A Lovesong from Florence to Trondheim

A Lovesong from Florence to Trondheim

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Mon 23 Jan 2017 5:18 PM

Some love stories have their own soundtrack – songs that are able to crush borders, wrap many languages into one and usher a sense of newfound courage and unity. It’s not a question of being romantic. These tunes don’t have to even mention that oh-so-cherished but oh-so-overrated four letter word: it’s what’s behind them that counts.

Florence born-and-bred Marì Simonelli met Norwegian musician Håkon Gebhardt (former Motorpsycho drummer) while heading to a Motorpsycho concert in Trondheim (A perfect match – don’t you think?). The two clicked immediately and have been moving back and forth between Florence and Norway ever since. Their romance has recently evolved into a prosperous musical collaboration, resulting in two singles (That Day and Monkey Sivert) released online and on all major platforms. We interviewed the pair while they were taking in the Florentine sunlight and enjoying regular visits to the Stadium to cheer on their favorite team, La Fiorentina.

Marì Simonelli and Håkon Gebhardt

Marì Simonelli and Håkon Gebhardt with their instruments

 

Michelle Davis: Håkon, this is your first solo release since 2000 – only this time you have Marì by your side. Was the writing process different? Tell us a bit about your new song Monkey Sivert and your plans for the next months.

 

Håkon Gebhardt: It’s been great having Marì with me in the creative process. She is a writer, and I like to play around with words. I am a musician, and she loves to play the bass. We both love music, it’s been a killer combo. On the Gebhardt plays with himself record there’s only one song with lyrics, the rest is instrumental, because I never manage to finish when it comes to lyrics. 

About Monkey Sivert I will say that it’s a more classic, melodic rock tune compared to That day (our first single, that was out in November). But the lyrics and the sounds bind them together. We will release more singles and EPs over the next few months. It’s a freedom in the short formats, we can go all kind of directions on the next one, we only have to follow our selves and see where it takes us.

 

 

MD: Marì, this is your first musical release – am I correct? How does it feel to see your songs come to life? How did you two begin playing together?

 

Marì Simonelli: The very first time was in 2015, when I played percussions for Håkon’s project of music for children. It’s been amazing and so much fun! Up until now I could only listen to myself on old demo tapes of stuff I recorded between the late 90s and early 2000s. We’re really having a blast, it feels unreal. The first time I heard That Day on the radio here in Italy I was taken over by a childlike happiness. There is something magical in seeing your work take shape – life has truly offered me a unique opportunity and I’m not planning on taking it for granted.  It was love at first sound with our first single, That day. There’s something special in that dirty guitar riff that just keeps me hooked and hearing it on the radio – that has always been my favourite means of communication – made me feel safe again on the other side of the receiver! Playing together came pretty natural for us, not only in Das Boot Studio, but our house is also filled with instruments. And on top of that I was very lucky, because he likes to play everything except the bass! So we started playing together quite soon. When you don’t speak the same language, sometimes it’s easier to communicate with music. Our mixed up Italian-Norwegian-English is not the only language we can use to understand each other! So the next step was to start writing and composing something that could be the expression of ourselves. This project is definitely founded on a sense of freedom and evolution, an absence of borders that we would like to see more of in Europe and all over the world. 

 

 

MD: Marì and Håkon – before Monkey Sivert you published another single, That day. Are these songs somehow linked to Florence? Would you say that your trips to Italy have somehow shaped your musical production?

 

HG: That day was actually written in Firenze last February. We were here for some weeks to escape the Norwegian winter, and Marì had this huge 12-string monster of a guitar in her apartment. I played around, almost breaking my fingers, with some simple riffs, when she came up with the title, That day, and some more lines. From there on it was just to write the song, it was already born, born in Firenze! Meeting Marì and getting to know Italian music (and also other music, much of which I didn’t even know existed) has definitely shaped or inspired my musical production. In Norway we only hear about  Zucchero, Eros Ramazzotti, and Pavarotti – BASTA! Hearing Fabrizio De André, CCCP, Battisti really changed my viewpoint on the Stivale‘s musical production and I am still in the process of learning more about it. Even songs I grew up with, hearing in Swedish versions, turned out to be covers of Italian tunes. So it has been inspiring for me.

 

MS: I think the places we are in the different moments of our lives always affect the way we think, understand reality and, of course, the way we write, even only on a subconscious level. That day, in particular, is strongly linked to Firenze because, as he said, it was written here. Very sweet… if I think how many afternoons I spent playing that 12-stringed monster when I was 12! About ten years later I started playing the bass guitar… I thought that getting rid of 8 strings would have made things easier!

 

 

MD: Marì and Håkon – tell us a bit about Geb Label. Is it difficult to manage your own activity? You also have your own recording studio, Das Boot Studio… does this freedom and DIY self-sufficiency change the way to conceive and create music?

 

HG: Geb label was initially created to support the Gebhardt plays with himself album. I wanted to have control of the whole process, I wanted to work on a smaller level, but still make money with it. It is more work, and it’s harder to get things done, but the payoff is your independency. Now we run our activity together, Marì takes care of promotion, booking, and all the stuff related to web, design, contacts, coordinating it all. It’s a lot of work…if it’s difficult ? She can probably tell you more about that!  I take care of the recording, mixing, and the stuff related to the music. It helps to have your own studio and that we can play everything ourselves. But Gebhardt plays with himself was done on a crappy 4 track cassette player, a dictaphone, and a early 8 track digital recorder without any editing possibilities, so I have to say that my creation doesn’t depend on the equipment or whether I have a recording studio. I have to create music anyhow!

 

MS: What can I say, I still have to learn everything! It’s an amazing process. So “many thanks grazie mille mange takk” to friends, unknown helpful people and all the beautiful Motorpsycho fans from all over Europe that are helping us out. Without all of You I would have been lost.

 

 

Studio Legno's silkscreen cover for single "Monkey Sivert"

Studio Legno’s silkscreen cover for single “Monkey Sivert”

 

 

MD: Tell us a bit about the artwork – how did you meet Italian creative studio Legno? Are all the singles going to be accompanied by their primitive and colourful screen print compositions?

HG: Since we knew that it would be a series of singles and EPs, and not one album cover, the natural thing to do was conceive a series of covers that could give a visual imprinting to the project. Through Marì’s contacts we were so lucky to be able to work with Legno. Their visuals matched perfectly with the music and what we had in our heads when we started brainstorming around the cover ideas for our music and packaging.

MS: Yes, we couldn’t have asked for more: Jacopo Lietti from Legno is a sort of Italian genius! He has great taste in everything he does – Fine Before You Came, the band he is the singer/songwriter for, is among my favourite italian bands ever. They have a way of grasping your attention, just like his artworks that are always original and communicative. I didn’t have to put much thought into it: he was our Man!

 

MD: Marì, you now live between your hometown and Trondheim – what are the main differences? Is there something you miss in particular about Firenze? 

 

MS: There are many contrasts and nuances… I mean, there’s a whole continent between them! Some are easily perceived, like the changing of the seasons and the Norwegians’ sweet, discreet disposition compared to our more mediterranean and fiery temperament For example, I had to learn to gesticulate less and not look strangers straight in the eyes. Other differences are more subtle and subjective, everyday is full of discoveries… I also find many things in common! At home we like to watch both Italian and Norwegian news channels (can you imagine explaining Italian politics to a Norwegian?) and discuss all things international. So I’m living quite a unique and extraordinary experience: I am living in a new and stimulating culture and learning at the same time how much I love Florence and Italy. I have learned to never take anything for granted and to “look at the ordinary with the eyes of a foreigner”, like my professor used to suggest.  Every time I come back to my hometown I am filled with wonder and awe. Among the things I miss the most: prosciutto crudo, Italian bars, quickly stopping by for an espresso al volo, wearing only one pair of gloves to protect yourself from the cold and my old rundown car (we only have a bike in Norway! All those empty parking lots… what a waste!). I miss the sunlight during the long Northern winters.But most of all, I miss my Friends (with a capital F!).

 

Marì and Håkon Gebhardt at the stadium sporting custom made shirts!

Marì and Håkon Gebhardt at the stadium sporting custom made shirts!

 

 

MD: Håkon, what have you learned to love (and hate, in case) about Florence?

 

HG: Firenze has actually made me learn a lot about Norway and Norwegians, but what I love about this city is: La Fiorentina! Being in Curva Fiesole, singing along on the “lalala” parts (until I learn Italian better) is a fantastic feeling. I love the size of Firenze! I can get all over the centre by foot (Norwegians are used to walking and I don’t have a driver’s licence). I love the architecture and all the historical buildings – you walk in the footsteps of  the giants for real! I love the small bars, shops, streets… there is beauty wherever you set your eyes. Naturally, I love the food! I am a food junkie, I could not wish for a better place. I “hate” that everything is closed when I need to go to a shop, or I want to have a small something, and then suddenly everything is open again when you are on your way home! I never get familiar with the opening and closing times, and I need more time in Firenze before my Norwegian eating times become Italian. And the small sidewalks were not made for me!

 

 

MD: Are you planning any gigs in Florence? We’re looking forward to seeing Marì and Håkon live!

 

HG: Not yet! First we have to become big enough to fill the Stadium.

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