FIVE QUESTIONS

INDEX

PAUL MALONE (CANDY OPERA) 126 DAVEY WOODWARD 128 ETHAN GOLD 130 LOUD APARTMENT 132 NERO KANE 134 OF1000FACES 138 OUTWAVE 140 PHILIP PARFITT 144 THE PERSIAN LEAPS 146 THE ROOGS 150 THRILLSVILLE 152

PAUL MALONE (CANDY OPERA)

Tell us a bit about your latest release and the overall message(s) you wanted to share with the world through this music?

We wanted to show that we were still relevant today. We didn’t want to just be a band that sold it’s back catalogue. We believe we should always look forward and not backwards... and as for any message to the world, that’s too big a question for anyone to answer. We just want to make music that we love.

Many artists have found 2020 to be productive in terms of creating and releasing new music (or even learning a new instrument, programs) - how has this year been for you in that respect?

For us, it hasn’t stopped any flow of creativity. Playing live has obviously been a problem and we remain positive that things will change. Being creative has always been at the heart of what we do whether it be together or separate, we will always try to find an outlet. I suppose we’ll have to relearn our instruments, not having struck a chord in anger for a while!

Tell us one thing that you really loved, as an artist, about the pre-Covid period, and one thing you are looking forward to once it dissipates?

Playing live was always something that we valued and we miss. We were just getting started again when all this shit happened. Getting back together as a band and seeing each other on a personal level as well as a creative one is something that we look forward to... just the sheer enjoyment of playing in front of a crowd and sharing our new material with them.

In terms of your own music, what are your plans and hopes for 2021?

We’re hoping that our ideas for this album come across well and that it achieves its potential for success. Now our mojo’s up, we’re also looking forward to writing more new music and exploring other avenues in our direction.

Please recommend us 5-15 emerging artists you think our readers should explore over the holidays.

Mac DeMarco, DMA’s, Jalen N’Gon, Davey Woodward & The Winter Orphans, The Wolfhounds, The Room in The Wood, Philip Parfitt, Easy, Paul Den Heyer

DAVEY WOODWARD

Tell us a bit about your latest release and the overall message(s) you wanted to share with the world through this music?

I just wanted to make an album that might engage the listener on an emotional level. Even a personal level. There are no conscious messages to the listener but the album is called ‘ Love and Optimism’

Many artists have found 2020 to be productive in terms of creating and releasing new music (or even learning a new instrument, programs) - how has this year been for you in that respect?

I absorbed myself in story writing. Home schooled my youngest son. We drew lots of pictures and told his mum we were doing maths. Cleaned my bicycle. I expect at some point these experiences will become songs!

Tell us one thing that you really loved, as an artist, about the pre-Covid period, and one thing you are looking forward to once it dissipates?

I miss the joy of playing music with friends. Being able to do that again will be great. A gig even better.

In terms of your own music, what are your plans and hopes for 2021?

Gosh I’m bad at planning. New single off the album, play some gigs, rehearse and record new songs. Reach a wider audience.

Please recommend us 5-15 emerging artists you think our readers should explore over the holidays. Black Country New Roads Squid Norma Tanega ( old but deserves a new audience) Vintage Crop Jane Weaver

ETHAN GOLD

Tell us a bit about your latest release and the overall message(s) you wanted to share with the world through this music? My multi-part album ‘Earth City’ will be coming out in the spring. This is about the life of cities, and our disconnection from each other, and from the natural world. Many artists have found 2020 to be productive in terms of creating and releasing new music (or even learning a new instrument, programs) - how has this year been for you in that respect? I was very resistant to live-streaming, but jumped into it with both (bare) feet.... Or feet in socks. Somehow got used to this strange, casual, intimate way of doing shows. I let them be basically 100% on request, so I got to learn a lot of obscure things from my catalog. I do film scores sometimes as well so it was challenging to call up all kinds of old work in order to play what my listeners wanted every week. Tell us one thing that you really loved, as an artist, about the pre-Covid period, and one thing you are looking forward to once it dissipates? I loved the life of clubs and look forward to that all coming back. Everybody's hopes and dreams bashing into each other night after night. The chaos of it is really beautiful, in retrospect. In terms of your own music, what are your plans and hopes for 2021? The ‘Earth City’ album release, and a lot of videos. Please recommend us 5-15 emerging artists you think our readers should explore over the holidays The Size Queens. Me. John Grant. My Bus. Miranda Lee Richards. Some of these are more emerging than others.

NEVARIS A.C. (LOUD APARTMENT)

Tell us a bit about your latest release and the overall message(s) you wanted to share with the world through this music?

System Breakdown was written in response to what we saw happening around us. Basic systems falling apart. Transit. Healthcare. Housing. And the current administration (soon gone) provided this daily nightmare of ignorance and hatred that I couldn't process without putting it to music.

Many artists have found 2020 to be productive in terms of creating and releasing new music (or even learning a new instrument, programs) - how has this year been for you in that respect?

It's been very productive in terms of writing. The summer gave us a respite where we felt safe to get back in the studio, but at present the pandemic is really holding us back from that. The solo activities (writing and practicing) have been very productive. I'm doing a lot of listening and practicing and it’s been good in that regard. Trying to be patient with regards to getting back in the studio. It's possible to work with masks and such but we're going to hold of on tht for a while. I'm happy we were able to finish recording System Breakdown over the summer.

Tell us one thing that you really loved, as an artist, about the pre-Covid period, and one thing you are looking forward to once it dissipates?

I remember the last indoor gig I played before the pandemic took hold which was in a packed club in the West Village. It was a very dangerous thing to do in hindsight but none of us realized it yet. I look forward to being able to do such things without fear. I also have become more conscious of time during the pandemic because I travel so much less. I think I will be more conscious of not wasting time in the future.

In terms of your own music, what are your plans and hopes for 2021?

I plan on getting back into the studio with the same musicians from system breakdown and working on more music. It was such a pleasure to work with this particular group of musicians. As soon as it is safe. I also look forward to playing in front of humans again at some point.

Please recommend us 5-15 emerging artists you think our readers should explore over the holidays.

Garrison Hawk Maya Azucena Ugly Braine Angel Ruben Rodriguez Abrazos Orchestra The Fates Matt Dickey Soul Inscribed Imany Mladao

NERO KANE

Tell us a bit about your latest release and the overall message(s) you wanted to share with the world through this music? My new album “Tales of Faith and Launacy”, released at the end of October, is a visionary story with a cinematic flavor, a timeless journey in the American desert landscape, conceived in a personal vision of faith between spirituality and passion, which flows in every song and unfolds with the various protagonists. It could be seen as a sort of concept album about life and death, darkness and light, faith and desperate search for love in a world that is condemned and abandoned. These are the topics of my songwriting. The album was acclaimed as a new psychedelic folk masterpiece, definition that it’s not my call to say if it’s true, but which gave me a lot of satisfaction. Also, it is achieving many amazing reviews both in Italy (it was listed among the best 2020 Italian releases) and abroad. The album was released with three labels and three physical supports, Nasoni Records (vinyl, Germany), BloodRock Records (CD, Italy), Anacortes Records (cassette tape, Italy), and was produced and recorded in Italy by Matt Bordin, who collaborated with many italian and international artists, with guest violin by Nicola Manzan (Bologna Violenta) and the collaboration with my partner Samantha Stella (vocals, electric piano/organ). This is my second album as Nero Kane after the release in 2018 of my debut album “Love In A Dying World” produced and recorded in Los Angeles by Joe Cardamone, formerly of the band The Icarus Line, who is now collaborating with Mark Lanegan. Many artists have found 2020 to be productive in terms of creating and releasing new music (or even learning a new instrument, programs) - how has this year been for you in that respect? Honestly for me it has been a productive year. I have been concentrated on the release of the album and, before the worldwide lockdown, on my first UK tour last February. During the lockdown I simply went on with my routine and continued to work on my music and write new stuff. I also worked with Samantha (who, since 2017, follows me in the live shows as singer and organ/piano player, sang and wrote three lyrics of the new album and is the director of all my videos), on the short film to launch the leading track “Lord Won’t Come”. I played a lot my guitar and worked on my type of sound testing new effects and on the new live set that I hope to perform soon in 2021. Obvioulsy it has been also a though year for many reasons. Regarding music, first of all for the general cancellation and postponing of concerts and tours. Tell us one thing that you really loved, as an artist, about the pre-Covid period, and one thing you are looking forward to once it dissipates? Freedom. As a person and as an artist which to me is quite the same thing. The freedom to live your life, in a full and complete way, without fear and restrictions, in order to have the possibility to follow your aspirations. Of whatever kind these may be. I’m really looking forward to have it back because without freedom we are nothing.

In terms of your own music, what are your plans and hopes for 2021?

As I said before, to come back to play my music in front of real people and on a proper stage. I don’t like the new streaming fruition that could be good for a film, but not so much for live music. I’m planning to go back in studio and record a new album and hopefully to continue to push my creative world as far as I can. Last but not least, maybe starting to play piano.

Please recommend us 5-15 emerging artists you think our readers should explore over the holidays. (a simple list will do)

In the italian panorama I have recently discovered these two emerging artists, Julinko and Annie Barbazza, two interesting female voices and songwriters. Among international artists I would like to recommend these musicians (don’t know if they can still be considered as emerging): Jaye Jayle, Holy Motors and Lingua Ignota. Thank you for your time and happy holidays to you...

Thanks to you for your interest in my music, happy holidays and fingers crossed for this 2021.

MATT WALKER (OF1000FACES)

Tell us a bit about your latest release and the overall message(s) you wanted to share with the world through this music?

My newest release is The Infinity Line, which is the second act of what I’m calling the Monomyyth Trilogy. It’s an instrumental album that encompasses ambient, electro-acoustic and minimalism contemporary classical. It sets a contemplative mood but is not as stagnant as most ambient oriented music. As a record listened to from top to bottom it plays very like a soundtrack, where each piece is very much it’s own scene.

Many artists have found 2020 to be productive in terms of creating and releasing new music (or even learning a new instrument, programs) - how has this year been for you in that respect?

It’s been a very productive time for me. And I have taken to learning more more about analog synthesis, which inevitably leads to creating new music.

Tell us one thing that you really loved, as an artist, about the pre-Covid period, and one thing you are looking forward to once it dissipates?

Without question that would be touring and playing live. But I also really miss going to my public library!

In terms of your own music, what are your plans and hopes for 2021?

In February I’ll release the final act of the Monomyyth Trilogy, Nadir. After that I’ll focus on finishing and releasing a rather ambitious art-pop album that features an incredible cast of guest singers.

Please recommend us 5-15 emerging artists you think our readers should explore over the holidays. Marika Hackman Anna Calvi Matthew Dear Son Lux Zola Blood Young Fathers Moses Sumney Big Black Delta Friko Chris Zabriskie

OUTWAVE

Tell us a bit about your latest release and the overall message(s) you wanted to share with the world through this music? “The Storm” was officially released in September 2020, in both digital and CD format. The album follows the story of a boy who, through a series of vicissitudes metaphorically associated with natural phenomena and picturesque settings, will experience a profound change. Each song tells about different emotional moment that the protagonist is facing: step by step through the unpredictability of life. The Storm as chaos, as a whirlwind of violent emotions, is definitely the focal point. A phenomenon, that in real life, shakes the normal course of events. The protagonist, after facing the tangle, frees himself from the chains that bound him and runs towards a new beginning. Many artists have found 2020 to be productive in terms of creating and releasing new music (or even learning a new instrument, programs) - how has this year been for you in that respect? Fortunately we managed to continue playing and producing new music, by adapting to the situation. It was important for us musicians to practice with our musical instruments and not be disheartened by the pandemic. Thanks also to our record label (Seahorse recording) we made also our first streaming concert. Tell us one thing that you really loved, as an artist, about the pre-Covid period, and one thing you are looking forward to once it dissipates? As a band we can't wait to get back to experience the same emotions we used to feel before the pandemic. Especially we are missing the warmth of the audience felt during the concerts. We want to meet them face to face again and have fun together! We love watching people dancing, going wild and creating a deep connection with their emotions, without any fear of being too close. In terms of your own music, what are your plans and hopes for 2021? First of all, we would like to promote our new album and play it live. Unfortunately the Covid-19 epidemic represents a real obstacle for us and for the entire show business right now, but we are confident to come back soon! We are going to realise a new music video and to release an EP, since we are working on some new songs

Please recommend us 5-15 emerging artists you think our readers should explore over the holidays. PERPETUAL FATE (Melodic Metal) FRANK - Mattia Orlandini (Pop) E-KREEP (Electronic) SPARKLY PLANES (Hard and Pop Rock) THE WANKRESS (Post Rock)

PHILIP PARFITT

Tell us a bit about your latest release and the overall message(s) you wanted to share with the world through this music?

It ( the album) is about people, relationships, finding out who we are what we are doing here, on a wave of consciousness navigating through darkness .. searching for meaning and a little love.

Many artists have found 2020 to be productive in terms of creating and releasing new music (or even learning a new instrument, programs) - how has this year been for you in that respect?

I’m always writing, recording, painting, generally being creative etc. ... probably did more this year in terms of finishing work because I had a lot of time to focus ... still lots to do though .. I’m happy like that.

Tell us one thing that you really loved, as an artist, about the pre-Covid period, and one thing you are looking forward to once it dissipates?

Moving around a bit more to see all my friends in the countries I love and discovering new Artists to collaborate with. Artists from all over the place is what I love and miss the most... my family, my people some I haven’t seen for 10 months who live in other parts of Europe

In terms of your own music, what are your plans and hopes for 2021?

Well the follow up to ‘Mental Home Recordings’ is well underway and I’ve several other Art projects on the go too... I’m currently working on a collaboration with a lovely Japanese conceptual artist combining my poetry and music with her paintings into 3 books and an exhibition... we hope to finish that by autumn next year .. so yeah if I/ we can finish those things it will be cool... my usual team of very gifted musicians are going to be busy too .. that is enough

Please recommend us 5-15 emerging artists you think our readers should explore over the holidays.

I don’t do lists but one thing I would recommend is that people search for themselves find what they love and support those artists in anyway they can .. Arts and culture have been really hit badly in the last year... as have many other things that we so easily take for granted... but try if you can to imagine a world without music? The heartbeat of our existence!!

DREW FORSBERG (THE PERSIAN LEAPS)

Tell us a bit about your latest release and the overall message(s) you wanted to share with the world through this music?

We released a 7-song EP called Smiling Lessons EP this fall. It’s our 8th release overall. The EP title comes from a joke with my wife; I’m so bad at smiling on command for photos that I need “smiling lessons.” But the phrase has come to mean more to me. If people are supposed to smile in the face of adversity, then all the hardships life throws our way are smiling lessons. You could say that 2020--with its global pandemic, racial injustice, and murder hornets--has been one massive, never-ending smiling lesson. I don’t know that distortion-laden power pop is a solution to any of those problems but honestly, can it hurt?

Many artists have found 2020 to be productive in terms of creating and releasing new music (or even learning a new instrument, programs) - how has this year been for you in that respect?

So far, this year has been about as productive as any in terms of writing new songs. I tend not to write obviously topical songs, so I won’t have any ballads about how we’re stronger together, even when we’re apart. The major challenge so far has been that because of Covid and some friends with higher risk factors, I’m not able to work with my normal collaborators. This fall’s EP was largely done by March, so it wasn’t affected that much. But for the next batch of songs that I’ll release in 2021, I’m having to change my process quite a bit, recording at a new studio, working with new people, and so on. It’s disruptive, but so far, it’s going well and is a positive experience.

Tell us one thing that you really loved, as an artist, about the pre-Covid period and one thing you are looking forward to once it dissipates?

We retired as a live band back in 2017 after playing way too many shows in the Twin Cities over the preceding 5 years. During that period, I was going out to see tons of live music even when The Persian Leaps weren’t playing. I completely overdid it, to the point where I’ve barely seen one show per year since then. I loved seeing live music but had to take a break. Once Covid is behind us, I’d like to get back out there and see more live music. The challenge, of course, is that many of our local venues are in serious financial trouble right now. That’s true everywhere, I’m sure, but in the Twin Cities, a number of them were damaged or completely gutted by fires lit by looters and vandals after the murder of George Floyd by the Minneapolis police. Our latest music video for “Your Loss” shows many of those venues--or their charred ruins.

In terms of your own music, what are your plans and hopes for 2021? I hope that our next batch of songs is well-served by the changes in process and collaboration forced by Covid that I mentioned earlier. We’ve released an EP or LP every year since 2013. I intend to keep doing that as long as I have good material. It would be crushing to have to postpone the EP I’ve already started for release in 2021. So far, things are going well, despite the unusual circumstances, so I’m hopeful that everything will turn out well, despite a year overflowing with “smiling lessons.” Please recommend us 5-15 emerging artists you think our readers should explore over the holidays. Lost Ships (https://lostships.bandcamp.com/) Deleter (https://deleter.bandcamp.com/) Ahem (https://helloahem.bandcamp.com/) Big Bliss (https://bigblissesr.bandcamp.com/) Herzog (https://herzog-cleveland.bandcamp.com/)

STEVE AND COURTNEY (THE ROOGS)

Tell us a bit about your latest release and the overall message(s) you wanted to share with the world through this music?

We wanted to create a group of songs that are centered around the individual human experience, rather than the noisy and all - encompassing political world we find ourselves in currently. With so much media intrusion it becomes difficult to remain focused on the things that are important, and to not become distracted by the bad news and turmoil that is out of control of the individual person. We feel that it’s important to speak to other people at their level, and as honestly as possible. Our similarities far outnumber our differences.

Many artists have found 2020 to be productive in terms of creating and releasing new music (or even learning a new instrument, programs) - how has this year been for you in that respect?

We are very active working on new music, and already have more than an album’s worth of new songs – which we are in various stages of production… of course some of these will be discarded, and probably replaced by songs not yet written!

Steve is working on improving some neglected software skills (Reason, Bitwig, Izotope, etc.) and spending more time with guitar. Courtney continues to work on vocals, lyrics, guitar and flute but is also focusing on keyboards.

Tell us one thing that you really loved, as an artist, about the pre-Covid period, and one thing you are looking forward to once it dissipates?

We miss seeing live music – big bands in big arenas and small bands in smaller venues.

We were very disappointed to miss Underworld and Rammstein when their shows were cancelled due to COVID. We are greatly looking forward to seeing live music again.

In terms of your own music, what are your plans and hopes for 2021?

The plan is to release a new record around mid 2021, and perhaps a couple singles as well, and maybe a cover song or two. We might even look to performing live, something that excites and terrifies us!

Please recommend us 5-15 emerging artists you think our readers should explore over the holidays. Tombstones In Their Eyes The Sea At Midnight Modem The Band Ghum Black Needle Noise Scenic

RANI SHARONE (THRILLSVILLE)

Tell us a bit about your latest release and the overall message(s) you wanted to share with the world through this music? My latest release, Say Goodbye to the Light (ep), features five songs that provided a welcome distraction and creative outlet for me during this challenging time. Immersing myself in producing music has always been an escape from reality and my hope is others can get something out of my tunes as well. Many artists have found 2020 to be productive in terms of creating and releasing new music (or even learning a new instrument, programs) - how has this year been for you in that respect? I started the year off with a video for my song “So Close” and an optimism that quickly became derailed but it did lead to interesting artistic choices. I released a song and video for my song “Lockdown” inspired by the unrelenting restlessness of being stuck in quarantine which helped me vent feelings myself and I’m sure many others are experiencing. Tell us one thing that you really loved, as an artist, about the pre-Covid period, and one thing you are looking forward to once it dissipates? Playing live. I was starting to book shows and get submitted for tours just as the pandemic hit so that was a major bummer. I’m especially looking forward to performing once things get back up and running. In terms of your own music, what are your plans and hopes for 2021? Releasing more music/videos and performing. Please recommend us 5-15 emerging artists you think our readers should explore over the holidays. Stolen Babies Precious Child Vowws Free Salamander Exhibit Ridiculon

The13th UNA REVISTA IMAGINARIA