Italian rockers Neil have just released their sophomore album, called ‘Black Flowers’, via Seahorse Recordings. Recorded on the isle of Sicily in southern Italy with renowned producer Paolo Messere (Blessed Child Opera), these 11 tracks showcase songmanship that mix folk with grunge, and vocals with an uncanny resemblance to Gavin Rossdale (of Bush). Comparisons also abound to the likes of Sun Kil Moon, Damien Rice, and Rivulets.
Written and performed by Neil Lucchetta (vocals, guitar, harmonica). This second album offers a more rock-oriented sound than the previous album thanks to the contribution of Andrea Breda on drums and Alessandro “Ake” Donazzon on bass.
Originating from the Italian city of Pieve di Soligo (Treviso), Neil began his path as a singer-songwriter at the age of 14 and writes exclusively in English. He’s been composing ever since, his sonic output infused with folk pop, laden with acoustic guitars and dreamy lyrics.
This new album follows up Neil’s debut album ‘Apart’, released in 2013. This new offering takes the listener on an intimate journey through his personal experiences and stories. The unremitting vision permeating his music presents us with great scenery and breathtaking views of the different facets of his life.
We spoke with Neil Lucchetta.
Hello Neil. Tell us about your new album.
Well, Black Flowers is a collection of 11 songs that talk about existential boredom. I was inspired by Les Fleurs Du Mal by Charles Baudelaire, I wanted to tell the existential boredom from my own point of view, from the life I live every day
Tell us about one or some of your favourite creations to date?
I think the songs for the new album I’m currently composing with the band. They are taking a much more rock bend compared to the previous album
Tell us about an event from the life of your musical project that we don’t know about?
In November 2016 we did the shooting of the video for the single Blank Sheet, we filmed it for 6 hours inside an old manor without heating.. it was cold that we were really shivering during the shooting!
What inspires you to create the music you create?
A lot of artists, such as Neil Young, Elliott Smith, Nick Drake, Damien Rice, Mark Kozelek, The Cure, Smashing Pumpkins.. but also the extreme metal scene, with band as Marduk, Nile, Opeth, 1349..
You put out some cool music, but I must ask, which song (by someone else) do you wish you had written yourself?
Radiohead’s High and Dry, it’s such a perfect song!
If you had to describe your sound as some kind of food, what woudl it be?
Imagine your favorite food .. here, that is me 😉
What’s next for you? What are you planning in the near future?
Thanks to our label Seahorse Recordings and Shameless Promotion Pr, we are organizing a small 15 days tour in Canada, meanwhile we are composing the songs for our next album
Apart from making music and performing, what kinds of things are you into?
Well, nothing special, I play guitar, listen to a lot of music, I love to walk in the mountains with my wife and our dog.. In the meantime I’m waiting to become a Rock star 😉
Neil on the Net
https://www.facebook.com/neil.apart
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-ELzFdr29C5HRNl-dle2lQ/videos
https://neilapart.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/neilmusic
https://www.instagram.com/neilapart/
https://twitter.com/Neil_Apart
