INTERVIEW WITH ALBERTO RIGONI – by Logan Lee

1)      Hi there Alberto. Hope you’re doing all right and it’s a pleasure to interview you. Let’s start with the obvious questions: How the idea of Lady and the Bass project was born?

      I felt the need to try something completely different and thought that a project focused on voice and bass could be interesting. Well, as you might have listened, there are other instruments on the album (electronic drums, keyboards) but the mainstream sound is the Bass one.

2)      Chow did you meet Irene Ermoli (the “Lady” in the album)? Is she related with con Tommy Ermoli, your colleague on the band Twinspirits?

      On 2004 I’ve joined the progressive rock band TwinSpirits. Irene, guitar player Tommy Ermolli’s sister, was participating on the band trials while we were looking for the definitive singer (we were seeking a male singer). On  2005 I was starting to prepare my first solo album "Something Different", a very unique album featuring a vast list of musical styles (pop funky rock fusion). Particularly, I have writen a track called "BASSex" and I asked Irene to sing it (you may find the video on the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-0P4eKBAHs – PS: The girl on the video is not Irene but a dancer choosen for the video). Since then I felt that there was an amazing feeling among us and a few years later we’ve decided to start the "Lady & THE BASS" adventure together.

3)      There’s a clear difference between Groovy and the other projects you are involved with (Twinspirits e your two solo albums above all). What are the main influences on this?

      I can’t deny the fact that my background is basicly progressive rock/metal but it’s also true that during my entire life I have listened to a lot of styles, and the 80s and 90s disco pop, which has influenced this last project, is among them.

4)      How was the creational process on this album?  Did you write all lyrics and texts or were there any external cooperation?

      Most of the tracks (lyrics and texts) were written by me, but there were also some cooperation with Irene (A New Life, Paradise) and Federico Solazzo (Paradise), who is also artistic co-producer of this album..

5)      Not everybody might know this, but Groovy can be freely downloaded directly from your website http://www.ladyandthebass.com/ . Could you please explain why you chose to make it available for free?

      Well, to sell one’s music is very though nowadays and unfortunately it’s also hard to gift music as well. Market is full and to emerge is harder day after day. We don’t wish to sell, we just want people to know and listen to our music.

6)      Another thing that I did not understand was the choice to not insert the track Quirky Girl (previously released as a single) in Groovy. I really think it would fit perfectly. How come you have chosen differently ?

      Yes, I agree with you: Quirky Girl would really fit on this CD but that track is under another label, therefore it was impossible to insert it in Groovy.

7)      Tell us a bit about the music video Eclectic (http://youtu.be/bD6INdWOkoU) ? It is a very fun video to watch. Did you guys enjoy doing it as well? 

      It was a very funny experience indeed! With few instruments we’ve managed to reach a fantastic result and all thanks to the director Elisa Fabris who has an incredible creativity. I still remember that the 40° C weather was not really proper for being in a suite and wearing tie …!

8)      What are your next projects (if you already have something going on)?

      I am working on my third solo album which will be half instrumental and half singed counting with some really cool special guests such as Kevin Moore (ex- Dream Theater, OSI, Chroma Key),  Goran Edman (ex Yngwie Malmsteen), Mark Cross (Helloween, Firewind). The release is previewed to the end of 2012 or the beginning of 2013.

9)      Thank you very much for the interview and the usual cordiality. Would you like to send a last message for your fans and perfectprog.com readers?

         I really hope this new project will please you and wish to thank everyone who somehow supports my music!

         Thank you for this interview and “ciao” to all  perfectproggers around the world :)