This time, we get to know Zephiro, a post-punk band based in Rome consisting of Claudio Todesco on guitar, Leonardo Sentinelli on drums, and Francesco Chini on bass and vocals. Influences include White Lies, Interpol, Tears for Fears, The Cure, among many more.
The track "Crisalide" is featured in the New Artist Spotlight Family of Playlists.
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1. Tell us a little about where you are from and what you are currently doing.
(Claudio Todesco answers the questions): Zephiro is a band with post-punk influences that comes from Rome and was born in 2002. We grew up artistically listening to indie music but we are passionate about the 80s period. In the first years, we performed mainly in our city together with bands that grew up with us.
We are currently promoting our latest album titled "Baikonur"; there are 9 songs that have travel in all its nuances as their central theme.
2. What inspired you to start playing and making music?
Certainly, the initial impulse was the desire to have fun and emulate our musical idols, as is often the case for almost all musicians. Only after a few years has it become more important for us to leave a mark on people, a way to communicate and excite them. We perceive the composition of an album as a journey. Music must have the power to take us to another dimension, it must make us travel without taking a step.
𝟯. Who are your biggest influences?
We love the elegance of Tears for Fears, the dark atmospheres of The Cure, and the awkward emulation of the acoustic sounds of primordial 80's electronic music. We sing in Italian, our language, so the melody of the songs is influenced by it. The sound of the word is fundamental for us. We also like all the new wave revivals like Interpol, Editors, and White Lies.
4. What are your goals in the music industry?
We are very serene but this does not mean that we do not pursue goals. Simply with our authenticity and constancy, we hope to reach the hearts of as many people as possible. Specifically, we are now focused on promoting the latest album through live shows, social networks, digital stores, but also the sale of physical CDs. Now we are thinking about having the vinyl version pressed as well.
5. Tell us about your creative process when you make new music.
Our creative process is often always the same. When we are in the rehearsal room we first create the music and the structure of the song by choosing the best parts of some previously made jams. At this point, it is the newly composed music that suggests the topic and the mood of the piece to compose melody and lyrics. As I stated earlier, it is very important for us that the sound of the word does not disturb the atmosphere we had in mind.
6. What is your all-time favorite song?
This is a really difficult question. At various times in my life I have had various reference songs. Surely one that has never ceased to excite me from all points of view is "Pale Shelter" by Tears for Fears. This song contains elegance and sophistication but also energy, it's dynamic without leading to 70's baroqueisms. Arranged in a fluid way with subliminal solutions that don't disturb the listener. It's just the kind of song I wish I'd written.
7. What is the best advice you have either given or received in terms of music?
The best suggestion I received coincides with what I always give: every musical part of the song is functional for the success of the song; only the song in its entirety is the protagonist. For example, no guitar solo or solo in general must take attention away from the message of the song, except in the particular case in which the solo coincides with the message.
8. Proudest accomplishment?
Our 4 tours in Japan, especially the second one which made us perform 37 live shows in 3 months. We realized at that moment what level of fulfillment but also effort a musician's career can reach. We also understood at what level of ego one can reach and how dangerous it can be for one's mental balance. I would also like to add the release of our latest album which we are fully satisfied with and which satisfies us from an artistic point of view.
9. Just for fun! What's been your most embarrassing moment so far?
I remember after a live show a member of the audience told me my guitar style reminded him of Stevie Ray Vaughan. But my guitar style is very far from the blues and also from its technique. So shortly after I told this to friends saying how incompetent this person was, sadly I didn't notice this person standing next to me as I said this. It was very embarrassing but he didn't say anything.
𝟭0. Tell us about your lowest and highest points in music so far.
I mentioned the best moments before, they are the ones I'm most proud of. As often happens, the worst period came after the best. We had to empty our egos and start finding a balance as a band again, in fact the expectations had increased a lot and therefore the disappointments also increased. Fortunately now the balance has been found and the simple happiness of having released an album that we are fully satisfied with gives us serenity.
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