Interview with Capside

What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?

(Answers Valentina Casu, the singer of the band)
I've always been a bit shy and art and music in particular have been my "therapy". I started my artistic journey with the theater, and right there I met a member of Capside who introduced me to the rest of the band.
Probably, if I hadn't known them, I would have continued with acting.

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

I like poetry and meditation, good food and walks by the sea. It is in the silence that music and good ideas come looking for me.

How long has your band been around?

Capside started in 1992, but I joined the band in 1995. After some turbulence the lineup stabilized in 1997.

Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?

Capside come from Sardinia which, in addition to being a wonderful land, is also known for its peculiar music with ancestral roots. Actually our music has all the references of classic rock with fusion elements, but surely we are not insensitive to our roots.

How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?

“Capside” is a scientific term (to be read in Latin). It literally represents “the protein envelope of a viral particle”. We liked the sound but above all it brought us back to the idea of a "barrier" against commercial music that we hated as kids. Yes, we were young idealists :)

Tell me about your most memorable shows.

There were so many beautiful moments in our lives. Not long ago we attended a festival outside our island and we had a lot of fun. What I remember with a smile is a concert far back in time, where I had a leg in plaster due to an injury and I could hardly stand up. There's even a video on Youtube somewhere.

What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

There is our friend Berny's pub in Sassari. We recently played in a country house to an attentive and friendly crowd and it was beautiful. I would like to play … at Madison Square Garden! :)

If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?

Mmm, maybe Joni Mitchell on backing vocals, Neil Young on guitar, Jaco Pastorious on bass, Bill Bruford on drums. A strange lineup, I must say.

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band and some advice that you would give to your younger self?

You have to dare and be persevering in your ideas. Talent is not enough, or not always, but you also need to study in order to develop your skills to the fullest. Then it also takes a bit of audacity and luck. One piece of advice I'd give to my younger self is to learn to believe more in your own abilities and not care about other people's judgements.

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?

More than a song I would say which album means the most. Definitely the last one, Ladyesis. Each song is linked to the other, for experience, maturity, children, dreams, fantasies, hope.

Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?

Right now definitely Di Notte and Filastrocca di Periferia. A song that many liked from the last album is A mio figlio (To my son), a poem to music dedicated to the youngest members of our families, but our listeners are also very fond of an old Capside ballad called Principessa della Notte (Princess of the Night).

What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?

Often a member of the band brings ideas to the rehearsal room, sometimes even well-developed ones, other times it happens that ideas are born with improvisation. Then we work together on these ideas and in the meantime I start thinking about the melody, and finally the text that the music inspires me.
Topics range from real life to existential reflections, mysticism and fantasy.

What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?

In general, I like his intellectual honesty in an artist, that is, I like to see and feel his depth and truth. I hate those who make music to please others and I also look for this way of playing and creating art for myself.

Do you ever have disagreements in your band, and how do you get past them?

We too have had our ups and downs, but over time we have developed the ability to listen to each other and to tolerate each other's excesses as well. We are very empathetic and basically love each other.

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?

For the moment we want to promote our album Ladyesis, which has been out for a few days, even if we have some new songs that we haven't included in the album and that could be the beginning for a new release.