Interviewing singer-songwriter Nina Zilli. After her first book, her new album “Modern Art” is about to be released.
Nina Zilli is a veejay, radio presenter and TV judge, singer-songwriter and, last but not least, author of a picture book. She won several awards, including the “Mia Martini” critics award at the Festival of Sanremo in 2010 with “L’uomo che amava le donne” (The man who loved women). She will be back soon with a new album (let’s say: it’s about time!) and a documentary about children refugees, realized thanks to “Terres des hommes”. We met her just recently on the occasion of Taobuk. And speaking of books, we first of all talked about her “Dream city, guida per amazzoni metropolitan” (Guide for metropolitan amazons) published by Rizzoli.
Your book is actually a tourist guide ofan imaginary city,where dreams come true and where nothing is for sale, because dreams can’t be bought. At what times do you feel that the cities you’ve been to are like your Dream City?
Every place I used to live in or which I just shortly experiences during one of my trips left a mark. Just like some songs I listened to, even before having a real awareness for music. Dream City is crammed with these “signs”. You’ll find the empathy and solidarity of the Lebanese in New Babel, the multi-ethnic neighbourhood where they all speak the same language. The blues and soul of Chicago, featuring Etta James, Otis Redding and John Belushi. Ireland and its “Committements” and Frankenstein Jr’s famous “IT could work”, but also Nina Simone, CEO of Dream TV – a TV that doesn’t believe in fairy tales, but allows you to build your own tailored dream. The music that accompanies every figure often also indicates the “place” (whether mental or real) that reminds me of a dream or inspired me to fulfil a particular dream.
Who are the metropolitan amazons you dedicate your book to?
To me, the metropolitan amazon is “being a woman in these days” (quoting Elio e le Storie Tese! Because downplaying is the quintessence of being). I put myself in the frontline, as I feel like a romantic warrior in the Wi-Fi era. We live our lives by running very fast, we aren’t waiting for any prince charming to save us (least of all if they wear horrible blue britches), but we try to make many small steps forward, in the direction that is indicated by our heart, because love and dreams are the driving force of everything.
You’re very good at drawing. What made you decide to work on this book?
When I was a child, I loved music, painting, drawing and basketball. Over time, rock and roll took over me and music gained the upper hand, but I kept on drawing in downtime, especially while I was recording. So, my drawings ended up in my albums first, then in the videos of my concerts and finally in a book. During the presentation of my latest album, “Modern Art”, after showing some of my drawings to the press, a metropolitan amazon in the room asked me if I wanted to put them in a book. I couldn’t but say yes!
Is there a female comic book character, which was your point of reference?
A flying hat trick: Cat Woman, Eva Kant and Wonder Woman. However, I must admit that my favourite super hero was a male shown on tv, not in a comic book. But he was definitely the most nerd of all: The Greatest American Hero. I so much liked him, because he was an imperfect hero, who used to mess things up before solving the situation. And he couldn’t even land properly, a bit like everybody else.
Drawing, writing, singing: all aspects of being an artist and knowing how to catch emotions. Did each of these three aspects come naturally or did you have to look for them, figure them out?
Music and drawing came into my life without me even realizing. As an only child, I’ve had plenty of time for myself at home. Drawing and playing the piano were activities that kept my afternoons busy. When I was eight, my mother had to sign me up for the conservatory. At the age of eleven I wrote my first song.
Thanks to Terre des Holmes, you had the chance to visit Syrian children refugees in Lebanon? What kind of experience was it? Soon there will be a documentary about it.
I have unexpectedly seen the Joy (with capital J) of life in places of terror and death, in eyes that still have the reflection of war in their pupils, but that shine like a supernova. Homeless, without a roof on their head, without schools and without a job: millions of people and children without a future, but happy and with their hearts still beating in their chests. We take this Joy for granted, we always tell ourselves that the important thing is to be well. However, when I read it on the faces of these people, I believe I really understood the real sense of it for the first time. They had great dreams, but what prospects do they have when even the right to life is uncertain? We can’t take dreams away from the little ones. Guaranteeing them a future is everyone’s duty.
What do you think of the controversies related to the low number of women at the 1stMay concert in Rome or at the Summer Jova beach party?
I believe that the controversies a fruitless, as the problem is still at the root of our society. Certain environments are still dominated by males, and I’m not just talking about the music sector. The new generations will change the percentage of statistics, be it on the stages of May 1st or in a heart surgery department.
You compose music based on what you’re listening to in a given period. What are we going to listen to in your next album? What kind of sounds took over?
The process of writing in its early stages is often unconscious. I throw my hands on the piano and often what comes out of it manages to clarify my ideas. A bit like a session at the headshrinker’s. Once I identify the song, I enjoy fitting it. At the end, the sound of the album comes naturally. I try to recreate a world in itself, in order to offer sounds having always different nuances, keeping my writing and my style as a firm point of reference. Currently, I am still into the tropical urban sounds from overseas, which are dominating also in European continues. I’m glad that Italy has also become aware of this new music wave: the melting pot of genres is the sound of the future.
Whom would you offer a coffee?
That’s easy: to all metropolitan amazons, of course!
