NAVA
Interview conducted on May 20, 2020
by Dan Locke
Enigmatic Milan-via-Theran electronic band NAVA has released the video of their new single “Sarabe,” the title track to their upcoming EP out June 12 via Nettwerk. The striking and expansive video builds the scenery for the mysterious and brooding song that balances club music’s cadences with warm, hypnotic Persian words and sounds into perfect equilibrium.
Band Members
Nava Golchini, Francesco Fugazza, Marco Fugazza, Elia Pastori
Dan Locke:What is your upbringing?
Well, I’ve been born and raised in Tehran, which is one of the craziest metropolises in the world full of diverse people. The city, in my opinion, is a mix of Rome, New York, and Naples I guess. Ever since I was young we have traveled all over as well, especially having my whole family in California I’ve been to the US many times.
How did you discover music?
Through my parents, I’d say. My mom and sister both played the Piano and my daddy s the biggest Abba\Fleetwood mac fan so it all came quite naturally.
How did you start to write music?
I was quite young when I started, like 11\12. But I wrote poetry and read it in my schools’ literature meetings. First I was forced to attend them as a sort of punishment because I didn’t pay attention to the teacher. But as time passed I started liking the freedom I had when writing my own pieces.
I saw you used to play the guitar. Do you remember how you got your first guitar?
Yeah, I started with the Piano when I was 10\11ish first, but it was absolutely not my thing so I decided to give the guitar a go. I started playing classical guitar but in the end, I figured out that I like playing the guitar as I sin gas an accompaniment.
And do you still have it?
Yes.
How did you develop your band and how did you get the band together?
We all went to the same music academy except Marco Fugazza who joined us after a few months. Me and Elia (drummer) were friends from the beginning and I met Francesco when I was looking for a producer for an exam. Everything worked out really well so I sent him some of my stuff, he was really into them and that’s when we started collaborating as a full-on band.
Where you’re first performance and what was it like?
It was on the first of May 2016, it was awesome! Quite a big gig at a club called Serraglio in Milano.
Most of your videos are very creative. Ritual, Hold, Camera, and You. And all of the video titles are one word. Why?
Thanks, we have been really lucky to have collaborated with some of the coolest most creative artists! Well, all of our tracks have a one-word title, we like keeping them minimal.
Tell me about your upcoming EP? Which comes out June 12, 2020.
No spoilers! But there’ll be a super cool visual that comes with our final track that will be released with EP.
Who developed the visual idea of the video Sarabe? Why did you pick Simone Rovellini to direct it?
Simone Rovellini is the mastermind that came up with the visual idea after we showed him our mood board. We love his work so we really wanted to collaborate with him.
What is your favorite track on the album?
You, even though it’s the hardest one to sing.
How was it to make the Rolling Stones Magazine Italian issue Class of 2020?
It was such a surprise! We didn’t expect to make the cover at all!
How do you stay healthy while touring?
It was quite difficult actually, we never had time to stop and eat! I guess being a vegetarian kinda helps me stay healthy in general. And a lot of vitamin C tablets.
What are you’re feeling about streaming music?
I guess in these COVID times, it’s all that’s left.
Digital vs. vinyl?
Both! They create different vibes for different situations.
Any plans to tour?
Hopefully, as soon as everything calms down a bit!
You were playing in Italy right before the virus hit. How did it affect you?
It has been quite a surreal situation for everyone I’d say, we’re still getting used to it and finding our way around it.
How do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
I just hope everything goes back to normal and we can have concerts and live shows as we used to.
Lots of people are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Are you planning to do something like that?
Yes, we did four different Live IG sessions!
Do you think it will be possible to make a living doing concerts this way?
I think it’s possible, but I don’t know how much of a concert experience it would actually be, so I don’t know if it would have continuality.
First, it was an article in the New York Times, then Rolling Stones talked about it and finally, Live Nation CEO said that concerts may not start again until the fall of 2021. Do you think this could happen?
No! We have a motto in our band, STAY OPTIMIST.
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
No, they don’t feel like a real concert experience in my opinion, but worst comes to worst, could be a cool way to “go” to a concert
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