H R H - I N T E R V I E W S

Guitarist Simone Fiorletta & Keyboardist Andrea DePaoli
Interview June 2006

Matthew: What will the new collaboration be like?

Andrea: It will be a hard rock based album with fusion and progressive features, keyboards and guitar solos connected together by the Simone Fiorletta trademark

Simone: You enjoyed our world-wide debut album (Parallel Worlds). Next up is the collaboration between me and Andrea De Paoli and is the Parallel Worlds follow up; I think it will satisfy all our fans' expectations. In this period we are also creating and performing advertising jingles for TV channels. We'll also be on the new work of the great drummer Tony Liotta (Sting, Tina Turner, Chick Corea and others).

Matthew: Is the music going to be progressive metal or something harder?

Andrea: As I said before, people that will listen to this album should find everything expected from a guitar player and a keyboard player. High level songs, melodies, aggressiveness, technique
and a lot of musical taste.

Simone: In this album there are a lot of keyboards! With a musician like Andrea, in all my compositions, I'm leaving much more space for keyboards. In fact it will be possible to listen to him in all his styles, rhythmic, soloist, Rock, Metal, fusion and more. I think this work should appeal to all music fans.

Matthew: Are all the tracks written?

Simone: The tracklist has been completed; there's nothing left then to give birth to the new album. If we respect the programs, we should begin the works in September. The recordings will be made in different places. The drums will be recorded in Dortmund (Germany), while bass, keyboards and guitars will be recorded in various studios in Italy.

Matthew: Who did the writing?

Simone: That's my new solo album, so I have written almost all, but I make no secret that the ideas of Andrea have given the right touch to the songs making all fantastic! Anyway there are two songs written by De Paoli.

Matthew: Where did the friendship/collaboration between you two guys begin?

Andrea: It started from the Net. He sent his first solo Album Parallel Worlds to me. I heard a great album. He is a great guitarist and had created tasteful hard rock songs. Then we met in Rome for a Labyrinth gig. That was when Simone invited me to be a collaborator on his second solo album.

Simone: Once I released Parallel Worlds, I sent it to Andrea, who I knew only by fame. Two days after I received a long mail where he described all his impressions about my music. Soon I realized that he had appreciated my work and I didn't hesitate to propose him a collaboration on a possible new album. After his "yes" and after having received positive criticisms from all over the world, I began the layout of the new songs with Andrea. Really I don’t believe it — it’s all still a dream.

Matthew: What music is in your cd -player right now?

Andrea: Manga soundtracks and Chick Corea's electric band albums

Simone: Neil Zaza’s Melodica.

Matthew: What music really made you crazy as a kid?

Andrea: The first seven Iron Maiden albums

Simone: Guitar-hero, not too much technical, but melodic and bands like Symphony X!

Matthew: Were you into anything hard like Slayer or Megadeth?

Andrea: Yes my favourite is Symbolic from Death. This is an art masterpiece

Simone: When I was younger with my first band we covered Sepultura, Fear Factory, Megadeth etc.

Matthew: What old school guitarists motivated you Simone: Jeff Beck, Hendrix, Jimi Page, Frank Zappa?

Simone: Sincerely, I don't like so much of the past years’ music, except musicians like Satriani, who compared with their contemporaries, had different way to conceive the music.

Matthew: Do you either enjoy the blues or jazz music?

Andrea: I love Blues and jazz. I had a chance to play and tour in Italy with a great Latin jazz player and percussionist who is called Tony Liotta. Anyway if it's good music I enjoy listening to and playing it, even if my favourites’ are the Hard Rock and the fusion

Simone: I listen to some jazz but very rarely.

Matthew: Andrea, I know you studied classical originally, but what actually motivated you to play keys, piano?

Andrea: To get across my limits!

Matthew: What modern keyboardist do you enjoy hearing today?

Andrea: Kevin Moore and Chick Corea

Simone: I answer to this question too: Andrea De Paoli!

Matthew: Is there going to be the popular style of the dueling-mirroring keys/guitars on the record.

Andrea:Yes of course!

Simone: Surely there will be challenges to the bitter end between keyboard and guitar but I underline that the work is also full of melody, melody and melody! It's not at all a shred work.

Matthew: What are your goals/dreams for this new band?

Andrea: I hope that many people will listen to it.

Simone: I hope the things take their right course so I can bring my music into every corner of the world. Considering my current band, I'm starting to believe that it will be a possible thing. I anticipate that after the new album release there will be a promotional tour with the recording line-up.

Matthew: Simone, what is the new Moonlight Comedy CD going to be like?

Simone: Thank you for this question … Moonlight Comedy has ended the recordings. Now there's the most important moment for this work … the mixing! Then we'll know the exact release date.

Matthew: When are you Italian guys gonna come to America to tour?

Simone: If it's up to us, we would leave soon! We are looking around to find some agency able to organize us a world-wide tour. Matthew, if you can lend us a hand we'll be much obliged to you. I thank you for your availability. Don’t forget to visit our sites www.simonefiorletta.it and www.andreadepaoli.com

Matthew: Thanks guys and good luck.