Today I would like to introduce you to Italian rock quartet The Blacklava. They share their musical creative style, performing in a dangerous venue and how COVID-19 is impacting on the music industry.
Band Name: The Blacklava
Members: Carlo “Karlo” Loglisci (Singer/Guitarist), Francesco “Vip” Priolo (Guitarist), Diego Petrino (Drums) & Marco “Mark” Stillavato (Bass)
Genre: Rock/Blues/Grunge
Founded: May 2014
Originated: Turin, Italy
Discography: SweetMeat (EP, 2016), As Black As My Heart (Album, 2018), I’m Gonna Leave You (Single, 2019), Devil Inside Me (Single, 2019), Drunk Like Joe Cocker (Single, 2019) & Woman (Single, 2020)
How would you describe your music?
One of our reviewers expressed who we are better than us – Fantastic retro rock from Italy, blending the best of the 70’s and the 90’s.
What is your musical creative process like?
I usually come up with an idea or main riff. Then in our rehearsal room I make it everyone hear it and then we play on it. After we have gained confidence, I throw random words to create a vocal line and if everyone likes the piece then we define the structure.
I have been to various bands and in some of these everything was decided together. For me it is something that does not work! there must be someone more influential. I always try to listen to everyone’s opinions and understand what’s best for the group!
How did the band form?
We come from other bands and we already knew each other. I knew Mark because we had played together at a festival and then we became friends and I knew Fra because he played in a cool band and then we also became work colleagues. Diego became a member of Blacklava because he knew the former bass player!
How did you come up with your band name?
Our drummer had just gone to Turkey on vacation and he had eaten many typical dessert: The Baklava. when he came back from the trip, we were thinking about the name of the band and he changed the name of the Turkish dessert in “ The Blacklava” and everyone liked how it sounded.
Who influenced you within the music industry?
In recent years we have been influenced by the Royal Blood and in general by the Audioslaves and the Blackstone Cherry.
Have you performed live much and what was your favourite gig to play at?
In December we made an acoustic date. We arrived at the place and it was in a dangerous place. The manager of the place did not open us. After calling him several times we understood that the evening would not have gone very well. We ate badly and the wine was bad but we were all together.
So after a few glasses of that bad wine and with all the friends in the club, we started playing! The only unexpected spectator was a Pakistani who sold roses and who insulted us because nobody wanted to buy his roses! On the stage next to Mark there was the bell and we had to stop to answer the bell.
Despite all this, I had a lot of fun. Many times you don’t know which place you will be in and the only way to feel good and have fun is when you’re together!
What is the best thing about being in a band?
For me it is creating the music I like. I really like listening to music and being able to create it myself is beautiful! In my spare time I create different music for myself: acoustics, electronics, soundtracks, metal, hardcore. it’s like creating your own playlist.
What’s the biggest problem you’ve had to overcome so far as a musician(s)?
The real problem is now with the coronavirus pandemic! Live music especially in Italy was very low but now we’ve been in quarantine since 10 March and all public events and artists are cancelled. When the quarantine ends, there will be a long period of adjustment in which the rules for events will change.
So if we want to be positive, but really positive, we will return to a new normal in a year. So I can’t predict how things will go. We still had things to publish: The video of our single Woman was due out on April 14th and the Bones Remix that we will release I think in June. But after we’ve finished these things, we will have to find a way to reinvent ourselves until we can return to normality!
What plans have you got coming up this year?
As I said before, I don’t know how things will go. We are lucky because in addition to our band, each of us has a very stable job but all the bands, the musicians, club managers, event organizers who are now stationary are very worried.
Many of our friends who play and teach music at the moment are still and do not receive any money.
What is your ultimate dream as a band?
Regardless of the period our goal would be to become more known but always remaining ourselves without bad compromises
To find out more about The Blacklava, follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
If you’re in a band or a musician and would like to appear on this blog, please contact me and I’ll forward you an interview template.
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