This week I would like to introduce you to the Italian alt-rock band Stolen Apple. They tell us about their music creative process, their eagerness to return to live shows after lockdown and the historic meaning behind the band’s name.
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Band Name: Stolen Apple
Members (name & role): Riccardo Dugini (vocals & guitar), Luca Petrarchi (vocals, guitar, mellotron, organ & synth), Massimiliano Zatini (vocals, bass & harmonic), Alessandro Pagani (vocals, drums, piano & percussion).
Genre: Alt rock
Founded: May 2008
Originated: Florence, Tuscany, Italy
Discography: TRENCHES (Audioglobe, Clearspot, 2016) & WAGON SONGS (Diy, 2020)
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How would you describe your music?
It is never easy to self-describe your music, especially when musical experiences are shaped over time and when you don’t want to label what you do. In any case we play alt rock with loose proto punk, noise and shoegaze contaminations.
What is your musical creative process like?
We like to define ourselves as a free group of musical expression, in which each of us shares his own experience with the others. From the very early beginning, almost 30 years ago, we started our path together melting down experiences and talents without mental barriers in our rehearsal room under Riccardo’s home, such a small stage where our apprehensions and intuitions becomes a guitar riff, a rhythmic pattern or a bass line.
How did the band form?
Stolen Apple was born in Florence, Italy, during 2008 from the ashes of Nest, authors of two works published respectively for Urtovox/Audioglobe (Drifting, 2001) and Zahr Records/Blackcandy – Audioglobe, Isn’t it? 2007).
From the original nucleus, (material and news on myspace.com/nestband) remain two founding members, Riccardo Dugini (vocals, guitar) and Luca Petrarchi (guitar); to complete the ensemble Massimiliano Zatini, already joined Nest as percussionist in some acoustic ex periments and here on bass and Alessandro Pagani (drummer of Subterraneans and one of the minds of Valvola/Shado Records), already present in the line-up for a period in the mid 90s when the band was called Malastrana.
How did you come up with your band name?
The band’s name was inspired by the story of Ernst Lossa, jewish child killed in the 1944 by the Nazi as part of their program of extermination of individuals, narrated among the others by Marco Paolini in his show “Ausmerzen”. Ernst is in the collective memory as a little hero because, while he was locked up in the ‘reformatory’, he stole the apples to share them with the other little prisoners.
Who influenced you within the music industry?
It would take half a day to name all the artists who gave us inspiration. The music that has most excited us over the years – in random order – has the name of Sonic Youth, Television, Xtc, Dinosaur Jr, Neil Young, Pixies, Clash, Morphine, Velvet Underground, 13 Floor Elevators, Stooges, Mothers Of Invention, Sun Ra, La Monte Young, Pavement, Slint, Meat Puppets, Devo, Stereolab, Teenage Funclub, The Notwist, Butthole Surfers, Residents, Wall Of Woodoo, Dead Kennedys, Pankow, Valvola, Kraftwerk, Lcd Soundsystem, Birthday Party, Wire, Suicide, The Make-Up, Ramones, Can, Sex Pistols, Codeine, Fugazi, The Flaming Lips, The Rapture, The Dream Syndicate, Afterhours, Joy Division, Hüsker Dü, Nick Cave, Pj Harvey, Slowdive, Nirvana, Violent Femmes, The Gun Club, Neu!, The Pop Group, Gang Of Four, and sorry not to remember many others but let’s not forget some precious gems of jazz, reggae, afrobeat and electronic music, ultimately everything that has remained intimately imprinted on our musical strings over the years, and we guarantee that it is very much.
Have you performed live much and what was your favourite gig to play at?
We’ve played about 20 live shows, and each one had a different flavour. It was exciting to play in 2015 before Dan Stuart, former and frontman of Green On Red (one of our favourite bands) and the talent of Sacro Cuori’s Antonio Gramentieri.
What is the best thing about being in a band?
As far as we are concerned, sharing a predisposition and being together, given that before musicians we are friends. Without forgetting the possibility that music gives you a passion that distinguishes you, so that your thoughts are transformed and given to someone else.
What’s the biggest problem you’ve had to overcome so far as a musician(s)?
There were no particular problems, except that of getting the music and all the activities connected to it to be stuck with the little time left after a working day and family commitments.
What plans have you got coming up this year?
First, play as much as possible, after the health emergency is over, and to promote our new album. Then release the video for Renegade Sun (Brexit).
What is your ultimate dream as a band?
Having the chance to continue playing is already a beautiful dream come true. Maybe release the third album, play abroad, or more simply find yourself drinking a beer with friends talking about new music and dreams.
You can find out more about Stolen Apple by visiting their website and following them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
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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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