Meet composer Paolo Fosso and violinist Jacopo Bigi of the Italian band Armonite. They are an eclectic duo that have released a powerful progressive album entitled “The Sun Is New Each Day”. We covered the album in a Test Drive feature earlier this month and felt that you, the reader, must learn more about these fine talented indvivuals. Enjoy!
How did Armonite get its start and how did it get its name?
I was tired to only work in music administration, the most aseptic side of music, far from the creative process, and so Jacopo, he had been working as a classical performer for so long that we needed a project of ours that we really liked. With this idea in mind, we formed a new band, Armonite, while borrowing the name of our old one.
How would you explain your rather influences when it comes to your songwriting process?
All the music you hear become a collection of words, a dictionary you use when it comes to songwriting. The Beatles, Deep Purple, Yes, Rush, EL&P, Jethro Tull, Queen, Metallica, Pantera, Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Dream Theater, Queensryche, Fates Warning, Spock’s Beard, Porcupine Tree, Yanni, Vangelis, Andrew Lloyd Weber – just to name a few that spring to mind, plus classical and world music as well. This is the most of our dictionary.
How would you say your songs on The Sun Is New Each Day have evolved from the writing process through the final recordings? (How different are they from inception to now)
Since the very beginning, parts were all mostly written, but the sound was to be created from scratches. From our Cubase files to Paul Reeve’s mixing and then Geoff Pesche’s mastering at the Abbey Road Studios, the sound evolved dramatically. We told Paul Reeve we wanted something aggressive and clear, where the rhythmic components could be distinctly heard. We didn’t imagine that exciting wall of sound! Geoff Pesche has been great in understanding the sonic aspects to be enhanced. The result is a concentrate of energy that will get your blood pumping!
Does it get easier or harder every time you are in the studio?
Once you know how to work in a studio, you think things get easier, but that isn’t true. You want a great recording, you must be playing great. And that’s never good first take!
How do you feel the internet and social media have changed and helped or hurt the way independent artists are able to promote their brand?
Internet and the social media are a great chance for independent artists to promote their work, we see no harms in the fact that everyone can now publish their music online. We don’t think the quality got worse, it sounds the same to us. Sure, the market has changed and always will, but we can’t blame Time for taking away the standards we’ve loved so much. We must move forward, and there is absolutely no need to curl up like a hedgehog to defend the old media.
Major labels have shifted focus and have also gotten bigger and smarter competition from Indie Labels as well as Independent artists themselves. If you were offered a major label recording contract would you take it and why or why not?
Yes, we would. We would be curious to see where a contract like that would take a band with our line-up…
Do you feel file sharing helps or hurts the independent artist and do you think it affects services like bandcamp, itunes, cdbaby, and google play?
In 2003, Steve Jobs said to Rolling Stones magazine piracy won’t ever be stopped, all you have to do is compete with it. Long before being involved with BitTorrent, Matt Mason said piracy would help you instantly spread your content. Sure, piracy hurts the digital distribution model, but this is not the point, as emerging artists get too little money from digital sales however! not to mention Spotify and the like… so it seemed appropriate for us to give away our music for free in return for maximum exposure. And monetize live gigs only.
Every decade has a sound or musical style that most people will say defines that decade yet the 2010s seem to be all over the place when it comes to style. Where do you feel Armonite fits into this decade and do you think that it is easier to be more diverse today than it would be in the 80s or 90s with their more rigid defined styles of music?
2010s are the years of the melting pot, where the crossover of the 90s’ has lost its novelty and become a natural way of thinking. We don’t know where Armonite fits, we can just tell our ingredients apart: some hard rock genre with electronics, classical, and world music, with topping of progressive metal and a pinch of pop culture.
What can we expect at an Armonite show?
We can’t wait to present “The Soundtrack is New each Day”, one soundtrack cover in violin rock after each original song from our album “The Sun is New each Day”. This is the show we’re going to perform, with a few pilot dates starting October.
Where is the most unique place or venue Armonite has ever played?
It was a great place where to eat Italian food and drink good wine, but the stage was mounted on a dozen wine casks, two meters high (6 ft). We barely remember how we played after dinner!
Do you ever plan on coming to the States?
We do! After Europe, we’re going to touch base with US venues and maybe schedule a few dates. If you have any suggestions, please write us.
What does Armonite have planned in the next year?
We’re going to tour with “The Soundtrack is New each Day” show. Then we’ll get back to writing for a new album.
Where can we find you online?
http://www.armonite.com and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Armonite/375012772574516
‘Like’ our Facebook page, and you’ll help us gathering the numbers we need to get out on tour!
