The Italian music scene is made up of facets and often excites the desire of many artists to emerge. On this occasion we focused on Elvio Gerardi, who was able to tell his story through an interesting interview
Born in Rome on 1/08/1981, the artist has touched various points in his life. From the relationship with music to his first single. There was no shortage of “confessions” about future projects and, in conclusion, his desire to be known outside the purely singing context. An authentic journey between notes and emotions.
Interview: Elvio Gerardi talks about himself
Music, like any art form, is in effect a cure for fragile souls. What is your relationship with it?
Hi Giovanni, first of all I would like to thank you for asking me to do this interview. There Music has been with me since I was little and you are right to call it a cure. Throughout my life it has played a fundamental role in my well-being, I remember some past situations, even when I was just a child, in which my state of mind wasn’t exactly positive… And music somehow eased that pain or that deficiency I had.
I had a wonderful childhood, but even children, all of them, have happier and less happy moments. When I needed it, the music was there, ready to help me without asking for anything in return. The first approaches were made in 1987-88, I was only 6 years old and I listened to many albums belonging to my brother, from Queen to Michael Jackson and then from Zucchero to Depeche Mode. There wasn’t a clear genre in my headI listened to everything with interest. But one day I came across an album with a fascinating, very colorful cover.
I remember the purple, the yellow… And this strange “little creature” drawn in the centre, which looked like a small stylized astronaut with antennas and a perplexed expression. At the top it said U2-Zoorap, even the name attracted me, it was a sort of magnet. That was the first album that I listened to from cover to cover without getting tired or finding a song that I liked slightly less, unlike the other artists I had already heard, Zooropa it got into my head so much that I listened to it again, over and over again, until the cassette was consumed for an entire summer.
Unlike the other artists, U2 they breached me immediately in a very natural way as if they were already part of me. After a while I ran to the shops to buy all the U2 albums to hear more and satiate my desire to know them Better. Since then they have accompanied me, I have followed them in about 30 concerts all over Europe, I have become a collector of everything related to them, in short a real fan. But I was missing something… In my head there was something that escaped me. In addition to hearing the music I had the you also need to play and sing itso I approached the piano, guitar and singing, I had the desire to create it myself directly.
Over the years I have taken part in some formations from the Roman background, a bit as a guitarist and a bit as a singer, until I finally reached my goal which was to to found a tribute to U2 and I did it in 2015 to which I gave the name of Zooropa.
I went on with them for about 3 and a half years. He was a period in which I learned many things, like the first important live experiences. A very beautiful situation had arisen, full of laughter and complicity between us in the band. Then one day a call came in from Silver & Gold, one of the longest running and most important U2 tributes that every U2 fan knows.
I didn’t think for a moment to say yes and with a blink of an eye I had become their frontman. This thing added more value to my artistic side because thanks to them I was able to tread some of the most prestigious stages in central Italy and I was also encouraged to improve myself artistically by undertaking a professional study of singing which I still follow today.
Simply put, music has always been with me and has always helped me.
The interview with Elvio Gerardi continues. From tribute bands to solo career. What prompted you to write “Without exaggeration”?
The transition was natural, one consequence of what I had become. Over the years I had written a lot for those situations of the Roman background that I was telling you about, but I had never felt the personal need to express my thoughts in the form of a song, so many remained closed in a folder without ever seeing the light. “Without Exaggerating” comes from one personal situation I faced in 2008, an acquaintance I had with a girl, a story that started well and ended in obsession. I found myself victim of stalking without realizing it. At the time, this word “stalking” was just out or little known. Then it was quite unusual to hear that a man, in this case me, was the victim.
Last year I talked about it with my vocal coach, Moreno Delsignore, during one of our usual lessons, he told me to send him the material I had and within 2/3 weeks the song took shape and with it the desire to tell my story, instead of that of others. I had reached such an artistic and personal level that he allowed me to give me permission, I had become aware that it was time to be myself from all points of view.
Many times people, especially those with a fragile soul, they tend to hide or pretending to be someone else to please who they are surrounded by, well, I can say that I no longer need to hide or disguise myself and I am no longer afraid to live life to the fullest. All this awareness and vicissitudes, they have started my solo journey.
Elvio Gerardi, the long-term goal and his life outside the artistic field
What is the goal of this single and what are your future goals now?
The single at the beginning was born without any goal, it was a my bet with myself. I was already satisfied with what I was doing with the U2 tribute, I hadn’t thought of goals. But this was my thought until I recorded the song. Already during the recording I felt the particular “vibrations”, a something I’ve never tried. And the first listen, after having recorded it, opened up in me another Elvio, a new perspective of me. I wanted to make more and more. As soon as “Without Exaggerating” was released on all digital platforms it has received a consensus that I would never have imagined. To my pleasant amazement I immediately talked about it with my record label who wasted no time in making me write other songs that will be recorded shortly. My goal is to make at least 8-10 to compose an EP and start the tour.
before that I will have to face the finals of San Remo Rockthanks to “Without Exaggerating” I was selected to be part of it, it will be a wonderful experience and, regardless of how it goes, the fact of having been chosen is already a huge satisfaction.
Who is there besides the musician and singer: who is Elvio Gerardi in everyday life and outside of this interview?
A very simple but at the same time ambitious person, a father of a family with his head on his shoulders, who was lucky enough to awaken his artistic side. In recent years I have been lucky enough to meet and cross paths with many people in my life who have helped me become who I am today, or rather, to make me realize who I really am at this particular moment. In conclusion I would define myself as a lucky guy, pass me the term boy… I have a young soul and full of desire to do. This is just the beginning of the new Elvio Gerardi, explained in this interview.
Elvio Gerardi, goals and dreams
An important interview, which talks about the beauty of music, its strength and the desire of a grown-up “boy”, who rediscovered himself as a child thanks to his artistic side.
Elvio Gerardi, a person with a fragile and at the same time strong soul, who wants to train and fall in love – day after day – with music. Here are also his social contacts, where you can follow him.