Marble
Interview conducted on March 17, 2021
By Dan Locke
MARBLE is back! The melodic metal band from north Italy will present their new opera, the following to 2008 “A.t.G.o.d.” (Y Records/Warner) and the 2010 self-titled Ep. The new Album is named “S.A.V.E.”, will present a lyrical connection between the songs, focused on the three theological virtues and the seven deadly sins. The new members, Eleonora Travaglino on vocals and Norman Ceriotti (Defamed, Roll for Initiative) along with founders Paul Beretta, Omar Gornati on guitars, Daniel Fleba on bass and Jacopo Marchesi on keyboards, will blend both melody and aggressiveness into a mix of melodic choruses, heavy guitar, technical rhythms and keyboard harmonies. The album has been produced by Giulio Capone (Moonlight Haze, ex Temperance, Bejelit). The Artwork for “S.A.V.E.” will be created by the great Finnish artist Jan Yrlund of Darkgrove.net, which will also create their first lyric video.
Line up
Eleonora Travaglino – Vocals
Paul Beretta – Guitar
Omar Gornati – Guitar
Jacopo Marchesi – Keyboards
Daniel Fleba – Bass
Norman Ceriotti – Drums
What is your upbringing?
We’re all from the countryside of northern Italy, not far from Milan.
How did you discover music?
Everyone in the band has his/her own story, let’s say that all of us have a common rock/metal background that find its roots in our teens.
How did you start to write music?
We decided to write our own music after a few years of playing covers of metal songs. The result was our first demo in 2006 and, a couple of years later, when we had some more experience, we published our first full length ‘A.t.G.o.d.’.
The band originally got together back in 2003. How did your band form?
Bassist Daniel came up with the idea of a metal band in the early 2000s together with guitarist Omar and keyboards player Jacopo, they’ve been friends since childhood and have always shared a passion for metal music. Paul, our lead guitar, joined sometime later. Norman, our drummer, and female singer Eleonora completed the new frontline in 2020.
How did you get your bands name?
The name came from our first drum player: we used to play at his workplace, he’s a marble craftsman, and playing surrounded by marble stones… well, it made the choice of our name quite easy!
How did you discover Eleonora?
Eleonora met Jacopo and Daniel through a group of historical re-enactments in our hometown. She also is an actress in a local company! We asked her to rerecord a song from our first album and it came out quite great, so we continued producing S.A.V.E. with her.
Describe your music.
We play a mix of metal genres with female vocals, merged with heavy guitars and a progressive approach to the songs. We rely a lot on heavy riffs, but with keyboards arrangements and vocal melodies. For the new album “S.A.V.E.” we also recorded a string quartet for a song. In the lyrics we combine the concept of sins and virtues with human behaviors. We tried to find our own approach to the subject: not religious, more down-to-earth, probably a bit cynical and dispassionate. It’s a theme we found tremendously appealing.
What was your first performance as a band together like?
Our first gig was around 2005 in our hometown. We were really thrilled and there was a great energy on stage. We were opening a small festival with other bands!
Do you belong to any to songwriters’ organizations like the international singer-songwriter association, sesac, bmi or ascap?
We’re under Siae, the Italian company for authors and publishers.
What makes a good songwriter?
Well, music is art, there’s no easy answer. Technically, of course, you have to know a little music theory. Maybe a lot of music theory, depending on what kind of music you’re trying to create!
But mostly you must have something to tell: this compulsion is what usually ignites that spark of creativity that you need to really nail a song.
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
The first song we did with Marble was “At The Gates Of Destruction” which was included in our first demo and was then re-recorded for our first album.
What is the process of writing your music?
Mainly Daniel gathers all the ideas and creates the basic structure of the project and starts to arrange the songs. Sometimes there is a full song from the beginning, sometimes you get only ideas that require arrangements.
You released the album S.A.V.E. Tell me about it and why that name?
It’s actually an acronym for Sins And Virtues Ending, which is also the title of our outro track and the main theme of all the other ten songs.
in the catholic culture, the three virtues are canonically Faith, Hope and Charity. The seven deadly sins are probably known to the public thanks to their frequent use in books and movies. Song lyrics are not tied to one another, every track tells a different story, but we’ve tried to keep a “fil rouge” connecting each sin and virtue with human behaviors.
What should we be saved from? It’s up to the listener to decide. We tried to face the topic with a free mind, sins and virtues are not always good and bad per se, one cannot exist without the other after all.
Musically we play a mix of metal influences, heavy guitars, sometimes faster drumming, sometimes more atmospheric mood.
How was it to work with “Maestro” Franecsco Bassoni on cello?
We have a great music school in our hometown, so we asked our friend Francesco to play the cello and “Maestra” Barbara Rubin to play violin and viola, to create a string quartet for our song “A Darker Shade Of Me” (wrath). It all went really smooth and we had some real fun recording. They are amazing musicians and wonderful human beings so it was easy for them to catch the mood of the song!
We also have our dear friend Agnese Berzero who played the clarinet in the title track outro!
Your first release from the album was “What Leads US To”. Why did you decide to lead with that single?
Actually, our first single was the lyric video for “Heartless Disease”, “What Leads Us To” came right after and it’s the only full videoclip up to date. We chose this song because it has a rock vibe that can appeal to many people also outside the metal scene and because we felt it was the right song for the idea we had for the video, with the camera flying through the fields and the two actors near the small church.
You just released the song “30 Silver Coins”? Tell me about it? Are you referring to Thirty pieces of silver was the price for which Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus?
You nailed it! (pun intended). This song is about the virtue “hope”. We tried to describe the idea of the fallen hopes of Judas and the reason why he betrayed the son of God.
Similarly, “Where Is The light” describes the lack of Faith and “Daymare Town” as the absence of charity. There’s often some serious absence of virtues in human life after all.
How was it to work with special guest Maurizio Caverzan from Ghostheart Nebula?
Well first of all, he’s a fantastic singer. His growls are awesome and we wanted something like this in “30 silver coins”. We met through common friends and asked him to sing for us as guest, he was really happy to help us. We sent him the demo of the song and he recorded his parts. It was easy and smooth! Plus, Maurizio is a great guy to hang out with!
What is your favorite track on your album?
We consider “S.A.V.E.” a whole work, not just an ensemble of songs, so it’s hard to decide! For Eleonora and Jacopo,- it’s My Mask Collection, Daniel has a preference for Timelines… each and every one of us has a personal favourite!
How do you stay healthy while performing?
Does drinking beer count…?
What are you’re feeling about streaming music?
Mixed feeling. We know it’s a guillotine for the music industry, especially for the musicians, because revenues are quite low. On the other hand, it’s the future. We heard similar talking’s about CDs, and then with music sharing twenty years ago, change is always difficult, but you need to adapt.
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?
Yes. And that’s an educational problem. IF music were taught in school, children would learn a different way to think, another language (music itself is a language) and improve their cultural background, giving them more tools to understand what mass media feed us as mainstream music. So yes, the “sharp” symbol is taking a dark road.
Digital vs. vinyl?
Too personal. Everyone has got his own idea. There are advantages on both sides!
What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?
Eleonora would probably answer Zombie by The Cranberries. She recently had to record a version of this song for a video project with the acting company she’s part of.
With the Pfizer, Moderna and other vaccines being release. How long before the whole world will be vaccinated against the virus. You have to remember there only has to be a 70% for Herd immunity (Herd immunity occurs when a large portion of a community (the herd) becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. As a result, the whole community becomes protected — not just those who are immune.)
We’re not medics. We have no real knowledge to make an educated guess. We can say that in Italy right now the situation is not getting any better.
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?
Yes and no. Once the pandemic is over music will return stronger than before, we’re sure of that. But We think that streaming live shows will continue alongside “classic” live shows. And there will be many bands that will have to work hard to regain all the losses they had in this year and a half.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
We finished ‘S.A.V.E.’ and focused on promoting the album through social media and webzines!
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
Daniel always drew comics as an amateur, so lockdown gave him more time to spend on drawing!
How can bands keep their fans if they cannot play live in front of the fans and sell merchandise to them at the show?
Again, live streaming and a constant direct connection with the fan may come in hand.
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.
We never experienced that.
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
Never saw one. Nothing to say.
Governments around the world are hearing the call of thousands of music creators and included protections for the music community in the omnibus bill. In addition to extended and improved unemployment benefits and small business loans for freelance creators, the package includes several bills which the Recording Academy, its members, and the larger music community advocated for. From the Save Our Stages Act, provided a lifeline to performance venues and promoters, to the CASE Act, which creates an avenue for smaller creators to defend their copyrighted works, Congress has ensured that both music creators and those who act behind the scenes to bring music to life are given the support they need during this difficult time.
The Italian government also created grants to help support culture during the coronavirus. . Do you think this will save music venues?
No, they’re not nearly enough to save a career. We cannot speak for other countries, but in Italy culture is definitely not on the forefront of the government’s mind.
Did you know that the Grammys MusicCares can help artist? The MusiCares COVID-19 Relief has helped thousands of music industry artists and professionals during these difficult days. This is the most recipients helped, for any single event, in MusiCares’ history. The need remains great, and these unique times remain critical for music people. It has taken a community uplifting one another to get through this pandemic, and MusiCares has pulled together a list of additional organizations and resources to further support you. https://www.grammy.com/musicares/get-help/relief-resources. Have you applied for it yet?
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?
Well, we all have our passions that we cultivate outside of music, but honestly, we also have regular jobs that pay our bills. Paul and Normal are the only members who really make their living solely on music, since they’re music teachers.
What is your happy place?
Home. Possibly with pizza and an iced beer.
A lot of musicians such as Stevie Nicks, Bob Dylan, Taylor Swift, Journey, Def Leppard, and Shakira have sold their catalog rights within the last year. Bob Dylan sold his entire catalog for a reported $300 million. Once you get to the age of about 70. Publishing is far more lucrative than 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 sale your back catalog if someone like Universal is will to buy everything, such as all the rights to all your songs? Another factor is mortality.
We’re still too young to think about this, right now maybe we’d ask Universal for a record deal instead of buying the catalog. It would be easier for them!
Spotify’s ‘Stream On’ event on Monday (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 independent artist?
It will become harder and harder to be really heard, but it’s now easier to reach people across the globe, without spending lots of money in distribution using official channels.
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?
Probably yes, it’s important to reach the new technologies internet gave us.
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?
I Think we’d rather wait till the vaccine campaign is on a more advanced level (for what concerns Italy at least). Right now, it would be impossible to ensure health safety in a live event. At least for the crowd. Metal music is based on physical contact (mosh pits and stuff like this).
Anything you would like to say in closing.
Thank you for the opportunity to chat with you! We look forward to having feedback from fans about our new album ‘S.A.V.E.’, right now reviews are all very good or great, so we’re very happy and proud!
S.A.V.E. is available in Digipack CDs, you can order it on our website and of course on all major streaming services! You can watch our videoclip “what leads us to” on Youtube and follow us on our social media!
