Giulia Spallino is an amazing Italian artist singer. She accepted this interview few weeks ago. Go have a listen and like Giulia on the web:
http://www.giuliaspallino.com
http://www.youtube.com/user/GiuliaSpallino
https://soundcloud.com/#giulia-spallino
https://www.facebook.com/giulia.spallino
Where did you grow up and where do you live now?
I grew up in a small town near Bergamo, in the north of Italy, but now I live with my boyfriend and our dog in the city. It 'a very beautiful town, but quite small, and like all cities has its pros and cons.
How long do you play music and how did you get started?
I started singing very late, when I was 20 years old.. I was just shy and I could not really sing in front of other people. When I broke up with my ex-boyfriend, as all women (do) when there is a big change in their life, I realized that I had to start using this gift I had: I took courage and began singing in a gospel choir.
Then came my acoustic trio (vocal and guitar), a funk band, a reggae band ... and after all this, I discovered my songs.
What is your musical background?
I listen to all kinds of musical genres: from 70s rock to 90s hip hop, from dance music to folk, from soul to pop ... I think all genres have their meaning and their path, and every sound can give me something. All can inspire me.
What music are you listening to now?
My musical guide is and will always be Lauryn Hill.
But now I really like reggae music (my boyfriend is a reggae dj and I really like the vibes) and electronic music contaminated with soul ... by chance, do you know Delilah or Little dragon? That kind of stuff.
The first song ever sung?
The first song ever sung in my life in a "serious" occasion was a gospel song: I do not remember the title, but I remember that I was very nervous and my legs were shaking (and I always looked at EYES Director of the Choir). Instead, the first recording experience was disastrous ... After have hearing my voice, I burst into tears and ran away from the studio!
Tell me about your writing process. Do you co-write or do you write alone?
I usually write alone, in my room, in my kitchen, on my bed, on a bus .. They are all very PERSONAL thoughts, which relate to my life and my experience. For this reason, I write alone.
Once I figured out what I want to say / write, I begin to give it a SHAPE and A MELODY.
It all happens very naturally and when I realize that it’s not like so, I start over.
How many songs have you recorded?
Maybe 10-12 songs, I don’t remember exactly.
A LP?
Now, I'm working on my first EP: it will consist of 5+1 tracks and it will be released next spring. It was a very long and hard work for me, but I'm really proud of what I have become.
Is that you have a website to disseminate your music?
I have my website www.giuliaspallino.com but for now it contains only all my social links (fb, twitter, instagram, pinterest..)
What has been your most memorable experience thus far?
The most amazing experience was a very personal one (as opposed to what you might think). My uncle asked me to sing a song at my aunt’s funeral.. I sang Jeff Buckley's Halleluja: it was the most strong and intense moment of my life. For the first time I really sang from the heart. My broken heart.
Are there any plans for a tour in the future?
By now there isn't anything concrete, but when my EP will come out, there will be some promotional dates for sure.
Which country would you play first?
First of all I'd like touring my country and let Italy know my music. Obviously, I want also to bring my music abroad and everywhere :)
Is there anyone you'd want to tour with?
Regarding Italian artists, I'd like to open the concert of Meg (highly recommend). Regarding foreign artists instead, my dreams are about Lauryn Hill and Erykah Badu, the queens of nu soul. But they’re only dreams, you know
Like all the singers on this blog, you wear glasses. Are they real or only for fashion?
Unfortunately they’re real cause I'm a little bit blinded
What's next step for you now?
Next step is finishing the video we're shooting for my first single, then I’ve got to finish my whole EP and continue writing as much as possible.
samedi 30 novembre 2013
samedi 9 novembre 2013
Valarie Mulberry
Through YouTube I come across the amazing Valarie Mulberry who are just starting to wear glasses. I would like to share her work and she gladly accepted this interview.
Valarie is recording her solo debut CD to be released in early 2014.
http://www.valariemulberry.com
http://www.facebook.com/vmulberry
http://www.youtube.com/7bvoicetr
Is Valarie Mulberry is your real name?
Yes, it is. Most people with my first name spell it "Valerie" but my mom is dyslexic and dyslexics tend not to be good spellers. When I was born she asked a nurse to tell her how to spell it. The nurse wrote down about five different spelling variations of my name. My mom liked the one with two "a's" in it, as opposed to the typical spelling with two "e's." My last name was changed from a Spanish name three generations ago when that line of my family tree came from Mexico.
Where were you born and where have you lived?
I was born in Portland, Oregon but my parents moved to the Oregon Coast when I was 2 years old. I grew up in the mountains on the Oregon Coast with a river in the back yard and train tracks in the front. I lived on the Island of Maui, Hawaii for three and half years, then I moved to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam for two years. Vietnam provided a lot of interesting experiences. I rode my motorbike around the city, sang in a rock band for a time, made some wonderful friendships, taught English as a Foreign Language and did my best to learn Vietnamese. I had quite a few comical mishaps because it is a tonal language and hard to get the hang of. After Vietnam, I moved back to Hawaii for two years and then to the San Francisco Bay Area for two years. I now live in Santa Barbara, California.
How long have you played music and how did you get started?
I have played guitar, which is my main instrument, for almost 17 years and have been performing for ten years now. I was lucky that my dad played guitar when I was growing up so I learned a few chords from him. He played a lot of top hits from the 1960s, stuff from the Beatles, Otis Redding, Peter Paul and Mary and Bob Dylan. "Louie, Louie" by the Kingsmen and "Gloria" by Van Morrison were the first songs that I learned on guitar. I really didn't get serious with guitar until adulthood though.
First song ever sung?
Probably "Crawdad Song" which is an old folk song that is in the public domain. No one knows for sure who wrote it. My dad used to sing it when I was a kid. It's sort of a fun kids song. I actually re-interpreted it for myself and I sing it at gigs sometimes.
Who is your inspiration?
Anyone seeking truth and living what I call "the life of an artist." I think it is a really beautiful journey to dedicate oneself to an artistic passion. Art is a great method for healing one's self and usually results in also helping others to heal.
What are your favorite artists right now and why?
I am really digging Valerie June and also the Alabama Shakes right now. I like Ben Howard. There's a cool San Diego duo that I played a show with called "The Lovebirds" that are amazing. I love Tift Merritt and the Be Good Tanya's. They have a bit of a rootsy sound but it is contemporary too. Van Morrison is probably my favorite singer-songwriter, if I had to choose. I just love the vibration that he puts out. I also like some of the stuff that can be heard on the radio like Florence and the Machine, Adele and David Gray.
Can you describe your music?
I probably can't describe it very well. That is something that I have a hard time with. It's really hard to express sound accurately in words. My short answer is usually "eclectic singer-songwriter" or "jazzy but not jazz, bluesy but not blues, a little folky but not folk, country-ish but not country, a little bit rock." It really depends on the song though. I tend to write in slightly different genres but it is still coming from me so it has the common thread of sounding like me, of course.
What is the inspiration for your songs?
It really depends on what I am processing spiritually and emotionally at the point in time that I write a song. But insomnia has been good for my creativity. I like the solitude of night-time. I find that is when the songs come to me.
Where are you at with the new album? Is it all finished?
I am almost finished with it. I have about three more sessions to finish the mixing and mastering. I will be finished with the mastering by mid-November. I will have a slightly delayed release though, because I want to plan some promotion. It will be released February 20th, 2014. I am really excited about it. I have some great musicians playing on it and I love every note of the entire album. I have vintage organs on it, a fabulous back up singer and some really great guitar solos by my guitarist/producer. We started recording it fifteen months ago, so we really took our time. I am really happy with the producer that I chose to work with and cannot wait to share it with everyone.
Where do you buy your music?
I buy actual CD's. I love to listen to them in my car or when I am cleaning the house. I mostly buy them at live shows to support the artists. I am not into the mp3 thing yet. The sound quality for mp3's is not as good as CD's either. So I have not really gotten into the iTunes thing much yet.
Any loves other then music?
I love anything to do with culture and learning about how culture operates on us and how it changes or doesn't change. I like to learn why people behave the way that they do. I have an insatiable desire to keep learning. I love reading and I stay up to date on current events. I love to have good conversations with friends. I also love animals and do animal rescue when I am able.
Where would you most like to perform?
Right now, I would most like to perform a full length gig with an awesome five piece band backing me up in front of five thousand people in an older restored theater. One of those places with great architecture and old red velvet seats.
Any plans for a tour?
I am in the beginning stages of formulating a plan to play some shows in LA, San Diego and San Francisco after my CD is released. I am not sure if it can officially be called a "tour" or not but I will be getting out of my little hub of Santa Barbara much more often. I would like to book some shows in Oregon too and start moving up and down the West Coast much more.
For the new videos, will you keep your glasses?
I think so. Probably about half and half.
Where do you hope to be by 2014?
I want to be making an income from my music, whether that be from film, TV and advertisement placements or from playing live. I want to get an awesome live backing band. Currently, I mainly play with an electric guitarist backing me and that is very fun but it also feels exhilarating to play with a full band. Ideally, I would like to make back the amount I spent on recording my album and just keep playing better and better shows and keep connecting with audiences.
Valarie is recording her solo debut CD to be released in early 2014.
http://www.valariemulberry.com
http://www.facebook.com/vmulberry
http://www.youtube.com/7bvoicetr
Is Valarie Mulberry is your real name?
Yes, it is. Most people with my first name spell it "Valerie" but my mom is dyslexic and dyslexics tend not to be good spellers. When I was born she asked a nurse to tell her how to spell it. The nurse wrote down about five different spelling variations of my name. My mom liked the one with two "a's" in it, as opposed to the typical spelling with two "e's." My last name was changed from a Spanish name three generations ago when that line of my family tree came from Mexico.
Where were you born and where have you lived?
I was born in Portland, Oregon but my parents moved to the Oregon Coast when I was 2 years old. I grew up in the mountains on the Oregon Coast with a river in the back yard and train tracks in the front. I lived on the Island of Maui, Hawaii for three and half years, then I moved to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam for two years. Vietnam provided a lot of interesting experiences. I rode my motorbike around the city, sang in a rock band for a time, made some wonderful friendships, taught English as a Foreign Language and did my best to learn Vietnamese. I had quite a few comical mishaps because it is a tonal language and hard to get the hang of. After Vietnam, I moved back to Hawaii for two years and then to the San Francisco Bay Area for two years. I now live in Santa Barbara, California.
How long have you played music and how did you get started?
I have played guitar, which is my main instrument, for almost 17 years and have been performing for ten years now. I was lucky that my dad played guitar when I was growing up so I learned a few chords from him. He played a lot of top hits from the 1960s, stuff from the Beatles, Otis Redding, Peter Paul and Mary and Bob Dylan. "Louie, Louie" by the Kingsmen and "Gloria" by Van Morrison were the first songs that I learned on guitar. I really didn't get serious with guitar until adulthood though.
First song ever sung?
Probably "Crawdad Song" which is an old folk song that is in the public domain. No one knows for sure who wrote it. My dad used to sing it when I was a kid. It's sort of a fun kids song. I actually re-interpreted it for myself and I sing it at gigs sometimes.
Who is your inspiration?
Anyone seeking truth and living what I call "the life of an artist." I think it is a really beautiful journey to dedicate oneself to an artistic passion. Art is a great method for healing one's self and usually results in also helping others to heal.
What are your favorite artists right now and why?
I am really digging Valerie June and also the Alabama Shakes right now. I like Ben Howard. There's a cool San Diego duo that I played a show with called "The Lovebirds" that are amazing. I love Tift Merritt and the Be Good Tanya's. They have a bit of a rootsy sound but it is contemporary too. Van Morrison is probably my favorite singer-songwriter, if I had to choose. I just love the vibration that he puts out. I also like some of the stuff that can be heard on the radio like Florence and the Machine, Adele and David Gray.
Can you describe your music?
I probably can't describe it very well. That is something that I have a hard time with. It's really hard to express sound accurately in words. My short answer is usually "eclectic singer-songwriter" or "jazzy but not jazz, bluesy but not blues, a little folky but not folk, country-ish but not country, a little bit rock." It really depends on the song though. I tend to write in slightly different genres but it is still coming from me so it has the common thread of sounding like me, of course.
What is the inspiration for your songs?
It really depends on what I am processing spiritually and emotionally at the point in time that I write a song. But insomnia has been good for my creativity. I like the solitude of night-time. I find that is when the songs come to me.
Where are you at with the new album? Is it all finished?
I am almost finished with it. I have about three more sessions to finish the mixing and mastering. I will be finished with the mastering by mid-November. I will have a slightly delayed release though, because I want to plan some promotion. It will be released February 20th, 2014. I am really excited about it. I have some great musicians playing on it and I love every note of the entire album. I have vintage organs on it, a fabulous back up singer and some really great guitar solos by my guitarist/producer. We started recording it fifteen months ago, so we really took our time. I am really happy with the producer that I chose to work with and cannot wait to share it with everyone.
Where do you buy your music?
I buy actual CD's. I love to listen to them in my car or when I am cleaning the house. I mostly buy them at live shows to support the artists. I am not into the mp3 thing yet. The sound quality for mp3's is not as good as CD's either. So I have not really gotten into the iTunes thing much yet.
Any loves other then music?
I love anything to do with culture and learning about how culture operates on us and how it changes or doesn't change. I like to learn why people behave the way that they do. I have an insatiable desire to keep learning. I love reading and I stay up to date on current events. I love to have good conversations with friends. I also love animals and do animal rescue when I am able.
Where would you most like to perform?
Right now, I would most like to perform a full length gig with an awesome five piece band backing me up in front of five thousand people in an older restored theater. One of those places with great architecture and old red velvet seats.
Any plans for a tour?
I am in the beginning stages of formulating a plan to play some shows in LA, San Diego and San Francisco after my CD is released. I am not sure if it can officially be called a "tour" or not but I will be getting out of my little hub of Santa Barbara much more often. I would like to book some shows in Oregon too and start moving up and down the West Coast much more.
For the new videos, will you keep your glasses?
I think so. Probably about half and half.
Where do you hope to be by 2014?
I want to be making an income from my music, whether that be from film, TV and advertisement placements or from playing live. I want to get an awesome live backing band. Currently, I mainly play with an electric guitarist backing me and that is very fun but it also feels exhilarating to play with a full band. Ideally, I would like to make back the amount I spent on recording my album and just keep playing better and better shows and keep connecting with audiences.
Inscription à :
Articles (Atom)