Belladonna have any reservations about what they wanna do and be. Their noir rock music is becoming more & more alluring with every new release. This time we had a chat with the “vague lady” Luana so as to find out how they came up with the new album and what the band’s music and philosophy is…
Hi Luana… It seems that work never stops for you. After an extended tour you’re back with a new album. How do you feel?
L: I feel as the luckiest person in the world... music is my life, the life I’ve chosen... how could I be happier?
Even though you have been around for about 8 years, this is your forth release to date. That’s almost a new album every 2 years. I think not leaving big gaps between albums and keeping your fans always interested in the band is a good thing. Do you agree?
L: I totally agree!! By the way, for us to write music is like breathing... it’s just impossible for us to stand still and not record all the songs we continuously write.
What are the new elements that you introduce with “Shooting Dice with God”?
L: It’s difficult to determine this for us, mainly because we are not so good at evaluating our own music and speculate on it. The only think I am able to say is that there is a sense of transcendence, which is displayed in each song in a different manner...
So, what happens when you’re “Shooting Dice with God”? What does the title declare?
L: The title of our album is inspired by what Albert Einstein said reflecting on quantum physics: “God does not play dice”... we have our own interpretation of the title “Shooting Dice with God” and we would love everyone to have their own idea about it!
Although you’re flirting with gothic & atmospheric music, you do have a gloomy erotic and mysterious approach that puts you out of the darkness eventually. Do you feel that you evolved over that direction with the new album?
L: We believe that the darkness is only related to the mind, that its nature is epistemological… and that erotism and mystery are the main ingredients of rock ‘n’ roll. The new album is a new mix of it all.
I think it would be very interesting to take us on a song by song trip…
L: “All is Vanity”: The non-glory of Power…
“Karma Warrior”: Retaliate, always retaliate…
“Abduction”: Love is transcension…
“If I was God”: Transcension is love…
“Ishtar Blues”: I put a spell on you…
“Wonderlust”: You and I are one…
“In My Demons’ Name”: The longest journey is the one within ourselves…
“Aura Blues”: Is that me or the mirror?
“Primal Dream”: We will meet again…
“Multiverse Love”: Will we meet again?
“I Set my Controls to Overdrive”: The craziest journey is the one within ourselves…
Tell us a few things about the recording sessions and the album’s final production & mastering. I do like the final sound a lot. It’s awesome.
L: Thank you so much!! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!! We recorded the whole album in two days, totally live (voice included) as all the rock ‘n’ roll bands we love did in the 60s and 70s. (i.n.: Un-freakin’-believable!)
Are you planning to release any video in the near future? If yes, for which song?
L: We’ve just released a video for our song “Karma Warrior”!! We have done it by ourselves! It’s directed and edited by Dani Macchi, our guitar player and co-writer with me of all Belladonna’s songs... and last but not least my favorite video director!
Once again you’ve released the album independently. Do you think that labels are too afraid to invest on something that’s not ordinary and easy-listening or do you want to have the absolute control of your work and prefer to do things your way?
L: We chose to form our own company (Visionoir Srl) and to stay in control of everything and believe me it’s a lot of work but we LOVE it!! (i.n.: That’s the right step for a band to do, if it can handle it eventually!)
Would you consider the option to release an album under a label, major or indie one, in the future?
L: When you are signed to a label - however “indie” and pro-artist that label claims to be – it’s just not possible to do what you really want to... So I don’t think, in the future, we will change our mind about our living the rock ‘n’ roll life of a 100% independent band!! (i.n.: I like that perspective!)
Are there any plans for a tour or live appearances for 2013?
L: Of course! You can find all our dates already confirmed on our official website www.belladonna.tv!
I’ve written: “…They’ve crafted a rather individual music approach with various moody, enigmatic & erotic features that’s very alluring & captivating…”. What’s your say?
L: I feel totally honored by what you said... it perfectly describes what we like to believe we are!
How has the so called “rock noir” evolved over the years and how did you come up with this term in order to define your music?
L: We thought that the term Noir was the more appropriate to describe our music as we feel it is filled with suspense and mystery rather than with a grotesque atmosphere like in the Gothic genre... its evolution is comparable to a progressive approaching the light till you become almost blind and the mystery increases...
Are you into that digital/downloading trend or do you believe that’s killing music little by little? What’s there for a band when most people are downloading their albums and not even care to listen to them most of the times? What shall change so as to make it through?
L: We believe people are always going to want to have music in their lives. We all need a soundtrack to our scenes. We have no problem with technology helping people to acquire (legally or illegally) music, but we do have a problem with technology making the music - instead of real musicians playing together - as it happens 98% of the time in any recording studio in the world right now.
The Italian scene seems to be having a blast lately! So many bands are coming from Italy, playing all kinds of rock & metal music. How do you see all these things? Is it for the scene’s own shake in the end?
L: We've always felt we are citizens of the world so we don’t pay more attention to Italian bands than we do to bands hailing from other parts of the world. Music knows no territorial boundaries.
It’s time for the Weird Questions now!!! How did you come up with the name Belladonna… whose idea was it back in the day?
L: We’ve been always strongly attracted to the semantic polyvalence of the word Belladonna ... it can be a cure, a hallucinogen, and even a deadly poison... it can also mean “beautiful woman”...
What are those things that you do not like in the music industry nowadays?
L: Perhaps the lack of attention to the music itself... today music is just seen as a mere product to make money.
Which music kind can’t you bear to hear at all?
L: Any music that is not made with the heart... no matter the genre!
Which is the record you wish you had written and why?
L: Ours! That’s why we do music, to record the records we’d love to listen to!
What is missing from today’s music industry? Are most albums missing the quality they used to have back in the 70s and 80s?
L: As I stated earlier, we believe that the massive use of computers and machines in the studio have spawned millions of albums that are played to click tracks, with lots of samples, where vocals are tuned, drum sounds are replaced, and guitar amps are modeled digitally. That’s not even music in our opinion, just product. Music happens when the human spirit becomes alive through sound, not when a computer produces it.
Were you obliged to give just one album to extraterrestrials that would represent the whole human music evolution, which album would it be and from which band/artist?
L: It would be something that is currently very popular and very fake, like Lady Gaga or the Foo Fighters, so that extraterrestrials will not deem it worth it to invade us and go away. We’ll ask them to take us along before they leave, though...!!
(i.n.: What a nice idea!)
If you were the opposite sex for one day, what would you look like and what would you do?
L: Probably I would dress up as a woman, I would put on some make up... I’ve always thought I would love to do that as a man and I’m sorry not to be born a man and be able do it.
What would you do if you were not afraid to fail?
L: I think I would walk like Mary Spelterini on a wire between the Niagara Falls.
What is your favorite place in the world?
L: The heart of all the people I love...
Is fiction part of reality… or reality is fiction’s flaw?
L: It's a Cartesian doubt... a dilemma that we can’t completely solve. On some levels the first sentence could be true and on some other levels the second one is the true answer... it depends on the point of view... and again, in an infinite regress, we are unable to determine the truth and reality of this very last one...
Who is your favorite philosopher and why?
L: I think Immanuel Kant... it is impossible to not take into account his philosophy for understanding the evolution of modern thought. I find him everywhere.
Is rock music made for ladies or not?
L: Rock music is made for whoever feel truly alive and truly wants to feel life.
I think we’re over Luana. Close this interview in your own words.... Thx! Take care!
L: Thanks so much for this interview and thank everybody for having read this far!! Feel free to drop us a line on our Facebook… we always answer to everyone personally... much love!!
L: I feel as the luckiest person in the world... music is my life, the life I’ve chosen... how could I be happier?
Even though you have been around for about 8 years, this is your forth release to date. That’s almost a new album every 2 years. I think not leaving big gaps between albums and keeping your fans always interested in the band is a good thing. Do you agree?
L: I totally agree!! By the way, for us to write music is like breathing... it’s just impossible for us to stand still and not record all the songs we continuously write.
What are the new elements that you introduce with “Shooting Dice with God”?
L: It’s difficult to determine this for us, mainly because we are not so good at evaluating our own music and speculate on it. The only think I am able to say is that there is a sense of transcendence, which is displayed in each song in a different manner...
So, what happens when you’re “Shooting Dice with God”? What does the title declare?
L: The title of our album is inspired by what Albert Einstein said reflecting on quantum physics: “God does not play dice”... we have our own interpretation of the title “Shooting Dice with God” and we would love everyone to have their own idea about it!
Although you’re flirting with gothic & atmospheric music, you do have a gloomy erotic and mysterious approach that puts you out of the darkness eventually. Do you feel that you evolved over that direction with the new album?
L: We believe that the darkness is only related to the mind, that its nature is epistemological… and that erotism and mystery are the main ingredients of rock ‘n’ roll. The new album is a new mix of it all.
I think it would be very interesting to take us on a song by song trip…
L: “All is Vanity”: The non-glory of Power…
“Karma Warrior”: Retaliate, always retaliate…
“Abduction”: Love is transcension…
“If I was God”: Transcension is love…
“Ishtar Blues”: I put a spell on you…
“Wonderlust”: You and I are one…
“In My Demons’ Name”: The longest journey is the one within ourselves…
“Aura Blues”: Is that me or the mirror?
“Primal Dream”: We will meet again…
“Multiverse Love”: Will we meet again?
“I Set my Controls to Overdrive”: The craziest journey is the one within ourselves…
Tell us a few things about the recording sessions and the album’s final production & mastering. I do like the final sound a lot. It’s awesome.
L: Thank you so much!! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!! We recorded the whole album in two days, totally live (voice included) as all the rock ‘n’ roll bands we love did in the 60s and 70s. (i.n.: Un-freakin’-believable!)
Are you planning to release any video in the near future? If yes, for which song?
L: We’ve just released a video for our song “Karma Warrior”!! We have done it by ourselves! It’s directed and edited by Dani Macchi, our guitar player and co-writer with me of all Belladonna’s songs... and last but not least my favorite video director!
Once again you’ve released the album independently. Do you think that labels are too afraid to invest on something that’s not ordinary and easy-listening or do you want to have the absolute control of your work and prefer to do things your way?
L: We chose to form our own company (Visionoir Srl) and to stay in control of everything and believe me it’s a lot of work but we LOVE it!! (i.n.: That’s the right step for a band to do, if it can handle it eventually!)
Would you consider the option to release an album under a label, major or indie one, in the future?
L: When you are signed to a label - however “indie” and pro-artist that label claims to be – it’s just not possible to do what you really want to... So I don’t think, in the future, we will change our mind about our living the rock ‘n’ roll life of a 100% independent band!! (i.n.: I like that perspective!)
Are there any plans for a tour or live appearances for 2013?
L: Of course! You can find all our dates already confirmed on our official website www.belladonna.tv!
I’ve written: “…They’ve crafted a rather individual music approach with various moody, enigmatic & erotic features that’s very alluring & captivating…”. What’s your say?
L: I feel totally honored by what you said... it perfectly describes what we like to believe we are!
How has the so called “rock noir” evolved over the years and how did you come up with this term in order to define your music?
L: We thought that the term Noir was the more appropriate to describe our music as we feel it is filled with suspense and mystery rather than with a grotesque atmosphere like in the Gothic genre... its evolution is comparable to a progressive approaching the light till you become almost blind and the mystery increases...
Are you into that digital/downloading trend or do you believe that’s killing music little by little? What’s there for a band when most people are downloading their albums and not even care to listen to them most of the times? What shall change so as to make it through?
L: We believe people are always going to want to have music in their lives. We all need a soundtrack to our scenes. We have no problem with technology helping people to acquire (legally or illegally) music, but we do have a problem with technology making the music - instead of real musicians playing together - as it happens 98% of the time in any recording studio in the world right now.
The Italian scene seems to be having a blast lately! So many bands are coming from Italy, playing all kinds of rock & metal music. How do you see all these things? Is it for the scene’s own shake in the end?
L: We've always felt we are citizens of the world so we don’t pay more attention to Italian bands than we do to bands hailing from other parts of the world. Music knows no territorial boundaries.
It’s time for the Weird Questions now!!! How did you come up with the name Belladonna… whose idea was it back in the day?
L: We’ve been always strongly attracted to the semantic polyvalence of the word Belladonna ... it can be a cure, a hallucinogen, and even a deadly poison... it can also mean “beautiful woman”...
What are those things that you do not like in the music industry nowadays?
L: Perhaps the lack of attention to the music itself... today music is just seen as a mere product to make money.
Which music kind can’t you bear to hear at all?
L: Any music that is not made with the heart... no matter the genre!
Which is the record you wish you had written and why?
L: Ours! That’s why we do music, to record the records we’d love to listen to!
What is missing from today’s music industry? Are most albums missing the quality they used to have back in the 70s and 80s?
L: As I stated earlier, we believe that the massive use of computers and machines in the studio have spawned millions of albums that are played to click tracks, with lots of samples, where vocals are tuned, drum sounds are replaced, and guitar amps are modeled digitally. That’s not even music in our opinion, just product. Music happens when the human spirit becomes alive through sound, not when a computer produces it.
Were you obliged to give just one album to extraterrestrials that would represent the whole human music evolution, which album would it be and from which band/artist?
L: It would be something that is currently very popular and very fake, like Lady Gaga or the Foo Fighters, so that extraterrestrials will not deem it worth it to invade us and go away. We’ll ask them to take us along before they leave, though...!!
(i.n.: What a nice idea!)If you were the opposite sex for one day, what would you look like and what would you do?
L: Probably I would dress up as a woman, I would put on some make up... I’ve always thought I would love to do that as a man and I’m sorry not to be born a man and be able do it.
What would you do if you were not afraid to fail?
L: I think I would walk like Mary Spelterini on a wire between the Niagara Falls.
What is your favorite place in the world?
L: The heart of all the people I love...
Is fiction part of reality… or reality is fiction’s flaw?
L: It's a Cartesian doubt... a dilemma that we can’t completely solve. On some levels the first sentence could be true and on some other levels the second one is the true answer... it depends on the point of view... and again, in an infinite regress, we are unable to determine the truth and reality of this very last one...
Who is your favorite philosopher and why?
L: I think Immanuel Kant... it is impossible to not take into account his philosophy for understanding the evolution of modern thought. I find him everywhere.
Is rock music made for ladies or not?
L: Rock music is made for whoever feel truly alive and truly wants to feel life.
I think we’re over Luana. Close this interview in your own words.... Thx! Take care!
L: Thanks so much for this interview and thank everybody for having read this far!! Feel free to drop us a line on our Facebook… we always answer to everyone personally... much love!!