Room Experience (Gianluca Firmo & David Readman) – Interview

Room Experience (Gianluca Firmo & David Readman) – Interview

23 Maggio 2015 0 Commenti Alessandro Lifonti

inteview by Alessandro Lifonti
cover picture by Alex Ruffini – facebook page
italian version

MR: Gianluca Firmo is the new name of 2015. Gianluca wrote all the songs of the new project called Room Experience. Hi man, welcome to melodicrock.it!
GF: Hi MR.It, hi everybody. And thank you. Sounds like a welcome home, since I’m often surfing melodicrock.it to stay updated on my favourite music.

MR: We are in the mid 80’s and Gianluca is just a young kid. He’s watching Bon Jovi on TV. Ever since his life changed, didn’t it?
GF:  Ahah. Well..yes…kind of….I came across Runaway and I liked Bon Jovi from the start but I also used to listen to many other stuff, mainly pop. And speaking about music at that age I was still looking for my own way, swerving from rock lane to pop lane and back. But i can tell you exactly the year that changed my music life forever: it was 1986….Madonna had her True Blue album out (and it was a great pop album which i loved)….today I’d be probably lost in the streets of dance music, if two milestone albums hadn’t been released the same year: Slippery When Wet and The Final Countdown. They got into my radio and played in loop all the time. For a very long while they have been my wake up call, my daily soundtrack and my lullaby.
Really….you have to be deaf to you listen to those albums and don’t commit yourself to rock.

MR: When did you start to write your own music? Did you realize back then that something good was coming out of your room? LOL
GF: Oh well…i have music in my head all the time…..I walk along a street and i sing random melodies….i hear a noise and i make a song after its rhythm…I read a sentence on the menu at the restaurant and I put it down in music…..if you consider that writing music, then i do it since i stopped wearing diapers. Instead, my first “serious” recordings, with at least basic arrangements and stuff, started in the early 90s, with a fabulous state of the art 4 tracks tape recorder that I borrowed from my friend Andrea. Back then the only thing i realized was that i was having fun: very likely what was coming out of my room those days was anything but good, but to me and my friends it sounded great. Being able to build something starting from zero was a wonderful feeling.

MR: When and where did you meet Pierpaolo Monti and Davide Barbieri for the first time?
GF: Wrong order: a couple years ago i met Davide and then, thanks to him, I met Pierpaolo. About the where….Davide, just like me, is a very long time Bon Jovi fan and Bon Jovi Club Italia often celebrates Bon Jovi music with meetings where Davide is often invited to play with his tribute band. You also have to know that one of the few Bon Jovi songs that I really don’t like at all is “Everybody’s broken”. But Davide and Pierpaolo on Charming Grace made a cover-version of that song and they made it sound great. So when i saw Davide at the meeting i went to compliment him and we had a chance to talk for a while. Since then, we kept in touch and weeks later when he heard my songs, he told me he wanted Zorro to listen to them too. So we decided to meet all together to talk about my songs and possibilities and since they were showing their appreciation, I officially asked them to produce my album.

MR: Even though you wrote all the songs of the album, Pierpaolo and Davide played a big role too. Would you like to tell us something about these two awesome musicians?
GF: It’s not just a “big” role. They are the ones that believed in my songs from the start and that made Room Experience possible. And yeah…i wrote all the songs, but together we re-wrote 4 of them (for those interested: 2 are only featured in the Special Edition of the album) and re-thought the arrangements for all the songs because my old ones gave us a good starting point and a clear idea of where we were headed, but we didn’t want to end up with songs that sound like a patchwork. So we showed no mercy: we saved what was good, got rid of everything that wasn’t, and replayed everything from scratch.
This also because the songs included in Room Experience have been chosen from a long list of songs that I have written during the years… so they had to be, let’s say, “re-conducted to unity” of sound and style, even if it was a priority to have an album with a big variety.
I can tell you that they did a great job: personally i think they complete each others (and completed my work) very well: Davide is a high class arranger and Zorro is “a well of ideas” and in his head there are so many musicians filed that he can always spot the one who has the right touch for a certain song. I’m happy I had the chance to work with them.

MR: Did you and Pierpaolo agreed on everything when it came to recording the songs or maybe he wanted to change something of your stuff?
GF: Not at all! We’re all (don’t forget about Davide…he is part of it too) very demanding and we want the songs to sound exactly how we think it’s the best. But of course everyone of us has his own background, his own tastes and his own ideas: that takes you, sometimes, in different direction. So we all had to compromise about something and find some kind of balance. I tried to follow their wise advices, but i’ve also kindly been bossy when there was something i thought had to stay untouched or if I had the feeling that we were getting far from the original idea of the song.
To explain better: “Tomorrows Came” had a bridge that now has gone. I loved it and it was painful for me to let go of it, but the song works great anyway, so that was an advice I followed. In “Run to you” instead, three guitar notes (literally: 3 notes) hadn’t been played. And i damn wanted those 3 notes, because i think they are the perfect response to the vocal melody. They were still missing the day we went to mix the song. So, while we were mixing the song, I asked Alessandro Del Vecchio to play them. The funny thing is that he did it with so much style! He got up and took the most wonderful electric guitar I have ever saw (and that probably costs a bit more than my car) to play them. Isn’t it total class for 3 little notes that most of listeners probably won’t even notice?
Anyway….almost any song has little stories like that, but leaving nothing unsaid between us was a good way to work, even if the hardest. I enjoyed very much doing it all. You should ask Pierpaolo and Davide if it’s the same for them…ahahahah.

MR: If you had to choose one song of the album, what song would it be and why?
GF: Uhm… It’s actually hard for me to choose one. First because my favourite often depends on my mood of the moment. You know…”Not time yet for a lullaby” wouldn’t be a good song if i just need to relax, but i love its happy mood. Also, usually, every time i finish a song i feel like i’ve just finished the best song I have ever written. Then time prove me wrong. I think the only good answer to your question needs the test of time. But let’s say that at the moment I’m deeply in love with “The only truth” because of the of its atmosphere and because of the lyrics: i guess everyone wishes to have a chance to say or to hear such words to someone.

MR: I think David Readman’s performance on this album is unbelievable. How did you come up with his name? Who chose him?
GF: Well….It’s more correct to say that he chose us 😉 We got in touch with David thanks to Alessandro Del Vecchio (always him!) and we sent him some stuff to listen to. When he got back to us and said “Yes”, we all were really, really happy!! Since my idea was to have one only singer for the whole cd, one the first questions Davide and Pierpaolo asked me was: who? We came up with a lot of names, and I was more focusing on 2 things: the kind of voice I want to hear on my songs and the ability to cover a few different styles, since one of the aims was to save variety. So a lot of names became a very short list. You know: when you have to spot a singer for a single song, you can think of many. But if in the same album the singer has to deliver tracks like “Queen of every heart” (that has a taste of Sweden) and “No signs of summer” (that in some part has even some funky echoes) the choice is not so obvious… Despite of being used to hear him on heavy stuff, we agreed that David was perfect: he’s one of the most talented singers i have heard and his voice is warm and powerful at the same time…he can reach the highest notes and deliver a stunning low vibrato the second after…and AOR was kind of still missing in his discography. I’m happy that you and many people out there agree that his performance is great.
I think it’s been a good challenge for him. And I definitely think he won.

MR: (Question for David Readman) What was your first thought when you listened to Gianluca’s stuff for the first time?
DR: I guess I only heard a few songs in the beginning, so its not always easy to determine what, and how good the project will be. But I have to say after hearing one song I knew that it would be a great project. And sure I had been contacted through Alessandro so I knew it would be great!

MR: (Question for David Readman) Was it difficult for you to sing these songs as this is a music genre a bit different from what you are used to sing?
DR: I wouldn’t say it was difficult but I needed quite some time to get a feel for the first songs. But its always that way, and it did take longer. 
But I’m happy with the result, even If I was also moving studios at the time…

MR: A lot of outstanding musicians played on this record. Did you know them all before starting working together? What can you tell us about them? 
GF: I knew them all by the band they play in and by their appearances as guests on Charming Grace and Shining Line, but Zorro made me discover some of their more hidden musical sides. I have to admit that being a big fan of 91Suite I’ve been particularly happy that Iván González took part to Room Experience, but you’re right: they’re all outstanding and my smile became wider each time Zorro told me that someone accepted to be on board.
I won’t tell you anything about them as musicians, cause their careers and their music speak for them. But I’ve been lucky enough to work with wonderful persons that never made me feel like a newcomer: they set me at ease and listened to my requests and really gave their best. As a plus, I had the luck to become friend with a few of them.

MR: The album was mixed and mastered by the mighty Alessandro Del Vecchio. How great is working with him? Did he give you any advices?
GF: Ahahahah! I should reply “working with Alessandro is great because you see how a real pro works!”. I came out with this innocent sentence while we all were at Ivory Tears Studios for the mix. And we had (we still have) some great laughter cause it sounded like I wasn’t thinking that Davide or Pierpaolo are. While they absolutely are. It was just normal for me to work with them. But you know….wrong sentence at the wrong time, and I’m still paying for it 😉 Anyway…i think you have the real measure of how great Alessandro is when you see how easily he gets to the results you ask for, even when it may look complicated. No request seems to worry him. He does everything naturally. Or makes it look natural. He gave me a lot of advices, not only about the mix, but also before and after the album was finished. He’s always kind, but always speaks his mind out. That’s why i trust him. Even though sometimes i wonder how long can i bother him, before he wish me to have a bath with piranhas.

MR: You signed with the great Melodicrock records. How did you get in touch with Andrew McNeice?
GF: Everybody knows Andrew from melodicrock.com. He’s one of those that everyday give everything to keep this music alive. So when we started contacting labels, it was a natural option to contact MelodicRock Records too. And i have to tell you: the thing that really convinced me to sign for his label was that he’s been enthusiastic from the very first second. We sent him the record and he got back at us in no time telling that he really liked it. He didn’t play around with words. Beside this, i think he really pays attention to the artist side of the deal, which is a great thing. We’re in contact daily (or almost) and he always finds the time to be there if you need. If nowadays people could still seal contracts with a handshake, like they used to do ages ago, Andrew would definitely be one i’d shake my hand with.

MR: Let’s talk about the artwork. It’s a great one. How did you come up with it? 
GF: Glad you like it. I do too, a lot, and I think Antonella did a terrific job!! I only came up with the moniker and the logo (which i wanted to be an ambigram…don’t ask me why…i just wanted it), though, so I guess that Antonella Astori would be the right one to tell you how she came up with it. I can tell you that she showed me her basic idea and then she filled the cover with a lot of small particulars that brainstorming suggested us…like colors, hidden (or not so hidden) words…..And i can add a little secret: the lyrics and the score that you see behind the doors, are the actual handwritten lyrics of “The only truth” and the actual score of “Only goodnight”. And….there’s a lot to discover in it. Why don’t you try?

MR: We know your family means a lot to you. How did they react when you told them that you wanted to chase your RNR dream? Did they support you all the way through?
GF: Look… I’ve always played music and written songs and my only aims is always been only my fun, my friend’s fun and my neighbours’ desperation.…maybe it’s not very common that a 41 years man wants to start chasing a dream that usually you start chasing when you’re much younger (not that I’m old, eh….don’t even dare to think that!). But if I’m sure of one thing, is that from my family i have unconditional love and support and so it’s been this time too. I’ve got advices of all kind, but full support to every choice.

MR: You wrote many songs in your bedroom in the last fifteen years. There are enough songs for a second release. So the question is: will there be a second release? 🙂
GF: You run too fast. The first question is “will people like the first release”? If so, there are of songs already written that are enough for a few more releases. And i keep on writing new songs, so there will be more. But for now they’re safe in my hard disks. Or in my mind.

MR: Your top 5 albums ever…..
GF: In no order. And I’ll leave Bon Jovi and Europe out of the ranking, cause i owe them for listening to all the others:

Halloween – Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part II
Skid Row – Slave to the Grind
Belinda Carlisle – Runaway Horses
Savatage – Streets
last available slot can change, but let’s say Place Vendome – Streets of fire

MR: The best concerts of your life are….
GF:  Bon Jovi – Milan (April 6, 1993)
Eagles – Verona (May 29, 2006)
Bruce Springsteen (June 4, 2013)

But let me also name Quireboys in Clusone last year: they delivered a hell of a funny show!

MR: Gianluca, thank you so much for this interview. Anything you want to add?
GF: Uhm…. I hate umbrellas and I’m addicted to Ovaltine. Does someone care? Cheers!

© 2015, Alessandro Lifonti. All rights reserved.