Singer, writer, Composer

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: In general I'm curious about their expectations. If they ask me to sing a song, I ask them to explain what's the song about and if I have to write down lyrics I try to understand the message they want to send to people.

Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A: My advice for a customer looking to hire me is to be prepared to stay in the flow and try to exchange our ideas as much as possible. I think the most important thing in a relation is always "communication".

Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?

A: I would probably take with me my 7 years old Ipod because music would be my only friend, my favourite book to inspire me, my yoga mat to practice and keep in balance my body, spirit and mind. Last two things I would bring are a lighter and a knife to survive!

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: If I should describe my style I would say "fusion". I love to have multiple facets at the same time and blend them together in the best way. My first love was pop music (Madonna, Michael Jackson, East 17, Spice Girls, Elisa) and after I played disco music. I fell in love with rock when I was older (Skunk Anansie, Jeff Buckley, Porcupine Tree) and in the last 10 years I have been discovering jazz and bossa nova. What a wonderful way to explore music and test myself in different fields. I love to have my personal style...fusion!

Q: What type of music do you usually work on?

A: I usually work on different kind of music: rock, electronic, pop, dance and I really love to have the chance to explore different fields. This is a great opportunity to discover a different point of view on me and on my creativity.

Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.

A: Generally I work with musicians and composers. I always try to do my best to perform the song as they intend it to be. I beging working on the meaning of what I'm going to sing, on my feelings about it and through my voice I try to communicate the emotions that are inside the song. Sometimes I'm asked to work also on writing lyrics. This is for me the most interesting challenge 'cause I'm a composer and for me is quite natural creating storis by words. Finding a vocal melody is a little bit different. I have to connect to the mood of the song and little by little a melody appear in my mind. At that moment I put it down on a paper or record it and after try to enhance it.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My studio setup is really simple but efficient. I work with an Mbox 2 (external sound card), a Shure Beta 58a to record my voice and ProTools 10. When I pass to the next level I move to the studio for recording sessions.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: I really do not have any preference. I try to achieve the result with both.

Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

A: My promise to clients is to work at their projects with all my commitment and all my passion. I always try to put all my creativity and professionalism in my job so I do the same with my client's job

Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

A: I'd surely love to work with Sia because I think she's super creative, she's a really talent and I would learn so much from her!

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?

A: I'm really proud of a recent project: the acoustic version of "Where" by Fabio Zuccaratto. During the first collaboration I was the singer for the electric version of the song and then Fabio asked me to play an acoustic version. I chose to play it in a piano/voice duo with a wonderful pianist. It's been one of my favourite recordings because I was so fascinated by the music, by the lyrics and by the sound of the piano that I could really feel what's the song is about. Maybe the gift was Fabio's gratitude for my personal contribution to the song.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring my personal approach, my experience as a pop/rock and jazz singer and my creativity. I think I can bring myself into the song as if it was mine and at the same time I'm able to understand what the author wants.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I like the possibility to collaborate with musicians from all around the world and to be the one who can give the song the right voice.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I think my strongest skill is sensitivity and flexibility. I love exploring new musical genres and every new song opens the opportunity to put myself to the test. Everytime I try to conform myself to the song while the song conforms itself to me. Is an exchange between us and at the end I find myself stronger and enriched.

Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?

A: I love many musicians...in the last few years I get closer to Peter Gabriel, Steven Wilson, Marillion, Niccolò Fabi, Jezabels and with all the great jazz singers as Ella Fitzgerald, Carmen McRae, Frank Sinatra, Billy Holiday, Sarah Vaughan and last but not least Nina Simone. I love the way each singer creates a little world made by voice and intention, passion and will. Every time I listen to them I try to figure out their secret.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: At the moment I'm working on different projects. It's interesting because often I find myself singing pop songs (vey good pop!) and the day after I'm just recording on hip hop or r&b tracks. It's an exciting way to be a singer and I love to get in touch with musicians and composers from all over the world.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Usually I trust my intuition. I let my imagination run free and jot down ideas (when I'm writing lyrics) or record my own voice (when I'm searching for a melody). After I play my idea at the piano trying to improve the first seed. Only at this point I open Cubase or Protools and record my idea so that I can listen to it. I think that my work is similar to the work of a carpenter: I smooth my song as a piece of wood...till I see that everything has reached the right balance. Only at that point I think: "Finished!"