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 come from Naples, Italy. Even if I started studied piano when I was 10, I fell in love with the guitar when I was 16 when a friend of mine played “Smoke on the Water” using his electric guitar.
Q: Did you have any formal training, or are you self-taught?
A: I’m mostly self-taught, when I was 16 I took a few Jazz Guitar lessons and a few years ago I started studying Acoustic Fingerstyle Guitar online with Adam Rafferty, one of my guitar idols.
Q: Who were your first and strongest musical influences, and how has your musical journey led you to this particular point and the creation of “Rearview Mirror”?
A: When I was young, my older brother used to play and sing The Queen almost every day. After a few years when I started playing electric guitars, I was alway listening to Red Hot Chili Peppers and Pop music. Then I started playing Acoustic Guitar inspired by Adam Rafferty, Mike Dawes and Ed Sheeran. So I decided to focus on my original songs. “Rearview Mirror” is my 7th original song.
Q: Is there a specific story or personal experience behind the lyrics of “Rearview Mirror”?
A: The “Rearview Mirror” is a metaphor representing our past, our nightmares, our breakups, our scary thoughts, it can be anything. But the message of the song is positive, according to the song artwork, there is a nice sunset in front of us, and the struggles are left behind us, in the rearview mirror.
The song was inspired by a breakup after a love story of 6 years and other life hardships.
Q: Can we expect a new EP or even an album from you in the near future?
A: Yes my main goal is to release an original EP/Album called “OFFSHORE”, I hope ASAP.
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: “Acoustic Percussive Fingerstyle Guitar meets Pop Songwriting” – I believe this is the best way to describe my sound. Beside that, I believe the key elements in my songs are “Groovy, Creative and Authentic”.
Q: How does “Rearview Mirror” differ from your previous work, and what makes it unique?
A: This song is unique because the meaning behind it is very deep. And it was produced by my dear super talented local friend Angelo Iossa, he is an amazing Singer-Songwriter/Producer and he recorded the backing vocals as well. The Mixing&Mastering are done by another local friend, Stefano Formato a.k.a. 4mat0. My older brother Michele wrote the chorus.
Q: Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song?
A: It depends. Sometimes it starts playing my guitar. But this time it started while driving my car, I suddenly had the verse melody and lyrics in mind.
Q: What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
A: The need to do a daily job not related with music, because it’s really hard to make a living only doing music.
Q: On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
A: A few summers ago, one of my idols Ed Sheeran shared one of my acoustic guitar covers! And a few months ago the same thing happened with James Bay, another idol of mine!
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