Influences

Jamiroquai

Breathy voice and punchy music. The London based acid-jazz band particularly inspired me during the 90s for their unusual music videos. Jay-K (lead singer) dancing over the chairs of a crooked cinema is the first memory I have of them. Even though I would later find out that this song was particularly disliked by the band, I still find the groove irresistible. I guess the reason number one why they are one of my main influences is the frontman persona and originality.

Korn

Korn used to be my favorite band by far. In my head they represented a group of friends that go on tour and have fun. Basically a life goal achieved. Whether this was true or not, there has been long lasting mutual respect between the band members over the years that I really appreciate. Although the music I am writing now is often incredibly different from this band, Korn influenced me particularly when it comes to stage presence.

Amos Lee

When I moved to Glasgow in 2014 I earned my living thanks to busking in the city center. I have grown fond of other artists also playing in the streets, and I started attending the first open mikes. This has eventually led to a steep curve in my music taste. From hard sounding guitars and electronic sounds I have slowly started to appreciate the nature of folk and country music. Although not Scottish, Amos Lee was one of the artists I got to know during this journey. It is one of my current main influences because of the harmonies and the guitar arpeggios in his tracks. I have sung countless times his tunes at restaurant gigs and almost any time someone will come and ask “Whose song was that?”.

Stevie Wonder

Not simply Stevie Wonder, but precisely the Stevie Wonder between 1972 and 1976. There are moments of joy in life, moments to celebrate. Some artists are lucky enough to encapsulate those moments perfectly in a song or in an album. Perhaps the lyrics may still describe serious subjects, but the positive energy that comes out of albums like “Innervisions” is what made me fall in love with Funk music. From this amazing artist I try to learn and incorporate in my songs his rhythm.

Rino Gaetano

Unfortunately, one of those who will be remembered as forever young. Even if Rino Gaetano died when he was just 30 years old, many were the treasures he left in the Italian music market. His lyrics have been described as non-sense because often cryptic or ironic. Although, after decades from his death (1981) many of the subjects of his compositions have started to be re-analysed and put in a very different prospective. Beneath a comic surface Rino Gaetano seems to be fitting topical protest elements that were almost unnoticeable at first glance. So that his piece of arts could be mistaken for inoffensive and be brought on stage of the most notorious Italian festivals and competitions. Hes ability of “destroying the lyrics” as he would refer to in interviews is something that intrigued me and that I am still trying to incorporate into my songs.

Franco Battiato

Franco Battiato’s lyrical content is often a successful mix of surprising and mundane elements. Philosophical and materialistic subjects are often alternating in the same lyrics as if the author wanted to destabilize its audience to the point where he would have the attention he would not otherwise have received. I currently ignore if this is a planned technique, or if, instead, this is my interpretation of his natural composition process, but this is something that incredibly inspires me. The ability of writing a lyric that can be seen from different angles and give the audience the freedom to construct their vision of the song is what I am currently working on right now.