Hiya Flame, thanks for joining us in the virtual RGM lounge today. Grab a brew and take a seat.
What was life like for you before you got into music?
We are starting off strong, aren’t we! Both fortunately and unfortunately, my life has been tainted with music in all its shapes and forms ever since I have memory. I definitely do not regret becoming so close to it from a young age, and then carving my own dimension as I grew up. That said, I do sometimes wonder what life would be like without it, and honestly, I think the only ones who’d be truly happy about that are my neighbours.
What’s the live music scene like in Edinburgh right now? Anyone we should be looking out for (bar you, of course)?
A lot of my friends are musicians, and it is great to be part of such a thriving community! I am personally very invested in different genres, so there is no way I could give a non-biased opinion about upcoming acts, but it would definitely be worth popping into Edinburgh and letting all this beautiful music in your soul!
It seems like being a social media curator has become added to the many jobs of a musician, how do you feel about this?
I have very controversial feelings, not gonna lie. It is great to be able to find your voice through technology, although it definitely adds up to the already gigantic workload, and it is very easy to get lost in the obsession for perfection, as well as the frustration when your expectations are not “socially” met. I guess, it is a love/hate kinda situation, but so far I have learnt that consistency and not taking yourself too seriously works for me.
How do you manage engagement on your socials?
I like to keep it real in sharing all the highs, the lows and the weird bits in between. Being a musician is part of my reality, of my daily life, so I tend to share the exciting and difficult parts of it, as well as more personal things – most of the time with a funny twist to it. As people what we do is look for connection through emotions, what works for me is being real through them.
What’s your view on the Music industry today?
It is a tough one hahah. I think that it is great that making music is becoming more and more accessible, but I feel like, as in any other industry, the strive for success blinds artists and lures them into losing or compromising their identity for a greater goal that is not guaranteed. I believe you can survive and thrive in the industry, but it takes determination and the right people around you, both professionally and personally.
Where do you feel you currently sit within the music industry?
I am trusting the process in the hope that the process trusts me back. I am an emerging artist working hard to feel good about what I do, to be happy in every step of the way, wherever it might lead me.
Whats the biggest thing you have learned recently as you progress with your music?
There is always a solution. Even if you mess up, it is a learning experience and a new opportunity for you to discover new sides of yourself, which hopefully inspires you to chase that new version of yourself through music – a wonderful place to lose and find yourself in.
What was your best experience on stage?
I was about to go on stage to open for Jacob Alon at The Caves in Edinburgh. I looked over the entrance and saw the room full with 200+ people, I could feel my heart pounding out my chest and then crawling its way back in so violently I felt I could pass out. The attentive silence, the feeling of sharing that space and time with all those people and feeling the mutual love gave me an emotion that I cannot describe. I will cherish that moment forever.
What was your worst experience on stage?
Oh man, this haunts me in my dreams and cringes me anytime I come across this memory. I was playing a gig in Italy with my previous band. Despite being Italian, I never sing in Italian because, for some reason my brain cannot deal with it. Long story short, I decided to sing one of my favourite italian songs…too bad I completely forgot the lyrics…twice. Definitely not my brightest moment, but at least I have a funny story to tell.
Tell us something about you that you think people would be surprised about.
I actually started out screaming in metal bands before I ever sang a ballad. Most people are surprised to learn that, alongside my main musical project, I’m also the vocalist for an Edinburgh-based heavy rock/metal band called Catapelta.
I hear you have just released “Gravity”. What can you tell us about it?
Absolutely! My new single Gravity was just released on April 24th and it fills me with incredible joy to finally be able to share it with the rest of the world!
I can’t stress enough how important this song is to me, how it makes everything feel right, through the mud and chaos.
I wrote this song in a moment of extreme uncertainty. Life was getting very intense and full of surprises – not the funny kind, unfortunately- and I felt like walking with a huge question mark on my forehead. Life’s unpredictability is probably its biggest gift to us, but sometimes the ground trembles a bit too hard for us to stay put. Gravity became my anchor, the force pulling me back to clarity and trust- if not in the process, in myself.
What was the recording process like?
We actually recorded the whole song in just one very intense session! I personally had no idea what a great turnout it would have been. Me, Ciaran and Francis (lead guitar and bass)rehearsed it a lot because we played it live before, but when we went down to Knockwood Studio everything really merged together like the final word of a poem that makes it make sense.
Jolon and Duncan – the two amazing souls that run the studio-, were absolutely brilliant in feeling and seeing the song, even beyond what I could ever have imagined. It felt magical, despite the fact that we were all absolutely shattered by the end of it. It was one of the best days of my life.
What was the biggest learning curve in writing the new tune?
Layers, layers, and more layers!
With Gravity, I learned how powerful it can be to let every element have its own voice. Each part carves out its space, but together they embrace and evolve into something bigger. The track became a messy, beautiful, unexpected journey, just like life. Sometimes you don’t need a compass to find your way through. You just have to trust the motion and lean in.
Would you change anything now it’s finished?
Anytime I listen back to my previous works, I always notice things I could have done differently, or that note that just doesn’t hit like I’d like it to. Although, I love the way they sound regardless, it is the way they needed to be, I would never go back and change things, especially Gravity.
Is there anything else you would like to share with the world?
Hell yeah! There is a lot on the planner, and I am extremely excited to be working with Ciaran, Francis and James (drums) to be bringing more music to the world! We will be playing a killer live version of Gravity for our headline gig at Sneaky Pete’s on April 30th with amazing supports, and plenty more to come.
So stick around and let’s add some glitters to the chaos!Thanks for doing us today, folks. Send this back on a Word document, and ill get it all ready for you.
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