RossoMetile
Interview conducted on July 12, 2021
By Dan Locke
Rossometile was founded in Salerno (Italy) in 1996 at the initiative of the guitarist Rosario Runes Reina and the drummer Gennaro Rino Balletta. The aim was, and is, to create original songs starting from a metal sound, and contaminating it with other genres. Several line-up changes happen through the years and they influence the band discography, leading to albums quite different from one another in terms of style. The current line-up includes the bassist Pasquale Pat Murino, who joined the band in 2010, and the singer Ilaria Hela Bernardini who joined in 2019.
Rossometile line up
Ilaria Hela Bernardini: vocals
Rosario Runes Reina: guitars
Pasquale Pat Murino: bass
Gennaro Rino Balletta: drums
Happy Birthday.
laria Hela Bernardini: Thank you!
Your father was a musician How was it growing up in a home of a musician?
It was a fortune because my family loves music and always supported my dream of being a musician.
How did you discover music?
I’ve always loved music ever since I can remember, so I don’t think I discovered it in a particular moment of my life. My parents have videos of a one year old me singing Freddy Mercury.
How did you go from being a bellydancer to a singer in at least 2 bands?
I’ve always been a singer. Bellydancing has been one the most wonderful things I’ve ever done apart from singing. It brought my love for music on a more physical level and allowed me to make it with the use of my body.
How did you start to write music?
I started writing music after discovering the band Evanescence. I found that style good for me, so when I started to take piano lessons I made my first solo compositions.
The band was formed in 1996. You started with them in 2019. How did they find you?
The band found me on the web. I put an ad online with my artistic curriculum and some links to my YouTube page. They found it and listened to my voice, then they wrote me asking for a call to set up things. It was one of the most beautiful things that happened in my life!
How has the band sound chance since you join them?
We got a darker sound, due to my voice which is deeper than the former ones. When I joined the band the work on the album “Desdemona” had already started so I had to fit in some arrangements and melodies already done. For the next album, we’ll be starting from zero and we will be able to make the sound even deeper.
Describe your music.
Rossometile’s music is basically a symphonic gothic metal, but we try to give it our own trademark by adding some unique things (e. g. Kulning vocal lines or folk instruments).
What was your first performance with the band like?
Unfortunately, I haven’t performed yet with the band since my arrival because of the pandemic. I’m sure that our first time together will be amazing!
Royalties never appear like magic. Royalties are only sent to you through work undertaken by a PRO to ensure that their members are getting paid. If you’re not yet signed up to a Performing Right Organization like ASCAP, BMI or SESAC, you may not be receiving all the royalties you deserve.
Do you belong to any songwriters’ organizations like the International singer-songwriter association, SESAC, BMI or ASCAP?
I belong to the Italian Society of Authors and Editors (SIAE).
What makes a good songwriter?
Personally, I think that the ability to gather all of his/her music cultures and mix it to create something unique is what makes a composer and songwriter a good one that can be noticed and remembered.
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
My first original song was titled “Lullaby for a dreamer”. There is no record of it since it was an early teenage period in which I didn’t know how to record yet.
What is the process of writing your music?
In Rossometile creation process, we usually start from a midi draft composed by Rosario (guitars). We then work together on the music with our own instrument, choose the scale and then, at the end, I and Rosario write down the lyrics. However the music always comes out from a precise idea, so we already know what it will be about when we start working on it. This makes creation of arrangement and lyrics easier somehow because we already have an idea of hiw it will turn out.
Nox Arcana is the fifth single from your album Desdemona. Tell me about the story behind the single?
Nox Arcana was born to be the sequel of another song that has been discarded from “Desdemona “. It was so beautiful that we decided to give it an identity of her own and transformed it in a prayer for a hidden deity of the Night, which at first could seem dark and pessimist, but it actually turns out to be a prayer for the light embracing one’s own demons and shadows.
Desdemona was released during the lockdown. How did you promote it since you could not tour?
We managed to promote it through social networks and press release. Plus, because of the pandemic, the album was released online and only on July it saw its physical form.
What is your favorite track on your album?
I love all the songs featured on “Desdemona” but I think my favorite is Nox Arcana.
What are you’re feeling about streaming music?
I like streaming services and personally use them daily, but I’m still convinced that to really help a band grow up the purchase of the physical copy is fundamental.
The symbol # is known as the number sign, hash, pound sign and a sharp sign in music. The symbol has historically been used for a wide range of purposes Since 2007, widespread usage of the symbol to introduce metadata tags on social media platforms has led to such tags being known as “hashtags”, and from that, the symbol itself is sometimes called a hashtag.
Are people forgetting that the # is a part of music?
Maybe, but it’s because of the poor music education given in the schools, at least here in Italy. There are also many people who play exclusively “by hear” without knowing how to write or at least read the music basis. It’s a pity, especially in our country that gave many important musicians to the world.
Digital vs. vinyl?
Digital, but only because I was born in “modern times” and didn’t have many occasions to enjoy vinyl supports.
What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?
“Top of the world” by the Carpenters. It’s such a happy song that makes me glad when I listen to it!
If “Video Killed the Radio Star” do you think that the Covid-19 virus has killed live music? Do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
If it didn’t kill it, it sure made it difficult to happen. Let’s hope that bands can play live again in the future. Streaming concerts don’t give the same excitement, in a live concert you can feel the energy, whether you are the band or the public. That is the emotion that makes live concerts important events to remember.
Do you think that Covid-19 has been a plus to an artist career?
If we want to see it in an optimistic way, it sure gave some the opportunity to focus more on his/her music as well as some new inspirations and feelings to compose about.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
Smart working with Rossometile to lay the basis for a new album and playing graphic adventure videogames – I played again the whole Monkey Island saga!
How do you stay healthy during the lockdown?
Wearing face masks helped a lot even for common illnesses I used to catch in normal times. Another thing I have always given importance to, even before the pandemic, is the hygiene of the hands. I always used to carry a hand gel wherever I went.
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
Playing computer games, graphic adventures in particular. I like these games in which you have to use your brain to make your way through the story.
Many artists are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. In October that is going to change at least on Facebook. Facebook is cracking down on livestreamed shows that include recorded music with new terms of service, preventing artists from using the platform for “commercial or non-personal” purposes, unless they have obtained the relevant licenses.
The updated music guidelines state that users “may not use videos on our products [which include Instagram] to create a music listening experience […] This will includes [Facebook] Live,” and stipulates that such content should be posted for the enjoyment of friends and family only.
How can bands keep their fans if they cannot play live in front of the fans and sell merchandise to them at the show?
In my opinion, Facebook is slowly losing its appeal to the younger generations. Bands found a lot of escamotages to keep their relations with their fans: many opened a Patreon account or made stories and polls to interact with their fans, I also saw Cristina Scabbia from Lacuna Coil doing live streaming on Twitch while playing videogames or cosplaying. Songwriter Eivor had many live streams from her living room with songs asked directly by the fans. Entertainment channels are so many nowadays, but a band should know how to use them properly to create a solid presence on the networks, entertain their fans and make them appreciate their work even from home.
Is pay to play still a thing? Now pay to play also means things like playlist on the internet and opening slots for a major band on tour.
Pay to play is underrated by now, but I think it’s important to insist for it, because that is what makes a musician a professional figure with a job just like any other.
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
As I said, the beauty of a live concert is the energy that arises and feeds both the public and the band. Holographic concerts could be interesting the first time just for the curiosity to see your star in your living room; then, I think you want to feel the magic atmosphere of a live concert.
In the past, if a musician stop doing music they find a new career. For example David Lee Roth from Van Halen became a licensed EMT in NY for 6 years, San Spitz (guitarist for Anthrax) became a master watchmaker, Dee Snider (Twister Sister) voice-over work for SpongeBob SquarePants.. If you can’t do music what would you like to be doing?
I couldn’t imagine something different to do in my life; however, I am currently working in an accountancy office for a living. I think I’d continue with it if music doesn’t go as I hope!
What is your happy place?
My home with my piano and my recording gear!
Red Hot Chili Peppers are about to sell their entire song catalog for $140 Million. In the past year, a lot of musicians such as Stevie Nicks ($100 Million) , Bob Dylan (over $400 Million), Taylor Swift, Journey, Def Leppard, K.T. Tunstall, and Shakira have sold their catalog rights within the last year. Bob Dylan sold his entire catalog for a reported $300 million. Neil Young song 50 percent of his worldwide copyright and income interest in his 1,180 song catalogue to Hipnosis Songs Fund limited . Once you get to the age of about 70. Publishing is far more lucrative then the mechanical royalties paid to artist based on sales, airplay and streams. A good example of this is Michael Jackson brought the rights to the Beatles catalog in 1985. And in the late 80’s the Beatles Revolution appeared in a Nike commercial.
The lump sums being offered by publishing firms are more tax-friendly concerning estate planning.
Do you think you would be willing to sell your back catalog if someone like Universal is willing to buy everything, such as all the rights to all your songs?
I actually don’t know, I’m jealous of my music; however, there’s so much to do before arriving to that point! If it will happen, we’ll see then.
Spotify’s ‘Stream On’ event on (February 22), the company confirmed that more than 60,000 new tracks are now being ingested by its platform every single day. This means people are added new tracks uploaded to its platform every 1.4 seconds.
The figure, announced by Spotify’s co-Head of Music, Jeremy Erlich, means that across the course of this year, approximately 22 million tracks will be added to Spotify’s catalog. Spotify confirmed in November last year that its platform now played host to around 70 million tracks.
Therefore it’s reasonable to assume that, by the end of 2021, SPOT will be home to over 90 million tracks. And that in the early part of next year, it will surpass a catalog of 100 million for the first time.
But still, back at the beginning of the year, Spotify deleted 750,00 songs, mostly from independent artists. What do you think what that could mean to the independent artist?
Sony Music in November and Warner Music Group in December, The ByteDance-owned video app revealed on (February 8) that it has struck an “expanded” global licensing agreement with Universal Music Group. Now that TikTok is now fully licensed by all three major record companies, will you start using TikTok more?
Never say never, but I don’t like TikTok as a social network. Actually, I’m not a regular social network user, even if I know it’s not good nowadays, but I can’t help! And TikTok is not a social network that I’d like to use.
Breaking news: TikTok is launching TikTok Radio, a full-time SiriusXM music channel going live this summer.The station will be available in vehicles and as a streaming channel on the SiriusXM App, desktop, and all connected devices.
The station will be part of a new TikTok collaboration with SiriusXM and its subsidiary, Pandora, to jointly promote emerging talent. Do you think this platform could become a force in the future of streaming music?
Yes, maybe it can. It is commonly used among young people and it’s constantly growing up.
Danny Wimmer Presents announced their 2021 Festival Calendar: Which includes the following live shows:
DWP Partners With Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival For September 10-12 Event In Mansfield, OH
Louder Than Life Set For September 23-26 With Newly Added Thursday Night Celebration In Louisville, KY
Welcome To Rockville Expands To 4 Days And Shifts From Spring To November 11-14 In Daytona Beach, FL
Aftershock Set For October 7-10 In Sacramento, CA, Almost Sold Out
Would you be willing to play these shows and what precautions would you like to have in place?
I wish I could! With some patience, I’m sure we will join these shows one day!
Anything you would like to say in closing.
Stay safe, and see you soon from the stage!!!
