Sleeping Romance- The project was born from the idea of combining orchestral and symphonic music to the emotional charge of metal, reminding gothic and romantic atmospheres.
Interview conducted April 28, 2021
By Dan Locke
Sleeping Romance released their debut album “Enlighten” through the Swedish label Ulterium Records in 2013. Directly after, they joined their label mates Theocracy [US] as support act on their European tour. Since then, the band have toured quite extensively in Europe, playing mini tours and one-off festival shows around the continent, including Brainstorm Festival and FemME in the Netherlands, Christmas Rock Night in Germany and many others. In December 2014 the band released a new single entitled “Fire & Ice” together with a music video. In 2015 the band signed with Napalm Records, and the band’s second album “Alba” was released in November 2017. The new album will be released in Autumn 2022 through NoCut Entertainment in the landscape of a 360° deal, marking a turn for the band as their new identity will be revealed, bearing a heavy industrial and refined sound.
Federico Truzzi – Guitars, Synths, Piano&Production
Lina Victoria – Vocals
Marco Cilloni – Bass
Francesco Zanarelli – Drums
Mattia Todescato – Guitars
What is your upbringing?
Mattia: I was born in Vicenza, a city near Venice, I attended a classical high school and graduated in Podology.
Marco: I was born in Reggio Emilia, I attended a Musical High School and i graduated in Conservatorio in Electric Bass.
Lina : I was born in Morocco, lived there until I was 20, then moved to France for my studies. I got my Master’s Degree in Marketing while also working on my singing and joining my first band, Abhcan, before joining Sleeping Romance recently. I moved a lot for work (Germany, US, France…) and today I live in Paris.
Federico: I was born in Carpi (Modena), and I had pretty extensive studies here and there:
Pulse College, Summer Scoring program, Varna (Bulgaria), 2016.
• Masterclass in Orchestral Conducting, Conservatorio di Mantova (Italy) with Ennio Nicotra,
2014
• Berklee College of Music, Orchestration, Online courses, 2011
• University of Tor Vergata, Roma, Sound Engineering Master Degree, Roma, Italy, 2008-2009
• University of Study of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Software Engineering Bachelor
Degree, Modena (Italy), 2002-2007
• Berklee College of Music, Summer Session, Boston (Ma), USA, 2005
Then I settled in Berlin for my professional life as it is today.
Fransesco: I was born in Carpi, still living here today! I went to an electronics and telecommunications high school…same school as Federico actually!
-How did you discover music?
Mattia: I started listening to music when I was very little, since in my country there are plenty of music festivals on tv and my parents used to listen to a lot of Italian music back then.
Lina : With my ears! Kidding, my dad is actually a great fan of rock and he used to listen to a lot of rock music in the car, while I was with him. My parents also put me up with piano lessons very young.
Marco: My household has always been surrounded by really different genres of music and I fell in love with every single one: from folk to rock and from Italian pop music to disco and techno. I’m really grateful to my family for making me discover so early various music genres.
How did you start to write music?
I began writing my first pieces of music when I started playing guitar. It felt pretty natural to do so and when I started getting a grasp on it I thought it was my thing. Later I set up my mind and started making a living out of it.
Describe your music.
It’s been evolving a lot so it’s hard to describe but, I would say that the constant element is the melodies and you will always find a poetic meaning.
-How did you get your first guitar, and do you still have it?
MATTIA: I got it in a guitar shop near my town, It was a white Jackson and I still have it.
MARCO: my father bought me my first bass and it was a Cort Precision Bass. I still have it and is a super punk bass right now!
Federico: Ibanez Satriani signature was my first guitar back in the days.
–What is your guitar of choice now? Year, make and model?
Mattia: Now my guitar to go is an 8 string Ibanez which is the one I’ll be using for the new album and live shows.
Federico: 8 String Legator.MARCO: Lately i’m playing a Lakland 5501, a Sandberg T.M. V and a Fender Jazz Bass, i love to alternate those three sounds and styles of bass.
What was your first performance like?
It was very stressful, but it was also surprising and very enjoyable as well. We played in Brainstorm Festival in front a lot of people who were all super excited, and we had a great “coming out”.
– What makes a good songwriter?
There are a lot of things that concur to make a good songwriter, but maybe keeping an open mind is the most important one. Always checking out what’s new, getting a lot of influences but also trying to identify what will make each song special and unique.
– What is the process of writing your music?
The process is not always the same, since sometimes I start writing based on a melody in my head, sometimes with a guitar riff I come up with when I’m jamming, or I try to represent an Image I have in my head.
– How did your band form?
Back in 2013 Federico started writing music for a new project and he contacted Francesco and Lorenzo since they had been playing for a long time together. Then they held auditions and that’s how Federica joined.
– How did you get your bands name?
Our original name was Hybrid Resolution but according to our first record label it did not represent our music and we changed it to Sleeping Romance, because we thought it embodies our music spirit. In the end it turned out pretty well. People easily remember our name and we are really happy about that.
– How did you get Lina Victoria into your band?
We went through a long process looking for a new singer. A lot of applications were brought to our attention, and we went through all of them. Lina’s one amazed us and we asked her for some more recording, after which we were sure she was the right one.
-What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
It was a song called “Wait For Me”, that later became Finding My Way, as you know it today.
– How is the new album coming along?
We are currently working on the last song and it’s turning out like nothing that we have done before. It will surely still sound Sleeping Romance-like while being totally different from our precedent albums. Since there are three new members since Alba, we are trying to highlight their talents in the new production.
– How do you stay healthy while performing?
I try to stay far from alcohol or any other thing that wouldn’t be good for my throat. A night when I don’t get my 8 hours of sleep is a very unusual night, so there’s also that, added to a lot of sports and stretching on a daily basis.
Everyone tries to do sports every day, when the schedule allows it, even just for a few minutes. Also not partying every single night, but rather keeping it for the end of the tour.
What are your feeling about streaming music?
we think that streaming platforms are a really huge and revolutionary idea. If you think about it, only few years ago you had to pay a lot of money to have all your Favorite music in your collection (physical or digital downloads); today you don’t have to choose which album you’re gonna buy this month: you have everything you want on your device. We know this means an enormous loss in artists’ pockets, but we think that the music business will find a way itself to change the situation and make it better for musicians and authors.
The symbol # is known as the number sign, hash,[ or (in North American usage) pound sign. 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?
We don’t think that people are forgetting that # is a part of music notation, it just depends on the context. Everyone who studies music theory knows that that’s the important thing. The fact that the # sign can be used for other stuff is only natural since signs and languages evolve anyway.
Digital vs. vinyl?
I don’t think we have to fight for this. Vinyl (also as tapes, cds, ecc) is part of the History of music and i love listening to my favourite albums from the 70’s on their original support, because i can feel the idea of the production of those times. On the other way round, today’s technology allows us to push the limit of music production, composing and playing way farther than years ago and we have to be proud and happy about that. Musicians in the 70s or 80s were really curious about new music and informatic technologies, nowadays we’re kind of nostalgic, but why? Let’s enjoy what the future can give to us!
What song from the past is in your mind right now?
Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you? Mattia: Billie Jean by Michael jackson since it’s a song I love since I was a child.
Lina : Anything from the first Avenged Sevenfold albums. They’re the ones who made me want to be a professional musician and try my luck in the metal scene.
Marco: Eight Days A Week by The Beatles and the whole album “Funk Shui Project”. The first one because it makes me happy and the second one because I think it’s an Italian underground masterpiece.
Fede: Across the universe by The beatles since it’s my favourite song ever and Il Commendatore by W.A. Mozart which is one of the best pieces of classical music ever written.
Zana: Pull me under by Dream Theater is one of my favourites.
You had 3 shows last year then the virus hit. What were you thinking at that time? As of Feb. 18, 2021 there was 2,751,657 confirmed cases in Italy, are you planning to get the vaccine?
In that situation our first thoughts were not about the shows, which was sad they were cancelled, but about how this whole thing could affect our lives, our relatives and friends. Of course, we will all get the vaccine since we want to protect not only ourselves but also the people around us.
-LINA OR MARCO 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?
There’s really no way to know, is there? Like everything, there will be a before and an after, let’s just hope that as humans with a memory, we’ll be able to learn from it and not take anything for granted.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
Mattia: Playing guitar, videogames, reading
Lina : Drawing, singing, doing sports, developing relationships with fellow singers that I always wanted to speak to more often, and videogames.
Marco: studying music and improving my english and graduating at Conservatorio.
Lina- How is your drawing coming along?
It’s coming along pretty well! I just released my latest manga book, and it’s the 4th! Hopefully there will be more to come.
Lina- Have the band asked you to play guitar on anything?
Thank god no, they know better than to ask me to! I am nowhere near a level that would allow me to play in a band, all the more knowing that I’m surrounded with such skilled guitar players as Mattia and Federico. I just play for myself, still on the learning curve, trying to put some chords together. So I really don’t think you’ll see me play on stage anytime soon!
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
Mattia: Studying languages, during quarantine especially
Lina : I always tried to stay close to my passions and to all the things that drive me, so I just got to do them even more. Although, I discovered acrylic painting and I love it!
Marco: Cooking, music production and stand up comedians.
95% of people said that they have changed the way they watch television. This includes people who don’t have television and using their computers to do streaming of programs and movies. Which is your favorite streaming channel?
Mattia and Lina and federico : Netflix
Marco: Netflix and Amazon Prime Video
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 do you think this will change the landscape of Facebook?
I think that Facebook knows exactly what role it plays in the artists lives, and they’re taking advantage of it. Music existed before Facebook, and it will continue to exist. And Facebook existed before the livestreams, and so it will keep existing. It’s impossible to know what’s on the Facebook executives’ minds, but all I guess is that Facebook is currently trying to figure out the best way to make money without infringing any law. And when it comes to music, the laws and rights are very, very blurry. It’s no wonder Facebook wants to protect themselves from any litigious matter.
How can bands keep their fans if they cannot play live in front of the fans and sell merchandise to them at the show?
It’s a really difficult situation for the whole show business. Performers must transform themselves into content creators on social media and it’s a really different kind of job. Even if we try to create and post videos from our studios or live streaming shows, we can’t consider this content as live shows. A real show, a tour and every performance that involves artists needs an audience that reacts in real time and, in some way, is involved in creating the “magic” that does the show. During the pandemic we tried to keep in touch with our fans, but the feeling of the stage and the venue environment is irreplaceable.
Federico Is pay to play still a thing? Now pay to play also means thinks like playlist on the internet and opening slots for a major band on tour.
It’s a thing more than ever and sadly it’s a huge gatekeeper for the bands that don’t have budget to play in bigger concerts. A lot of small bands think it’s the only way to get in the business but actually it’s a choice. With Sleeping Romance we chose to never pay to play, but we’re always happy to participate to the expenses that occur during a tour, as these costs are natural.
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
Holographic live concerts are already a thing, why not? In the future it may happen.
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?
Mattia: I would probably concentrate on my job as podiatrist.
Marco: I think i’d continue to teach music.
Lina : I would like to help people fulfil their lives. I see too many frustrated people, not really knowing why they do what they do, waking up in the morning thinking “this is just life” and not realizing that they have the power to change everything the way they’d like it. I would love to help those realize how amazing they are and tell them they don’t have to settle down.
Fede: Music has been my whole life for a long time now, I would still try to make a living out of composing.
Zana: I am a swimming teacher and took over my family’s company so I would shift to that.
What is your happy place?
Lina: On stage and in my “mind bubble” when I draw and forget that there’s a world outside.
Marco: On stage, on the top of a mountain and near a BBQ.
Mattia: On stage, on the couch with my PlayStation.
Lina- Your fans would be surprise that you do covers like “Don’t Rain on my Parade” from Funny Girl? What else would your fans be surprise about your things you have sung?
Lina: I might be releasing a country song cover soon, so the fans could be expecting this. I like to try different stuff, so there will always be surprises coming along!
Spotify just deleted 750,00 songs, mostly from independent artists. Was your saved? Both our albums have been released with a record label so they’re safe on Spotify
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?
Tik Tok is definitely a good place to reach out to young people today. We are thinking about it, but we haven’t come up with a proper strategy yet. It’s on the pipeline, though.
Danny Wimmer Presents just announced their 2021 Festival Calendar: Which includes the following live shows:
DWP Partners With Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival For July 23-25 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?
We would love to play for any new alternative and of course if we are invited we would happily go.
Anything you would like to say in closing.
We hope to see everyone soon on stage and thank you for reading this Interview!
