www.myspace.com/vitalychurch
www.vitalychurch.com
Hi Tommy, “Congratulations on your new Self Produced Album Gothic Erothic”. At first I couldn’t believe it when I learned that Vitaly consists of two main band members. I find Gothic Erothic incredible and a masterpiece well produced.
Q. I understand that yourself - Tommy Vitaly is responsible for all instrumentals mixing and recording and Stefano Senesi on vocals who helps in mastering Vitaly’s music?
A.Thanks for your kind words above Tina. Everything is produced by me. I choose the instruments, I record ALL of them, I mix them, I play them (except for drums,programmed on pc),and I do the master of the CD. Nobody helps in mastering. I do it. I learn from past experiences in professional studios,and I brought them in my home-studio! I am not sure, but maybe, for the next works, I will use a professional studio for drums and mastering.
Q.Tommy has anyone ever told you that you’re a genius when it comes to producing music and a great engineer?
A. Nobody ever told me! Thank you very much!I do everything in my home studio. I have a normal computer,a good audio-card (motu 828mkII), 2 good speaker monitors, a pre-amp, a Line6 POD, good instruments, and a couple of mics, nothing more. I am not a genius, I think a musician has to know music very well first, then has to use the brain. I mean you can play the hardest music on the hardest instruments,but you have to recognize when a sound is good or not for the ear! Sometimes I listen to cds from underground bands,who spend money for recording them in professional studios, and the drums sound like a hitted box of powder for the washing machine!LOL! :-)) or guitars are like mosquitos buzzing around your head!LOL :-)
I definitively use my ear and my brain for producing and engineering music!
Q. Can you tell us about your latest Self Produced Album Gothic Erothic and was there any challenges in producing this Album.?
A. "Gothic Erothic" is our 2nd cd released. It is full of gothic-romantic songs,but also some dark-rock tracks. People can buy it from our websites and from CDBaby.com.
There was challenges yes.I always have when I start recordings. First I have to record and play a mandolin on the songs "RISE" and "Lullaby". I never did it before. It was a hard challenge, but the final result is so good! I am proud. Then I have to play many acoustic instruments, more than in our 1st CD "Diva". Some orchestrations too, as you may hear on "Diabolica" song. But the hardest challenge was the mixing of some songs,for there were many recording tracks on them!
Q. Tommy your lyrics are very intense with strong melodic intense emotion has your lyrics been based on past life experiences?
A. I can talk about the lyrics I wrote,for some are by Stefano. Well,my lyrics talks about emotions,and in Vitaly' music about dark emotions. And love. Love in a bloody and romantic way. Like a pain you need for live. A feeling very strong, going beyond death and beyond life. Something may come out from past experiences....but mixed with some unreal stories.
Q. The one thing I noticed in studying your lyrical content and the music is that your audience can feel these heartfelt emotions in all your Albums. Do you have any spiritual influences in your music?
A. I am glad to hear this from you! mmm...about spiritual,if you refer to religion, I say no.But if you mean deep reflections in my souls about feelings,or philosopy, then yes. I love philosopy. And music,the love for music,is in a certain way, my spiritual way to be.
Q. What are Vitalys main musical influences for their music? How does Gothic Erothic differ or from your previous EP’s Diva (2007) and The Darkest Love (2006)? Do have any plans for touring to promote Gothic Erothic this year?
A. About influences,we have many. Both me and Stefano come from H.M. scene. So,all the greatest band in metal are influences to us. But I love classical music very much too.I studied it for many years. About goth, well classical music is full of goth music! but as bands I like HIM,The 69 Eyes,Therion. I love The Ramones too!ahaha! Then the greatest guitar players of all times! Soundtracks for movies are great too! as you may see I listen to many different music. About Stefano I can say beside to HM music,he loves dark music,and some ambient too.
Gothic Erothic is different from "Diva" and "The Darkest Love",because it is more "ambient" oriented. I mean we use more synthesis and acoustic instruments;so the atmosphere is more relaxed and dark. "Diva" and "The darkest love" were more rock'n'roll oriented. The Darkest love song still is one of my favourite songs.
About touring,nothing is still planned. We will try to put a band togheter for doing some shows here in Italy. About touring outside of Italy we will need a help from a management! We cannot do it by ourselves. We hope someone will help us!
Q. How about video production any musical videos planned from Gothic Erothic and previous Vitaly’s Albums?
A. We are planning to record the video for "SNOW" song. Self-produced, so we will see what comes out!LOL! I think it will be ready for October.
Q. Where can fans request Vitaly music on Radio?
A. You can request our music at Hard Rock Radio, WFLM Radio,VM Underground show. The Vaul of Metal show,Dark Cloud Radio and many more.
Q. What are your live shows like and do you sell CD’s and Vitaly merchandise at your live performances?
A. Vitaly still did not play a live show. So we are selling CD's and merchandise through the website. But playing live would help us very much.
Q. I understand Vitaly is seeking a new record label what does the band look for in a record deal?
A. Honesty. And a label who believe in us 100%. People still believing in music,not in business. First the music, then the business.
Q. How the music scene in Italy is what genre is popular?
A. There are many bands in Italy. But I like just a few. I think Lacuna Coil and Rhapsody of Fire are the best ones in metal scene.They are very professional people. Because I think it. Italy we need more professional attitude. About popular genre,in Italy MTV is the queen of false music. So hip-hop,pop music and disco-music are the most popular. Only in the underground you can find bands playing different kind of music.
Q. The music business today is filled with lots of uncertainty and unknowns what is your opinion of the music industry today and where it’s going in the future?
A. I think music industry today is far from music. People coming out suddenly on the medias, because the industry try to put them there. If they make money ok,else a kick in the ass. But there are still a few talented artist coming out from the experience they have in music and industry recognize their talent and give them the right chance to reach the audience they deserve. So,I would use the music industry only with talented artists, and this I hope for the future! But this is just a dream!
Q. Before we wrap up our interview do you have any last words?
A. We would like to thanks DJ TINA for this great interview and opportunity for promoting our new cd "GOTHIC EROTHIC".
www. myspace. com/vitalychurch
or
http://cdbaby. com/cd/vitalymusic
and order a copy of the cd if they like our music.
Thank you Tommy for allowing our eZine to interview Vitaly .
Gothic Erothic is a CD that’s a treasure that I feel needs to be heard and noticed in the media and I plan on ordering Vitalys CD’s for our music collection.
You Rock
Tina
