Interview with Lorenzo Gabanizza

Jun 6, 2023

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

I could say that nobody and nothing got me into music, because I have always been swimming in that pool. My parents had a terrific collection of vinyls and I usually listened to it till someone was taking me away from the turntable. So, if I should forcefully give merit to someone is to my parents, because they gave me a place to start. But, you know, it's been an indoor job, to tell the truth.

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

I am always writing. Poetry, novels, short stories. In fact, besides my music activity I am a writer too. And an avid reader. I also love acting and watching movies or walking in the woods. I am very receptive, therefore, everything could be the first step of a new song.

How long have you been making music?

I walked on stage for the first time in 1980, but I have been singing since my 3d year of life...

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

I travelled Europe but I am based in Italy. I may say that I wasn't influenced by my country, since I always or almost always listened to music from abroad. Mostly from the USA, UK, France, Scotland, Ireland. Of course, if we speak about the so-called "Pop Music". When it comes to Classical music, I started really young to appreciate it, especially the Scandinavian and Russian. As I recently said to Jason Barnard, art is like a smell, it sticks to you, therefore, in a certain way, I have the artistic smell of what I have experienced and penetrated me over the years. And this at multiple levels. Hence, I am sure that even if I don't recall anything I loved, belonging to my country, there are pieces, fragments of what I've heard from my mother's turntable which have a unique spot in the artist I become. This is if we speak about music only, but when I write a song, I don’t just refer to my musical taste, but also to my literary taste. Music is made of atmospheres, moods, secrets, sounds, notes. And this ethereal and magical substance takes all the sides of the prysm.

Tell me about your most memorable shows, if you haven’t played live what is your vision for a live show?

The most memorable show has been the Festival of Nations in Lyon. I represented my country with my band in front of an audience that may have easily been around the 20.000. We had a set list of italian songs to play, but Freddie Mercury had just passed away so, I wanted to make a tribute to that legendary performer and, against the will of all the band, I started singing "We are the champions". I felt it was perfect. And I felt that the audience would have loved that. As soon as I started singing, and the band followed, all those 20.000 people stood up and started singing the song with us, waving their handkerchief - believe me, looking at that scene was like watching 20.000 butterflies flying on a field...Amazing!

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

I don't have any favorite venue. Each concert has his own particularity and is the audience who makes it great.

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

Well, I could say that the one I have chosen for my latest single is the best I ever got. I wouldn't change anyone. Therefore, Jeff Christie on vocals with me, Paul Fenton on drums, Kevin Moore on bass, Hale White on piano, Catherine Ashcroft on pipes, John Heinrich on sax, Mike Casteel on trumpet, Patrick Lyon on dobro, Richard Curran on strings. The only one that I would add is Scarlett Rivera on fiddle. Come on, she's a genius. I don't think that without her Dylan would have had the success he had with Desire. With her the album has an unmistakable trademark...Her melodic choices are never ordinary and she really makes her violin cry or speak....what an extraordinary musician! For the record, I just approached her to collaborate on my next song.

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into making music and some advice that you would give to your younger self?

If you feel this is your craft, don't ever give up. Doors will close in your face and eventually break your nose, but you'll never know where the right door is. Each tomorrow could be the day..."Be careful of sharks" instead, is the advice I would give to myself...and don't trust your friends too much as well.

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

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

Same as above. But I can say that when I was in Italy, people in the audience always wanted to hear "Smoke on the water".

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

I have no creative process. I think freedom is the most important thing. The writer must be free to use what lights his creative fire. I find this potential stuff everywhere around me. It could be a major news story or even a little swallow flying in the summer skyes. Sometimes the idea comes to my mind like someone was throwing a stone in my head, other times is just a foggy line of notes and I have to elaborate the vision.

Do you have messages that you like to get across in your music, if so please tell me about them?

Who's the artist that has no messages, if he's a serious one? I think we, the songwriters, must raise awareness on things that in our view need to be changed or, to show to the people the beauty of what we love. Beauties that sometimes people don't see. In such a perspective, I think Bob Dylan is the greatest songwriter of all times because if you take his opus in its entirety it has the same vastity and perspectives of "La comedie Humaine" by Balzac or, "La recherche du temps perdu" by Proust.

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

If health and longevity serve me well, I have a lot of projects for the future. I am writing a long romance that develops through a couple of centuries. I also am planning a short movie inspired by Wuthering Heights, hopefully with Martina Sacchetti, who's the talented co-protagonist of my short - which is earning multiple awards globally. Musically, well There is a natural choice which you can guess looking at my 2020/23 production...Use your imagination (lol)

How can your fans best keep up to date with you, any socials you want people to check out?