Hiya Marlon Bianco thanks for joining us in the virtual RGM lounge today, grab a brew and take a seat.
What made you decide that music is a thing for you?
I don’t think I decided that music was my thing, it just happened. I started playing guitar when I was 14 because my mother wanted to help a dear friend to earn extra cash, he happen to play guitar, so she just asked me if I wanted to take some guitar lessons and I did, but only twice. Eventually, this guy left me with a shitty guitar, and from then on it’s history.
Introduce us to you and your musical history.
I had a band called Dead Coast, we were based in London and we had a fairly good 10-year run.
Just before the first lockdown 2020, I was at home thinking about my solo project, so I started composing with a toy keyboard my first Lp as Marlon Bianco.
In the studio, I arrange and perform all the instruments except for the saxophone and with the help of my dear friend’s producer Monte I record the tracks. Only My first album “Life in Low-fi” was recorded in 5 days in Margate with the help of Cathy Lucas member of the band Vanishing Twin. For the Live show, I call my band The Clones which is formed by some of the best musicians in town.
Name me your 3 favorite Albums.
Pet Sounds (The Beach Boys), Trout mask Replica (Captain Beefheart and the Magic band), I hear a new world (Joe Meek)
What was the first song you heard that steered you into a music path?
When I started playing guitar I would listen to Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix or The Doors, so I would say I don’t have a particular song in mind.
The music industry is the hardest industry in the world to progress in, How do you feel you are doing?
I really don’t think about this too much, I just prefer to write songs record them and release them, because this is the part I enjoy the most. Maybe one day, who knows, I will work in the music business as a legit artist, and maybe I can make a living out of it.
I’m seeing a lot of debate about women not feeling safe at music gigs, any thoughts on what we need to do to help?
It sucks, and it’s very worrying, I think we always have to keep an eye out for each other, no matter what.
Tell us Two truths and a lie about you.
I can play flute with my nose, I just lost 10kg, and I’m 25 years old.
What’s your thought on Spotify’s monopoly on the music industry?
As a listener I enjoy Spotify to be honest, I discovered so many talented bands and great music that 20 years ago we could have only dreamed of. On the other side of the coin like you said it’s a monopoly so the incomes for artists its very low when they deserve more of course.
Do you sign up for any conspiracy theories?
I laugh at modern Conspiracy theories, I think they’re the worst thing of the last decade.
Did you buy anything you don’t need during the pandemic?
A baseball bat 🙂
What was the worst experience on stage?
One day going up on stage I broke my left thumb and I had to get drunk to go through the whole set.
Tell us something about you that you think people would be surprised about.
I’m a sensitive and lovable human being.
What makes you stand out as an artist?
I think the variety of my songs, I don’t appreciate being labeled, it annoys me.
I write music depending on what my feelings are at that moment.
I hear you have new music, what can you tell us about it.
My new single is called Planet Coronet, out via Some Other Planet Records. It’s an instrumental piece, about an astronaut lost in space approaching a black hole. I hope you enjoy it.
Talk me through the thought process of the new tune.
In reality, I had another song planned to be recorded, but 4 days before the session I was strumming the guitar and these 4 chords sequence came out of nowhere, I appreciated them very much and I had only a few days to change my plan.
I finished most of the song recorded it on my phone and the rest was improvised in the studio.
What was the recording process like?
I started by recording a guide guitar, and after that, I layered all the other instruments.
Some parts were already clear in my head, others I had to improvise. I only had one day to record the whole song and I had in mind a specific saxophone part; I called a good friend of mine, great sax player, Jonny Chung. We worked really well together.
What was the biggest learning curve in writing the new tunes?
I think it’s the only time, to practice and experiment with new things all the time.
Would you change anything now it’s finished?
Not really I’m quite satisfied with the outcome.
Also thanks to the great help of my mates the producer’s electronic duo Monte, who are following what I’m doing and give me input when I need them.
Is there anything else you would like to share with the world?
Follow me on socials HERE