Describe your sound in 3 words
Funk, Soul, Multi-genre.
Tell us a few things about your new song ‘The Child’. What is the main idea behind it?
“The Child” was written when I was a teenager in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, after my dream of becoming a professional dancer was destroyed with violence by the patriarchal father figure, because of my Calabrian, southern Italian culture and strict Roman Catholic upbringing. Dancing was not seen as a respectful career choice, nor acceptable regarding marriage opportunities for an untouched woman. It was read at my mother, Anna Diano’s funeral in 2020. She died of Covid, but before her death with her dementia, she become like a loving child, free to be her authentic self, singing and clapping for everyone to hear and cheer, finally free to be herself, a performer till the very end of her life. “The Child” is about never loosing one’s inner child, never giving up on your hopes and dreams for the future. I never gave up on my dream and neither did my mother.
Describe the experience of working with Anna Sofia Skoradal. Is songwriting a lonely process?
It was a pleasure to work with the talented 21 year old, Anna Sofía Skoradal from the Faroe Islands. I fell in love with her soulful voice at the weekly Open Mic event hosted by myself and Arnold Ludvig, my husband, bass virtuoso, and composer of my band MonkeyRat. “The Child” is the 1st song that he composed solely on Ableton Live, Ludvig is also from the Faroe Islands and an award winning bassist.
I enjoy being alone when I’m being creative. With maturity, self love, and self acceptance, I embrace my own company and like-minded people who love and respect themselves and their art.
Artists and people who have influenced and inspired you?
Carmen Amaya, Spain’s iconic gypsy Flamenco dancer loved and honored by both Franklin D. Roosevelt and all the great stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age. James Brown, the godfather of Soul, Sly & The Family Stone, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, and Meshell Ndegecello.
What is the biggest challenge you have faced as an artist so far?
I would say getting my music out there in the world. Faroe Islands is a tiny tiny country in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, between Iceland and Norway, north of Scotland – population 52,000.
Favorite music related film?
Purple Rain
One last thing we should know about you?
I passed my Viva Voce on May 25th, 2022 the defense of my Thesis – Trauma, Poetry, Fuck The Jante Law, Creativity as a Means of Survival. On June 24th, I will receive my Master’s in Music in the NAIP program – New Audiences and Innovative Practices, from Iceland University of the Arts. The new artistic practice that I developed during my 2 year study is Poetry w/ Electronics with sensors (Piezo contact microphones underneath the taps of my tap shoes with cables and jacks in my soundcard, through Ap Trigga 3 plugin, Ableton Live, and an Akai mini midi keyboard). The influence for my new art form is Laurie Anderson.
Thank you!
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