SKYLARK (Eng.)
– Hello, thanks for answering to our questions. How is everything doing with SKYLARK right now?
Eddy: Wonderful as usual!!! Thanks to you for the interview.
– You recently released your latest album, “Twilights of Sand”, how has its feedback been? Has it fulfilled your expectations? As for what I’ve seen reviews have been quite mixed.
Brodo: I saw some reviews and I think most of them were positive; but, honestly, I don’t care too much of reviews. Many of them , even if positive, shows wrong information, confusing comments and so on. Sometimes I prefer a negative review but full of right information and details, a review able to describe to people the kind of music and the style or the record. Then the opinion positive or negative is only subjective so I don’t care so much.
– This record came out 5 years after “Divine Gates Part III: The Last Gate” came out. Was there any concrete reason behind this? What were you up to during that time?
Eddy: Apart from one Pan china Tour and two Japanese tours, we recorded (in the US) and publish a DVD, the 4th part of Divine Gates. Then we made a special self-titled album in 2010, printed in Japan and South America, with two brand new songs and 6 old tracks re-arranged and revisited so that they could appear with a brand new sound.
This album has been printed only in Japan and South America. So we are not talking about a 5 year break. The writing session plus the recording/mixing required around one year (non-consecutive period) to be completed. So there isn’t any concrete reason for this break simply because no real break took place.
– And do you think this is something necessary in order to provide good material?
Brodo: Sometimes you can write a good song in one or two days.
Or even just one or two hours. Then you can make good arrangements in a a short time.
Sometimes it’s totally different and you take weeks or months to write something decent.
There is no recipe or a specific pattern to follow.
– In fact, after giving the album some spins, it seems like indeed these years have been good for you. You’ve managed to create a really well-cared opus. And overall I must point the great production. Was different this time around the production process compared to older recordings?
Eddy: Thank you very much for your words. Really appreciated. This time, finally, we had a good budget so we were able to use one the best recording studio in the world and improve our sound. I always thought that we needed more money to achieve this, and Twilights of Sand is the confirmation of my idea. And, trust me, we should have spent even more money to reach the perfect production.
– This opus sees the return of Federico. What made him left and what prompted his comeback?
Eddy: Probably he was not happy with Skylark; no one has never been kicked out from Skylark. If someone leaves it’s because he wants to leave. Now he plays sometimes with Skylark as a session. He is a friend and it’s nice playing with him when it’s possible.
– And you also have a new member: singer Ashley. What could you say has she brought to the band? If I’m not mistaken she is American so, how did you find her? And is she living in the US?
Brodo: We met her in the recording studios in Arizona, she was recording some demo of her there. We liked her voice and we asked her if she wanted to join Skylark. That’s it. We have just finished touring Japan with her and the feedback was positive.
– Changing vocalist uses to be a risky change, as singers are the main focus or representative member for most part of the crowd but, how has been the response from your fans toward Ashley?
Brodo: We have always had different singers in line up so for us it’s a bit different. As we told you before the response was really good and also we enjoyed the gigs. In “Divine Gates” records we recorded with many singers, same for Wings. Apart from the real beginning when Fabio (1994/1998) was the Voice of Skylark, singers have always shared the role.
– Anyway several songs were sung by Barbara Inzirillo. Could you please tell us a bit about her and how did you come up with the idea of having Barbara on the record?
Eddy: It was a suggestion from our Italian record company, Underground Symphony. She is a good singer, otherwise we wouldn’t have worked with her; her main style is a rock blues with soul influences but when we talked about singers, we like mixing styles so we don’t feel the obligation to use a classic metal singer. Ashley is another perfect example, a pop rock singer with many influences from country and classic rock/hard rock. So you can see we wanted to create a wide musical proposal.
– Beside some new tunes you have included some re-recordings of older tracks, which I think has helped getting a really dynamic opus. Was this something you strived for?
Brodo: The album would have worked even without those track for meaning and lenght (more than 50 minutes). But we felt it was a good idea to re-record old songs with different voice. The self titled album I mentioned before contains 6 remakes, we like doing that because new singers, different arrangements and/or different players can create different atmospheres. You can treat them as new songs or make comparisons. It’s really interesting.
– And why did you decide to re-record some songs? With such a good production, could you say you have finally given them the sound they deserve?
Eddy: Yes, this is also another reason. We already did this in the past. In 1995 we recorded a song “Fear of the Moon”. In my opinion that song is great and we always play it live. So in 1998 we decided to re-record the track in my solo album to give a better sound to that song.
– For instance “Lions are the World” I’d dare say is one of the most outstanding re-recorded songs, as it has a more powerful atmosphere and feeling, besides being more symphonic. Did you have clear since the beginning this was how you wanted this tune to sound like? Did you envisioned the track like this?
Brodo: Well, we should talk hours and hours about this songs. I don’t like Fairytales sounds so this is one song I’ve always wanted to re-record. At that time our Japanese record company wanted to get a specific production for this song and I think we made a mistake in listening to them. They made us push the guitar too much for example, covering some atmospheres typical of Skylark and killing, in some moments, the body of the voice.
When we were recording the new “Lions…” we decided to add some melodies and harmonies…nothing was decided before entering the studios, just came out spontaneously.
– As I said, “Twiglihts of Sand” is a really diverse effort, therefore is quite enjoyable as well, besides being really well crafted, with a superb perform, sound and songwriting. In fact I honestly see it as your best opus to date. Could you say “Twilights of Sand” is the CD you have always wanted to do?
Brodo: In a way yes. I also keep on like Dragon’s Secrets and Wings a lot. All the three records represent the side of Skylark that I like most. Many fans prefer the other side, the power metal side of “Divine Gates” saga. It’s good power yes but I prefer when Skylark plays something more articulate and various. Personal taste of course.
– All this being said; how could you describe this release in just 3 words?
Eddy: A genuine rock record.
– Moving to another topic, checking your website out I’ve noticed it’s in three different languages: English, Japan and Spanish, so obviously has surprised me the fact that it’s not on Italian too so, how is the band doing both in Japan and Spain?
Eddy: Japan has always been the main market for Skylark and we have just played our sixth tour there. Spain Language is mainly used because is a good way of communication for Spain of course plus the entire South America who is an interesting area for Skylark. Regarding Italy we still have some strong fans there but we think at the moment it’s not our main market at all.
– In fact you have recently toured Japan; how did everything go?
Eddy: Like I said it was our 6th tour there, amazing record for an Italian band, and “Twilights of Sand” topped one more time the charts with even better results than the past (Amazon Japan Rock metal chart: number 1 for 10 days ahead of Nightwish and Lamb of God, number 2 for another 10 days and one month in the chart. Amazon Japan Global Chart: 15 days in this chart with peak position number 12 and fixing in the second week of January at number 32, best western act ahead of Van halen Lady gaga and Adele).
The tour was more than successful, people enjoyed the shows and me and, after the tour, Brodo were also called to play covers in some concerts and festival like special guests.
We owe a lot to Japanese fans but we don’t want to forget the rest of far east (China, Taiwan, South Korea and more…) that also have showed real interested in Skylark and sincere affection during the years.
– And finally, what are some of your near-future plans? Do you have written any other new material?
Brodo: Yes, a couple of songs but we are also working at some surprises and special material for the 20th birthday of the band.
– That has been everything from my side, thanks you once more. If you want to add some final words; last lines are all yours.
Brodo: We want to give a big hail you Tania and all Queens of Steel’s reader! Spain has been a really important coutry for SKYLARK and we hope to see you guys soon on the road!
