Gianluca Quinto & Medea - Solisia
Interview By Robin Stryker
Hailing from sun-drenched southern Italy, the symphonic/progressive metal quintet, Solisia, have released their full-length debut, "Ordinary Fate". Femme Metal chatted with Solisia’s new vocalist Medea and its guitarist Gianluca Quinto to learn more about these Italian newcomers.
Hello Medea and Gianluca! Would you please introduce yourselves and tell us about Solisia’s striking debut album, "Ordinary Fate" in your own words?
Gianluca: Hello Robin, I’m the guitar player and co-founder of Solisia together with my brother Marcantonio (Drums) and Wilson (Keys). "Ordinary Fate" is our first album born after many sacrifices and satisfaction. We wrote and recorded the album during the last year,and within this year there has been an evolution for the band that gave us the possibilities to grow up as musicians and develop a more varied musical style. "Ordinary Fate" has been composed in a very natural way; we usually write music or lyrics only if we’re inspired and this means that we need time…..that’s why the songs may sounds different from each other.
Medea: Hi Robin. I’m Medea, and I’m the new Solisia singer.
Who are the other members of Solisia and what special ingredients does each person bring to the band?
Gianluca: Since a few months, Medea is the new singer of the band. She’s been active in the song writing since the beginning and this is very important for us because you have new influences inside the band. The other members are Wilson Di Geso (Keys), Marcantonio Quinto (Drums) and Andrea Arcangeli (Bass). Most of the ideas came from me, Wilson and Marcantonio because we live close each other. Then we expose our ideas to the other members, their opinion are really important to complete all the process of song writing. The most important thing for us is undoubtedly the friendship between the members, with no friendship there will be no good ideas for the songs.
Medea: When I joined the band I found a lot of influences and I thought: "Wooow I really can enjoy with them!!"
Are any of you involved in bands or musical projects other than Solisia?
Gianluca: A few months ago, me and my brother Marcantonio were involved in Ecnephias an Italian Death Metal band, which was a different experience from Solisia. Andrea is the bass player of the prog power band DGM, actually bass player of Airlines Of Terror and he’s previously been bass player of prog power band Concept. Wilson is nowadays taking part in an Italian rock project.
Medea: I have a little soloist project but I put it aside for a moment! Now I’m dedicating only to University and Solisia!
It seems like the album has been quite well-received. Are you happy with the reviews of "Ordinary Fate" ?
Gianluca: Yeah absolutely! It seems our effort has been well paid back. As a first experience for Solisia, we’re extremely satisfied with the result. Today our style has grown, and we’re sure the next one will be surely steps ahead.
Gianluca, if I understand correctly, you composed the new album so these next few questions are for you. As a musician and composer, what lessons did you carry over to Solisia from your previous band Algol3?
Gianluca: Thanks for the question. I bring the main ideas in Solisia’s songs but Wilson and Marcantonio’s help is needed to complete everything, especially Wilson is important for the orchestral arrangements. Solisia was born a long time after my departure from Algol3 but it’s easy to find some similar elements in the song writing, just because I was the main composer also in Algol3. With Algol3, I made my first music and personal experiences. That’s why it’s a part of my life I’ll never forget and that I like to remember, especially for the two demo recorded in that period that I personally find very original.
The lyrics of Solisia’s demo album, "The Film Of My Life" dealt with issues in men’s lives. Does "Ordinary Fate" also have a theme that ties the songs together?
Gianluca: Well…let’s say that "Ordinary Fate" is the perfect continuation of what started with our first demo. The life theme in "The Film Of My Life" has been analyzed in a generic way, passing through four moments: "The Mystery" (the enigma of our existence), "The Film" (life’s movie, projects and ambitions of everyone of us), "Escape" (the death) and "The Fog" (the doubt about what will be after the death).
In "Ordinary Fate" you can find real stories about life and not only generic considerations. Stories that involved friends, parents and their life’s adventures. These are real events that can reflect the life of the listeners. Which track was the most challenging to write? And which track are you the most proud of?
Gianluca: As I told you before, every song has been compose in a different period so at the moment I’m not able to tell you which one has been hardest. There’s not a particular song I feel more proud of but "Vortex Of Indifference" is the song that better explains what Solisia is now.
It obviously was a shock to read that Solisia parted ways with vocalist, Marilena Stigliano, soon after releasing "Ordinary Fate". How did the band go about finding a new vocalist and what made Medea the perfect choice?
Gianluca: The parting of ways has been a surprise. But we had no time to look for a new singer in that moment because we wanted to wait for some response after the release of the album. Medea was chosen from among many singers. We preferred Medea because she has a more deep and aggressive voice respect the other female singers, she has the sweetness and the suggestions for a fantastic interpretation and it was a perfect mix for what we have in mind for the future of Solisia.
Medea:Thanks for the confidence, Gian!!
Medea, these next few questions are for you. First, would you tell us about your musical background before joining Solisia?
Medea: Mmm...where I have to started from??? Ahah...My father always listened rock and blues from the 60s and 70s, progressive rock, progressive metal...both Italian and foreign, so I grow up with this music! I started to study piano and I approached the classical music but I was fascinated by baroque (oh yeah my blood was really progressive..ahah). When I started to concentrate on singing, I ranged over rock, metal, African American, pop, lyric. At 17, I decided to record my songs, the results of a fusion of influences inside me. You can listened to them on www.myspace.com/medeaweb. I’m very proud of those songs!! Now I listen to a lot of gothic, doom, black and death, gregorian and sometimes Monteverdi and Bach!
Why were you interested in becoming Solisia’s vocalist? What was the try-out for Solisia like … were you nervous?
Medea: Indeed I was interested to find a metal band. As I said, I started a personal soloist project when I was 17 but I needed to change and experiment with new people, new experiences and I wanted to sing the genre that best represents me! But I’m really demanding and I tried to find some initiated and professional bands!!! Solisia found me, I listened to their music and I said: "this is the band for me!!". Oh yes, I was a bit nervous, ‘cause I felt that we could give something to each other and I really wished to join the band!! It began a beautiful friendship and a special feeling between us!
Have you performed live with Solisia? If so, how has the reaction from the audience been?
Gianluca: We had the chance to perform some gigs and some fests and the people seem to be very satisfied with our performance. A lot of contacts followed the gigs, that means we left a sign ;)
Medea: I did two lives with Solisia. The reaction from the audience in Italy is not the same, I think, than other countries, where metal music is more heard and followed. And I’m sorry to say that in Italy we can see differences between North and South. The first live was in Belluno and I saw a lot of interest and sharing. Everybody was really nice with us! The second live was in Taranto...people were sitting to drink and talk, it was so difficult to involve them! In Belluno we found more heat than the southern Italy, where it should be obvious...ahahah! It’s frustrating!!!
Medea and Gianluca, you both are composers. Which artists do each of you admire most?
Gianluca: I feel close to and influenced by Symphony X, Dream Theater, Angtoria, Spock’s Beard, Neal Morse, Angra, Nevermore, Steve Vai etc... but there are many classical composers that I love and jazz musicians too. Usually I try to be inspired from everything I listen to.
Medea: I always listen to a lot of kinds of music, I like to explore different ways to compose the different genres, try to understand what the composers want to say through their music. I do it with classical, renaissance, baroque, rock, metal etc... For me is almost an obsession, so...mmm... it’s difficult to answer to this question. I like Epica, Nightwish, The Gathering, Novembre, Funeral, Cradle of Filth...and many others but I surely can tell you the singers that I consider more versatile and that inspired me during my vocal training: Anouk, Janis Joplin and Tarja Turunen...of course three different and very good singers!!!
What are your dreams for Solisia, both short-term and long-term?
Gianluca: Well, my dreams now are more or less the same when I was younger. I dream for my music to give feelings and emotions to everyone and that music can be always part of my life.
Medea: I always wished to move the human passions with my music and my voice...now I have the same wish!
Do you have upcoming gigs where Femme Metal readers can check out Solisia live?
Gianluca and Medea: Well, a bit far from Femme Metal readers hehe anyway we’ll perform next on 9th August at the Agglutination metal fest XVI edition then other dates have to been scheduled.
Thank you both so much for taking the time to talk with us today! Do you have any final words for your fans at Femme Metal ?
Gianluca and Medea: First of all thank you for your interest and support in Solisia and thanks to all the readers of Femme Metal. If you want to read more about the band and listen to some samples please check our social links (links below). If you want you can contact us directly to info@solisia.eu. Thanks again and cheers everybody!!!
Links
Gianluca Quinto Official Profile
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