El mundo de Alessio Bondì es un mundo muy personal. El cantautor de Palermo lleva años desarrollando un particular estilo en el que habla de su infancia, su herencia y su cultura con madurez y hasta surrealismo.
Después de conseguir el reconocimiento en su país, dar conciertos por Europa y participar en distintos proyectos, el folk íntimo del artista finalmente llegará al todo el mundo con su primer disco, “Sfardo” (800A Records/Malintenti Dischi, 15).
El álbum ya lleva un par de años publicado en Italia y aquí tiene previsto estrenarse el 24 de noviembre. No obstante, aquí lo podéis disfrutar ya en exclusiva. “Sfardo” lo componen diez temas en los que se pueden apreciar influencias de Devendra Banhart, Jeff Buckley y hasta la leyenda de la música siciliana Rosa Balisttreri. De hecho, todos los cortes están cantados en siciliano, el dialecto nativo de Bondì, pero en el lanzamiento físico de “Sfardo” se incluirán las letras traducidas en cinco idiomas distintos.
Nuestro compañero Josechu Egido ha hablado con el canatutor italiano para saber más del disco y de sus planes de futuro.
THE INTERVIEW
Your songs sound like intensive and elegant Folk with a bit of intimist Pop, Sweet Rock and Blues & Jazz. A great mix of styles that results on the fantastic sound of your music now. So, what really are your musical influences?
Thank you so much! Well, I devour tons of records every month, as I never went to the conservatory or something like that, my ear is my school of music. As a teenager I was fond of British and North American singer/songwriters like Pete Doherty, Shane McGowan, Bill Withers, Rufus Wainwright, Sam Cooke, Dylan and Cohen but I still remember I loved Angelo Debarre’s chords and the painful scream of Rosa Balistreri, that Italian dirty elegance of Vinicio Capossela. I’m also fond of everything coming from Cape Verde and Brazil: Mayra Andrade and Marcelo Camelo among the others.
You edited this year your first album named “Sfardo”. What are your expectations with this album?
I try not to have any big expectation about my carrier, I just want to be happy doing what I always loved, making music and travelling around. I would be very lucky doing that!
Why do you have titled “Sfardo” your debut album?
Sfardo means “strain” but in Sicilian it has a double meaning: something violent, painful or something prosperous and lucky. It is the title of the first song that I’ve written in this rough, clandestine but intimate idiom. After that my life and music changed. I opened a tub and the sea flew. The album’s title is a tribute to that song and its symbolic valence.
What are you going to offer in your live concerts and what do you hope from the people in your shows?
There’s all of me in those songs. When I perform them live I try to give everything I got, I am, I dream. It’s like an open-heart surgery. When it happens, the persons are prone to give the same to me.
What are your plans for the rest of this year 2017 and next 2018? We assume that you will touring around clubs and festivals. Can you advance anything to us? Any important event?
Right now I’m mixing my second album that’s going to be released in 2018. I’m also working on my European tour but there’s nothing confirmed yet so let’s keep in touch on alessiobondi.com/date
I have the feeling that in last decade there are better and more musicians than ever before, but less valued than those of previous times. Are you in agreement with my comment?
Probably there are more professional musicians then ever, but I don’t really know if they’re better or less valued, it depends on the references we take. Or probably we just know where we can get everyday news about most of the musicians! That’s a sign of how the music’s commerce changed. Nowadays there’s a totally different way to relate with music and artists, we follow them on Spotify for their music and on Instagram for their news. We’re familiar with them and because of that there’s no more space for music legends but only time will tell!
Do you think the digital world will end with music as we know it today? What do you think is the future of music?
What I notice around me is a lust for African rarities and music coming from places that aren’t touched yet by globalization, virgin lands where music still works as a shamanic rite. This is the symptom that listening to a record doesn’t do. We miss that little “something more”. We feel a lack of true spirituality, of true community’s dimension. The web is good to share and sell music. Now we need to take music back to its primitive and natural function. A part of the world is already walking in that direction.
What is your best memory about music?
I have so many favourite memories! Hearing for the first time hundreds of people singing along my lyrics during a gig was amazing. But I remember most dearly singing for my father and find it was overwhelmed by emotions.
What do you think about the current economic situation in Spain, Italy, Europe and World in general?
Consumerism’s era is in its peak and I sincerely hope it is coming to an end. I can’t wait to see what’s next!
MISCELLANY
Could you tell us about…
… A book?: Veinte poemas de amor y una canciòn desesperada – Pablo Neruda
… A movie?: 8 e ½ – Federico Fellini
… A song?: 29 Strafford APTS – Bon Iver
… An album?: A mulher do fim do mundo – Elza Soares
… A group or soloist?: Aziz Samahoui
… A hobby?: Dancing like a fool
Thank you very much. Best wishes from Spain,
Welcome 😉