Classical guitarist / singer / lyricist Irene Conti will be gracing the stage of the AITP online music festival, and we’re happy to get to know her in the following interview.
– Let’s start at the beginning. Tell us a little about yourself. How and when did you start making music?
My first approach to music was in 2002 when my parents gave my sister a guitar as a present. She never played it, however I fell in love with it. So, it was from there that I became a classical guitarist, even though I never imagined I would become a singer and songwriter. Everything changed when the crew of a MTV program arrived at my school to organize a show. Thanks to a good audition, I had the opportunity to perform live in a show as a singer. It was only at this moment that I realized how beautiful it could be to share my emotions through my voice.
–Why do you do it, now?
I write songs because I feel like I need to write music, and in every moment, new ideas come to my mind that I feel I must write down. Why else? When I write a song, and I am satisfied with it, that makes my day!
– What were some of your early influences and what inspires you today?
My favorite bands growing up were (and still are):The Beatles, James Taylor, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin. However, I was also moved by classical composers and interpreters such as John Williams, Alirio Diaz, and Roby Lakatos. My inspirations now are OneRepublic, James Blunt, and the talented singer songwriter Katie Melua.
– What was the last song you listened to (disc in the car or what-not)?
The last song I listened to was ” Come Home ” by OneRepublic!
– How did you connect with Artists in the Plus and what attracted you to working with them?
I remember John contacted me. I had recently subscribed on Google+, but I was a little weary because I did not know the world of Google+ yet. However, John was very professional, he communicated openly and honestly, and his passion and involvement in his work, I just couldn’t say no!
– Last year’s festival was a huge success and changed a lot of things about music on the net. Were you a part of that?
Unfortunately I missed out on this opportunity. I followed the festival as a spectator, and enjoyed every performance and the quality of the organization.
– What would you like to see as a result of the festival, this year?
Artists In The Plus is already achieving a lot, but I wish it even more success out of Google+, because musicians need a professional and safe digital platform to share music and Artists In The Plus is doing so.
– Have you been using services like Hangouts On Air, U-Stream, Street-Jelly, or others to perform live via video on line? What kind of reaction are you getting?
As I said before, unfortunately I was not able to devote any time to share my music on these new tools. However, I cannot wait to try them! I think these are amazing and interesting tools to share music with fans. In this way people will have the opportunity to feel closer to me and my music. To know that I’m singing live, even if I’m on the other side of the world will help to convey better what I feel.
– Village Studios in LA will be hosting the festival, this year and there will be a studio stage in North Carolina and another in Norway. Will you be travelling or performing remote from your own studio?
It would be amazing to perform in Norway and also in America, especially to have the pleasure and honor to meet live artists who performed. This year I will perform from my studio, but I hope to travel in the future.
– If you could ask one performer to join you on a record, who would it be?
There are many artists that I admire and with whom it would be great to join on a record! It would be amazing to sing with Katie Melua or OneRepublic. But, if I could get them back in life would be great to sing with Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin!
– What one thing would you change about this world, if you could?
Making music is a way to share my emotions to people…but also my ideas. Who knows me knows that I am a green life lover, everything I could wish is the utmost respect for nature. I wish everyone could rediscover the deep spiritual connection that binds man to the ground. Every once in a while we should all hug a tree or walk barefoot on the ground. Gradually I know we will respect one and other more and more, and that we will begin to treat animals as our fellow men, and stop destroying forests and oceans.
That’s all I could wish.
– Where can we find you and your music?
For the moment I perform only in my country, but you can find my music and stay up to date on my activities here:
www.facebook.com/
https://soundcloud.com/irene-
https://plus.google.com/u/0/
– In closing, is there anything you would like to add or anyone you would like to shout-out to?
I would like to say thank you to MTM for this interview, to Artists In The Plus and its team for supporting emerging musicians. And I would also like to say thank to all the people on Google+ and on YouTube who supported me from the start.
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