Artist

"I fell many times, but I've always got back up again"

August 2010

During her career Italian singer Donatella Rettore always stood in the panorama of Italian music genres and changed skin many times during her long and colorful career. Her songs go from desecrating irony (Kobra, Lamette, Konkiglia, Diva, Donatella) to romance (Di notte specialmente, Amore stella, Giulietta) to yearning for (Estasi, This time, È morto un artista, Il ponte dei sospiri, Oblio, Nel viale della scuola è sempre autunno) , linguistic experimentation (, Karahiri, Io ho te, Stralunata, Leonessa, Sangue del mio sangue, Bianco, Cambio) , sensuality (Benvenuto, Femme fatale, Primadonna) to just plain rhythm (Delirio, W la mamma, Eroe, Bastardo) . With a new album in the making and a tour coming up Giovanni Zambito caught up with the singer for magazine Fattitaliani. She welcomes Giovanni with: " Fortunately you caught me just in time for my vacation, and then I can enjoy my dogs and my husband, make my trips . "

It seems it’s always vacation for you?

Sure, usually the first ten days of July I go somewhere to recharge : you know I’m not 20 anymore and my concerts are energetic .

The tour this year is entitled "Caduta Massi” (Falling Rocks)

Yes , like my new album it's pure entertainment, a concept album like " Kamikaze " dedicated to the world of teenagers at concerts I confess that their mothers have grown up with my own songs now , too.

How do you feel to hear the boys sing " Give me a razor blade I cut my veins " or " Kobra is not a snake ?

It makes me happy : it means that songs are destined to remain over time. I like to think that an artist like Mogol or Tony Renis are pleased their lyrics are heard after many years .

When will the album ‘Caduta Masi’ be released?

Truly, it is ready but it’s being blocked.

From what?

Since this litigation is going on between the radio and the majors (red: see our article on that on the homepage): the radio broadcast the unedited want to be paid but this time the record companies have said no and many artists are on their side not to except the usual scab . And indeed there is no Italian summer smash apart " Waka Waka " driven by the effect of Shakira’s World Cup performance. Fortunately there is a great means of networking and if a song is successful on the Internet you can be sure it will be everywhere. The ambient music is increasingly deteriorating , and already the songs are downloaded illegally from the web without the ‘help’ of the radio ...

You said that the new album is fun . But your irony is not always been understood

True, but fortunately now in Italy there are more graduates and it is better understood .hahahaha

What about 'caduta' (falling), how many times have you pulled yourself up?

I hurt myself several times: the important thing is to get up again even with a sore back . New generations need to understand that there will always be those who want to make you fall on your knees and that we must find the strength within ourselves to come back to your feet.

In early July you did a concert in Canada. How was it?
Well , we were in Niagara Falls, Ontario : I sang with a great orchestra, all serious professionals . Every time I go out I feel nostalgia for Italy , perhaps it does not appear so , but I feel very attached to our country , I like to enjoy the garden in bloom , I love the Mediterranean climate ...

Tell us about the success of the DVD " Amiche per l'Abruzzo"?
I did it because it was charity , but is was a fantastic experience , brilliantly designed by Laura Pausini , who gave more character to Italian music , she made us all grow and we gave a blow to masculinity. Four cats from Rome. Laura Pausini has invited all the singers without exception , even those who had five fans, for her they were the same.

We are close to the ‘notte di san Lorenzo’ (the night of St. Lawrence) . Do you have a memory of 10 August?

"Svegliati" " a song of my first album is really dedicated to the night of St. Lawrence . It inspired me, my boyfriend suggested that I go to the beach to watch the stars but instead I stretched my hands to show him another kind of star ...

For those who want to see and hear Rettore live. She will tour Italy in the fall starting at August 15 in Campomarino (Campobasso ) and 16 at Sasso di Castalda ( Power ), and in October she will also support Claudio Baglioni. This is a translation of the original interview by Giovanni Zambito for Fattitaliani Go to the page about Rettore on our website for more info about the artist.

Artist

"If I had to give up something it would be my career, my personal life and family comes first"

July 2010

Currently Spanish singer Mónica Naranjo is touring her home country accompanied by the 'Mexico City Philharmonic Orchestra ' to present her 'Adagio Tour 2010'. With the show Naranjo gives an overview of her musical career. The local newspaper of la Ceuta interviews the singer about her work and family life, stating that "if I had to give up something today that would certainly be work" taking into account that her son and her husband are the most important in her life.

Q - On stage your persona is all about strength and passion, how does this translate off stage?
 
A - I always emphasize that I’m a normal woman, artist, homemaker and mother in one. Whenever I'm asked if I have children answer that I have a large family counting my animals as well. I do not like defining myself , but I do know that I'm an ordinary woman . People would be surprised. The character I am onstage I never take home, it stays at the production, which is what I call the makeup and costumes. 
 
Q. - Do you think an artist 's personality is shaped by personal experiences?
 
A. - Personal experiences forge a lot , especially the emotional side of human beings, and this is reflected in your work. The more you know you experience the more you can share . I've always said that my work , especially the last album , is not easy to understand on first listen , but requires several times for the listener to reconsider.
 
Q. – But you also have to give up something for your career?
 
A. – You always have to make choices and give up during the course of your career. But if I would have to make the choice between my career and private life if would choose the last. The most important thing for me is my son, my husband and my dogs.
 
Q. - You published your first work in 1994 in Spain and ended up being better known in Mexico, something that for other artists might be more complicated. How did you make the leap ?
 
A. - Fate is fickle, never planned. It felt like a left a house in a small town and went to live in a city of 20 million inhabitants. I was not given the time to think or to assimilate the change, not even able to enjoy it , because everything happened too fast. I was very brave, very unconscious and rushed to the opportunity.
 
Q. - Because of your popularity in Latin America the doors opened in Spain ?
 
A. - Yes, after years working in Mexico I returned, at the age of 21. I did not want to return because I had not many good memories of the workforce in Spain. It is very frustrating that as an 18 year old debuting singer , with all the enthusiasm in the world, you are a victim of a  closed-loop marketing plan from nine in the morning until the afternoon. That was one of the things I did not want to meet again after all the success in Latin America. I didn’t wanted to feel jilted , let alone in my own country. I felt that I would be able to reach the public .
 
Q. - What made you come back?
 
A. - At the time, when I refused to return , there was a gentleman of a record company who met with me, banged with his fist on the table and said  “for his balls " Mónica Naranjo was going to sell records in Spain. Then I came back and it worked.
 
Q. - What work has given you the most satisfaction?
 
A. - Everyone has an important and decisive moment , but for me it’s possibly the metamorphosis with 'Minage '. I did not want to continue doing the same, my intuition told me I had to change and struggle . Then again, 'Tarantula 'was the more evolutionary from a personal point of view . 
 
Q. – You were very successful. What made you suddenly stop ?
 
A. - It was an accumulation of many things. In 1997, ' Palabra De Mujer’ was the apotheosis, in the same way that ' Minage ' was all crazy. Just a tour, did a disk, and again I went on tour, and so on for many years. That's what made me run away , thinking I would never have a house , no furniture , no family, no one to wait for me to come home . Knowing when to stop is a vital issue .
 
Q. - Where did the idea of the ' Adagio Tour ' with the ' Philharmonic Orchestra of Mexico ' come from?
 
A. - This orchestra is one of the best in the world , recording with them was a wonderful job. The " Philharmonic Orchestra of Mexico '  brings 50% of the spectacle to the ' Adagio Tour ' . It's a terrible feeling , because sometimes I think I will get to squashed with all that energy behind me.
 
Q. - What 's behind  the song 'Europe '?
 
A. – It’s a tortured song, possibly very representative of how I felt for many years. The person who made that point I know very well and we shared many things together. When someone tells me he has hit rock bottom I congratulate them , because from that moment on the only place you can go is up. 'Europe' is a song about accepting that you reached that bottom and saturated rise up again.
 
Q. – Are you a gay icon ?
 
A. - It seems so, but I do not know why . Everyone asks me, but I have no idea. It's one of those wonderful mysteries that are better not known. I feel very honored and very well received in that special atmosphere that exists in the scène nowadays. The gay community in Spain has had their proud moment of vindication the last years and major changes are still needed for further progress.

Q. - Is it true that the new record tbr is cataloged as 'Opera -Rock ' ?
 
A. - Yes, I really wanted to do something that is not limited only to one song but a whole concept. It will be a wonderful piece accompanied by a great book. I think it will come at a time when humanity needs it.

This is a translation of the original interview by Irena Jiménez for El Pueblo de Ceuta. Go to the page about Monica on our website for more info about the artist.

Artist

“Nothing is more political then love”

April 2010

One of Italy’s best songwriters just released a new compilation ‘Di tanto amore’ spanning three decades of music. Like a true Italian the central theme in his songs is love: "I think just one verse, one word, perhaps an unexpected ambiguity, to illuminate the scene around the players and make the love story told in a few minutes of music and lyrics, it covers more than just the private imaginary universe of two human beings, but in practice the
experience or the hope of many people. " Andrea Scanzi interviewed Ivano for La Stampa.

What has changed in thirty years?
"I believe that the distinctive feature is a musical construction that every time, strives to be different. A sort of restlessness composition. In Italy we analyze the songs just looking at the text: the music always comes first for me. "
Over time seems your songs seem to have become more radiant?
"Before my love suffered more. I think that ended in 2003 (Il bacio sulla bocca). Today my characters speak a language more directly for the importance of being understood and therefore there is no need not waste words.”
Political confrontation was never your thing, no wonder the title of the compilation is ‘Love now’.
"Nothing is more militant then love: no feeling deeper and more joyful. But I do try to explain and comment on society through small stories. Of course, they do not always succeed. Only two songs, Iubilaeum Bolero and Cara democrazia have a political theme. I think Italian politics is not worthy songs. I trust that the public sometimes captures every nuance. In doing so I know I will never do big protest numbers, but that's OK."
Your recent work however seems more bitter then your older songs?
"There is more disappointment than fifteen years ago. Disillusionment and fear. The satire is gone, everyone singing from the heart was slanted. And the tones were muted.”
But the artist should draw back the veil of indifference.
"True and perhaps that’s our main fault. Conformity is endemic here. We need more courage, people do not react and the artist does not take quite take a lead”.
In this context, what is the role of the artist?
"Communicate your emotions. I wrote a scholar, who works in an Italian Antarctic base, that music is like water, it infiltrates everywhere. "
Your last two albums didn’t get very good reviews, how do you feel about that?
"I think I could be the last to complain, I have almost never panned. The negative review hurt but its has its foundation. Compliments unnecessary bother me. In the seventies we stimulated a dialogue between artist and journalist, our focus lay on the local market. That hardly ever happens nowadays. "
You refer to artists like Tiziano Ferro and Morgan?
"They are artists with an international flavor. Young people always say you should be European, not Italian. Tiziano’s voice sounds like an instrument. I wrote him recently telling him I'm happy that the English version (Breathe Gentle, sung with Kelly Rowland) has become an international success. I was amazed with the recent album of Morgan. He is amiable and genial, but not easily manageable: a caliber that Italians are not used to.
And Zuggero?
"The forerunner of the international career. I worked with him for the pleasure of being colleagues. A simple song (E' delicato) but he sang it splendidly. We keep in touch. "
It that case no one ever names Capossela?
"Vinicio is very good, but I don’t follow him very close anymore. Perhaps it is never taken to the full potential. Or, maybe he just got fed up with the whole 'cantautore’ thing"
What do you think of a show like X factor?
"It 's one of few good things in TV. Although the record companies are not likely to pick up the talents with great care. They launch talent like a continuous jet. I ask myself who will buy all that music? How do you congest a market that is dead? "
And then they come knocking for one of your songs?
"They think I have drawers full of unpublished songs, but the songs that I consider bad I hardly safe. I’m also a slow writer a song takes about two months. And the market has haste. Maybe one day I’ll open a shop and advertise with ‘Confezioni musicali vendesi’’(Music Box for sale). "

You can read the interview in it’s entirety at La Stampa . Or go to the page about Fossati on our website. Above is an English translation of the original Italian text.

Artist

“Everyone has taken a different path”

February 2010

Spanish Eighties popgroup Mecano's shadow is long, very long. So one of the three former Mecano members, Nacho Cano, found out when he hinted towards a hypothetical reunion just before last Christmas. This fanned the flames of nostalgia throughout Spain were people were desperately trying to find out when shows were scheduled. In a recent interview with ABC Espagna Nacho sets things in perspective. “"The truth is that it is long since we have communicated. I know the same from them as you, Jose Maria is painting and Anne is making a record”. Nacho himself is “working my butt off with the musical ‘A’ that will go on tour for the next two years”. In that perspective a reunion is highly unlikely. Still recent releases by Mecano are selling very well.

Nacho is honoured that Mecano is still so popular. "I'm the first to be happy that Mecano still is out there, and the work I've done for it". Meanwhile their compilation "Mecano XXI Century" sold over 25 million copies and the Karaoke game "SingStar Mecano" for Play Station has surpassed the 75,000 units sold. Further more recent covers of ‘Mujer contra mujer’ by Malu and Amaia Montero’s version of  "Me cuesta tanto olvidarte" adds to the legend.

Nacho now says to ABC that he is: "tired of stirring up the past. I do not care about it. What I can honestly say is that I see closed doors”. Meanwhile Ana Torroja herself already thrown a bucket of cold water on those who dream of a return of the trio. It was during the presentation about the game mentioned above. She stated that if anyone wanted to see again the three musicians together again the best they could do is buy the game. "Everyone has taken a different path," she said. It was also to dispel rumors triggered by the appearance of an unreleased song, "Maria Luz", with lyrics and music by Jose Maria Cano added to the recent double album. But even in that moment there was a rapprochement, "As I have nothing to do with it, I'm not the most appropriate to talk about it," says Nacho. “It's a song made by my brother. Has made new arrangements and recorded the song long ago, but I can not say more. The song is beautiful, yes.”

The individual bandmembers all had their recent troubles that also fuelled the speculations for a reunion. There was Ana’s tax-problems claiming 655,000 euros. Next to a tragic car accident in October 2008 with model Esther Arroyo, and the death of a third companion. José María Cano also went through their particular plight, first with the ruinous business during the 90s, the composition of his opera "Luna"- there was talk of up to one hundred million pesetas invested in the work, which could not premiere in Madrid Teatro Real, despite the efforts of its author and Plácido Domingo himself, and then with a sensational divorce whose procedure lasted from 2002 to 2005 and which left considerably affected. Today it seems that things are going better. He just completed an exhibition at the London gallery Riflemaker Diary, inspired by cuts in Wall Street Journal, and has sold one of his works through Shoteby's for more than 68,000 euros.
Finally, Nacho himself, despite the success with his music, suffered a depression caused by his insomnia, which lasted three years. Javier Adrados Mecano’s biographer and music promoter, told us that all this was caused by a "megaestréss, because it was his project and he did not miss one of the six hundred first performances of "Today I can not get up" He lived, slept and ate in the theater. " Adrados, now works with Nacho and Ana, is convinced that "the return will occur when all three really want.

What is certain is that whenever ambiguity prevails whenever asked about it-something that happens very often. Nacho was already inclined to the idea of returning when he presented his first musical. At the premiere of the work, in April 2005, viewers were able to attend a unique moment: the three on stage playing with emotion to the surface, the song that gave title to the work. "It was very nice”, confirms the author. The band hasn’t officially performed together since September 29, 1992 after a concert in Valladolid. Nobody, not even themselves, figured that it was the last. What was announced was a temporary hiatus, caused by the depletion of the three and voice problems Ana Torroja. Obviously Spain is still hoping the hiatus will be lift some day. "

You can read the interview in it’s entirety at ABC. Or go to the page about Mecano on our website. Above is an English translation of the original Spanish text written by Pablo Martinez Pita

Artist

“Politicians in Europe lost their way”
january 2010

In Hamburg, last October, Musiknews reporter Andrei Sokolov gets German singer Xavier Naidoo in front of his notebook to ask him about the why and what around his new album ‘Alles kann besser werden’. An album of three CDs, with 35 songs. We already reviewed the album in our review section but the interview gives a nice extra insight told by the maker himself. An interview that turns in some bold political statements.

The first is the burning question of why three cd’s? Weren’t you able to publish more frequently in recent years?
Naidoo:" The songs on the album I created over four years. A period in which I got know new people or producers. In 2006 I had a time to start writing texts. In the end I had a whole selection of songs some old some new. Some of the stuff was already written in 2003 but only now I had the feeling that it fits. If a song is written, I usually do not dare to change anything. So it’s either in or out.

First thing you notice is that this time is more about politics and less about faith and religion then the previous albums?
Naidoo: "It was not specifically intended, but it has just happened. I have sung so much about faith, I guess I was done with it. Now my music has that more "Don’t give up" sound (after the Kate Bush / Peter Gabriel song).

Speaking of politics, isn’t somewhat ironic that you sing "Angela Merkel has served her time" (on ‘Raus’) as she is elected Chancellor again?
Naidoo: " I do not care, I'm not interested. I can only express my own feelings”

On the song you also say "Barack Obama has had its day '…,
Naidoo: "I do not see him as positive as the rest of the world. He does not impress me. I'm afraid that after Bush it’s impossible anyone else comes along and he immediately says: "America has changed." He still demands Germany to send more troops to Afghanistan. That makes me suspicious. "

Has this increased interest in politics something to do with age?
Naidoo: "We are the next generation. We complain all the time about the past and the Kohl era, but now we are slowly coming to an age where you have to show that we can do better.

And how can you do better?
Naidoo:"For me it is above all a regional thing. In Mannheim, we tried to tackle the regional politics. With our music company, with the pop academy, with other projects. Supporting job projects. My father was a welder and in the 80s and 90s we had to watch how jobs like his slowly disappeared, and Mannheim was among the highest unemployment rates. I've always wondered what you can do about it. "

It is no coincidence that the new album has the title "Everything can be better"?
Naidoo: "Let’s be honest. You cannot cast your vote in the election and then ignore politics for four years. We are all obligated to open our eyes. The world is changing. Since there are countries, as people say to their children, work hard to make things go better for us - just like in Germany after the war. But I feel that is changing and people are hardly willing anymore. I miss the genuine we-feeling that it Germany once had. The aim is to strengthen Germany emotionally, to which we want to contribute with our music.

But we have the impression that many politicians are rather bad for the "we-feeling?
Naidoo: "Yes, the loss of confidence is high. The politicians could be good for the we-feeling, but they have become self absorbed. Adenauer could take two weeks to make a well weighed decision if the headlines did not drive him to come up with an immediate answer. When I close my eyes, I see politics more on an emotional level and then I feel sad and angry and think that Germany did not deserve this. We had so many incredible positive opportunities, especially through the reclamation of what has happened in the Second World War, but we must not squander it. In Europe , the possibilities are so great, show the world how it can be - here, Muslims, Jews, Christians could live together, respecting minorities ... But if policymakers drift further from this ideology we will all suffer.

You can read the interview in it’s entirety at Musiknews.de. Or check our review of ''Alles kann besser werden'
Above is an English translation of the original German text.