Published: May 22, 2009 1:21 AM EST
By: Isaac Davis Jr., MBA (Juniorscave.com)
New Music Spotlight May 2009 Edition
Luca Spanio
Luca Spanio
Sometimes acoustic, sometimes rock, sometimes funk, and sometimes a little of them all Luca Spanio beautifully creates a wonderful sound with his amazing vocals and fantastic guitars that will leave you breathless. If you are a fan of music that has meaning, then Luca Spanio is the perfect choice for music lovers around the world. In this spotlight with our Webzine, Luca speaks to us about his music and being an artist living in America from another country.
Isaac: What was the best part of 2008 for you musically?
Luca: The best part of 2008? Well, musically, I did a lot; I recorded my first EP, I organized a short tour all around the Bay Area, I played my music between San Francisco and Los Angeles with Las Vegas in the middle, and I had radio shows and press interviews. When you do so much in just one year, sometimes it's hard to understand what the best part of what you did was. But, if I really have to pick something, maybe was recording my EP; having a good recording that you can sell, it's always the first step of your career.
Isaac: What do you feel was your biggest accomplishment for 2008?
Luca: Playing live. When you're a solo indie artist, that does everything by himself you work like crazy, and sometimes you feel frustrated, but when you have a gig, and you play in front of 10-15-20 or more people that really appreciate your music and what you're playing. Well, it's hard to describe, but that makes you think "That's why I'm a musicians...not for the glory, or the money...but for what I'm feeling right now. And then of course, also for the girls...hehe...'
Isaac: Describe the music scene in area.
Luca: I'm from Los Angele and everybody comes here to play music hoping one day the big producer is gonna notice them, so there's a lot of competition. Here you can find all kind of music, from jazz to country, from hard rock to acoustic funk-rock (the style that I play). Here we have the Sunset Strip, where Guns 'n' Roses used to play, so you can still find sometimes L.A. Guns perform. The only thing that I don't like is that in some places (not all of them) you have to pay to play, and it's something that (for what I know) exist just in L.A...
Isaac: What has been the best venue to perform at and why?
Luca: The best venue? Honestly, I don't know. I played in different and many venues last year that it's hard just pick one. I remember each venue for different reason; I remember I played in Fremont at Essanay Cafe, and on my second song the owner said that my voice was a little bit too loud. It's funny because the volume of the mic wasn't even that laud, so I was thinking "What am I suppose to do? I mean...I'm singin', not screamin'. I can sing with no mic at this point cos...", the gig went really good and actually that one was one of the best gig on my tour around the Bay Area. I also played at The Knitting Factory in Hollywood more than once and I liked it. But, sometimes I don't really care of the venue. I'm really happy of the show when people came and really enjoy the show. People are the ones who give me emotions and make my gig great, so it doesn't matter if I'm in a small cafe or in a big club.
Isaac: Elaborate a little about whom were your biggest influences in the music industry and why?
Luca: The big influences for me? Well, I really like Queen, because of the music and because they were great musicians. I think Freddie Mercury was the best singer ever, and I really like the sound of Brian May and what he did. I also really like The Beatles (…'cause, c'mon, everybody loves The Beatles...) and all the hard rock group from the 70, like Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Deep Purple. I started playing electric guitars (like everybody probably) and those bands are the one who inspire when you're a little kid with a guitar in your hand. When I went to Musicians Institute, I started playing James Brown songs. And then I started to love funk music.
Isaac: Let's talk about what you feel you will bring to the music industry?
Luca: Well, you always have to think to write something new, something original. It's hard because nowadays you have all kind of music and different sub-divisions. I think about music as something that has to make you feel good and forget about your problems, so I like to be sarcastic during my shows. Sometimes I say something on stage and then my bass player comes to me and says "I can't believe you said that". And then my situation is different from any other musician. I'm from Italy, and I perform original songs and some cover of an English band, with an acoustic funk-rock sound, in Southern California. With a Canadian bass player and a drummer from Texas, I mean, it's definitely something you don't see every day. And then my accent makes everything sweeter...hehe...
Isaac: If you had an opportunity to work with one artist or group, who would it be and why?
Luca: Probably Brian May. He's my idol and play and work with him will make my life complete (at least now...hehe). I love to write music for 4 to5 and more electric guitars. I wrote and recorded last year at the wedding march for 12 electric guitars and I also put a video on YouTube with some pics of "Tim Burton's The Corpse Bride". Brian May did a lot of this with Queen. Pretty much almost every song has a part played with 4 to5 electric guitars and sounds so amazing to me.
Isaac: How would you describe your music to others?
Luca: My music is a mix between the funky rhythms of James Brown and Red Hot Chili Peppers and the rock of Queen, Led Zeppelin. People say that my voice sometimes sounds like Freddie Mercury, sometimes like Jeff Buckley, and also fans of Oasis love my music. On my website, I have songs from my old EP, but I'm recording with my drummer and my bass player, so with them you can really feel the funk in each song.
Isaac: What type of feedback have you received from fans about your music?
Luca: I play original songs and some covers of Queen. But with my style, so sometimes people don't know if I'm playing an original song or a cover. I like when fans from Queen come to me saying that they really enjoy the show, 'cause it's always hard when you compare yourself with somebody like Freddie Mercury. And then I like to be funny on stage, shaking my hips and showing my back to the public...hehe.When I play with my band, the sound is very full, the drummer is very good and he plays some very good funk-rock stuff that makes the crowd hot. I receive all the time compliments about my voice. And my fans really like what I say on my songs. I remember one fan coming to me after one of my show saying "Freddie Mercury would love to hear his songs in acoustic as you play them, you sing with your heart and we can feel it"
Isaac: Where can fans locate you at online?
Luca: I have a personal website (www.lucaspanio.com) where you can find everything about me, my CDs, T-Shirts, news about my new gigs, every link for Facebook, MySpace...probably my personal website is the best way to know everything about me. And then of course, I have MySpace www.myspace.com/lucaspanio and www.myspace.com/queenacoustic
Isaac: What can fans expect from you in the next five years?
Luca: I don't know. Honestly, as an artist, I'm always looking for the perfect song to write, the perfect album to record, and the perfect sound to find. Music is something that always changes, and if you consider that you'll never write the perfect song, or you'll never write the perfect album, your music will always change. Also, because everything around you will change, and we are artists, so we are influenced by the events around us. Of course, I'll try to put always some
characteristic elements, like the choir, in every song I'll write, but probably in the next five years my songwriting will be different (hopefully better) than now. Just think that last year I recorded an EP just by myself, with no band, and now I'm recording new songs with a band, so the sound will be different from last year.
Isaac: Time for some shout outs to your family, friends, and fans…
Luca: hehe…I'm from Italy, so my family at the beginning wasn't happy that I was moving here, but now they're used to it (beside my mother…hehe). I'm always online so I'm always talking with my friends and fans. I like to talk with my fans (especially the cute girls...just kidding), cause I think it's important have a kind of relationship between you and them. At the end, they are the ones who pay you, buying CDs, T-Shirts and they can make a gig a great success. So, I have to be nice with them...hehe...
Isaac: Final words…
Luca: I'm always right, even when I'm wrong (this is the line I have on my T-Shirts. I think it is funny, every time I say it people laugh…also, because of my accent).
