FEATURE
Mauro Lamanna talks about his craft, sense of style and more
How did you come by your stage name?
Mine is simply the real name. For me, it’s important to present myself to the public that follows me for what I am, without masks.
When did you discover your love for your craft and what made you realize you wanted to pursue a career in it?
I started playing the piano at the age of 4. I was studying classical music and I remember that my grandfather, a great lover of opera, was my first and greatest supporter. Growing up, after a short career as a classical concert artist, I felt that I needed to broaden my horizons. I needed more tools and more stimuli to break free from the limits of the musical genre. So I began to develop more experimental compositions until I found a dimension that allowed me to express myself better. In short, I have always experienced music, since the first years of life, as a normal thing, like talking and eating.
To what or whom do you accredit your sense of style?
It’s a complex question because, in many years of music, I have been influenced by so many bands that I have loved. I can mention the glam rock of Queen, but also the slo-core of Slint and Codeine. The rock of the golden years too, like Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, and Pink Floyd. Current bands that are certainly part of my life are Radiohead, Thom Yorke, Sonic Youth, the early Muse, but also different artists such as Olafur Arnalds, Blonde Redhead, and the shoegaze music current.
On your current project, how did you come up with the concept?
My current project was born with the intention of exploring all the most problematic aspects of the human soul. The traumatic deprivation of one’s intimacy due to a betrayal is the main theme of “Flashback”, for example. But there is also disbelief in the face of death, as in “Lipstick”. “Let Me Sleep” is instead a lullaby where sleep is only the desire to never wake up again. In “Coffe Stains” I try to photograph, with the lyrics that simply repeat the title of the song, a snapshot in which life is always stained, it’s never clean and crystalline. In short, each of my songs is an attempt to see what’s under the rind.
What are some of your greatest challenges, and what is your greatest attribute when it comes to your work ethic?
When I’m in the studio I always try to be honest, even if it’s difficult sometimes. It means being honest with myself first, writing songs that represent me without ever giving in to the temptation of necessarily wanting to “pamper” the listener with something he already knows and in which he feels reassured. It also means being honest with those who listen to me, because at that moment they know that I am giving them something true, something genuine, something that I had to look for. I mean, I’m putting a piece of me into play.
Are you the best at what you do in your opinion?
I never thought about music as something to be the best at. The world is full of people struggling to be better than someone else in any kind of job. Music is an artistic expression and everyone has their own way of reaching people’s souls. The last thing I think when I’m in the studio composing or producing my music is that I have to be better than someone else. It’s just me and my demons, my dreams, my hopes. This is the only important thing.
What are your plans for the near future?
I’m writing new songs with the intention of continuing to explore new territory. I want to tell you what there is and what will never be there. I will do this through the use of sophisticated sounds, but also with more acoustic and minimal sounds.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank, any shout outs?
The path of all artists is made up of encounters, experiences, known people, fractures, and ruptures. I would have to thank too many people, so I limit myself to my family who always supported me, even if they didn’t always really understand everything I was doing. But this is the artist’s damnation and I’ll have to carry the weight forever. And that’s okay with me.
How can fans find you?
My website is www.maurolamanna.it and they will find all my resources (songs, links, news, and articles)
I’m present on social networks at these links:
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/mauro_lam/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/maurolamannamusic/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/maurolamanna
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpRPOKSib7fdJPNQMQaRnqw
Telegram – https://t.me/maurolamanna
What suggestions do you have for other artist like yourself?
Be yourself, transparent, and sincere. It’s useless to take shortcuts, you have to get naked. This is the pure essence of art from the point of view of who is behind the strings of that grotesque puppet called music.
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