is more natural that way because lyrics come with the music flow. But Unbound to me is special, it took 10 minutes to write the music with the guitar, the very moment I wrote the lyrics I knew it should have been an acoustic song. So I recorded it with my acoustic guitar. Then I tried to add other elements like strings or a bass line but I really felt that the song was complete with an acoustic guitar and the voice. I called a longtime friend to play the electric solo that you hear in the song. Sometimes it is like magic. The songs want to pop out your body and there’s nothing that you can do, you have to let them come out. For filling your void, our first single it was different because it is an experimental song so you have to take your time to experiment with new sounds.
Q: What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
A: Be in peace with myself and with the fact that I have something to say. It’s like running naked in a crowded street. Sometimes people say that artists are liars and it could be true but you can’t lie to yourself, never. You have to face it. So trying not to lie to myself is the most difficult thing I had to endure in my life.
Q: On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
A: I’m very proud of the music I’m releasing, really. I enjoy my life and I’m very grateful for all of this.
LISTEN TO THE BAND:
Follow ANIMATE:
Spotify – SoundCloud – YouTube – Facebook – Instagram