THE NIRO

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT INDIE MUSIC WE USUALLY THINK OF WEIRD TUFTS OF HAIR (WHY? AND HOW IS THIS GUY DIFFERENT? PROBABLY BEST TO DESCRIBE THE NORMAL BEATS, SOUNDS OF THE MUSIC WHICH THE NIRO DOESN’T COMPLY WITH).  BUT THERE’S ONE GUY WHO REPRESENTS INDIE MUSIC IN HIS OWN WAY. SHOWING A TENSION AND A STRENGTH, HIS TRACKS ARE WORKS OF ART DIFFICULT TO FIND IN THIS POPULAR AND POLLUTED GENRE.

Italian-born Davide Combusti grew up surrounded by music before starting up his own band, The Niro, from 2002. Currently considered one of the best young songwriters in Italy, he is beginning to establish a name for himself on British shores.

Son to a famous drummer from some important Italian rock bands during the 1970s (I Ribelli, I Centauri, La somma), he cultivated his interest for music playing the same instrument before taking his hand to the guitar and bass.

He took to the stage as a drummer, when he decided to write music and lyrics for his own band: The Niro. When they split up he kept the name and continued his solo career as songwriter. In 2008 his first EP, An Ordinary Man was released by Universal. Its five songs were also part of the 13 track album: The Niro.

He has played in New York, LA and Paris and last October, he performed a whistle stop tour around the UK with LiveZone and Track1. Having previously opened for the Zephyrs, Isobel Campbell and TKO and contributed to the Belle and Sebastian’s tribute album with his version of I fought in a War, his biggest British performance was his recent London gig last winter.

On 22 October 2009, The Gramaphone in Commercial Street filled with ‘Indie’ types, eager to listen to something new. Guys chatting on black leather sofas sat awaiting the new beats and sounds that will change the genre for the coming year, as drums and guitars are set up on stage.

The Niro – wearing jeans, black t-shirt and a bowler –  jumped on it.

He played songs from his debut with great precision and heart and his performance reflected his discrete and private manner, steering clear of shouting rock bands. Saying only a few polite ‘thanks’ during the set, he’s clearly one of those who prefer communicating through their music and avoid wasting too many words about it.

His style of singing seems to be influenced by Jeff Buckley’s high notes and falsetto reverberations, while his music offers a wide range of emotions: from happiness to melancholy, from rage to serenity. Classic arpeggios suddenly turn into aggressive progressions while tempo and rhythm changes often surprise the audience.

Bass guitar and drums are perfectly synchronized and form a complex carpet on which the artist is completely free to express himself. Years of lessons from his father have paid off and the consensus amongst the now-standing audience was clear: The Niro machine works amazingly well.

The performance quickly left behind something difficult to explain: an uneasiness or sadness that resonated through his lyrics and between each note.

Worlds away from the usual Europop dance tunes of Eiffel 65 that normally filters through from Italy’s music scene, The Niro’s songs are full of content and heart. So much so, that for the first time, the whole world is listening to The Niro to change Indie music to change for the better, and it’s safe to say, we’re eager for more.

www.myspace.com/theniro

Words Luca Russo

INTERVIEW – RAZOR BLADE KISSES

SOUTHAMPTON SIX-PIECE RAZOR BLADE KISSES ARE A BAND WITH A DIFFERENCE. YOU COULD EASILY MISTAKE THEM FOR ANOTHER SHOCK-ROCK BAND, ALL NOISE AND NO TROUSERS. BUT NEW ALBUM TWINKLE, TWINKLE LITTLE SCAR IS SURPRISINGLY GOOD; A MUSICAL JOURNEY TOLD THROUGH HAUNTING PERSIAN FAIRYTALES AND ETHEREAL MELODIES. WITH TWO VOCALISTS- LAYLA AND AZADEH- THE BAND IS COMPLETED BY ANDI (BASS), STEVE (DRUMS), JACQUI (GUITAR) AND PHIL (VIOLIN). WITH A LOOK AS QUIRKY AND UNUSUAL AS THEIR MUSIC, THEY TALK TO AGENT2 ABOUT THEIR NEW RECORD.

How did RBK come to form?

Layla: Andi and I formed the band in 1999. I used to play keys for his first band and he heard me singing in one of our rehearsals and decided to start a second band with me on vocals. That’s how it all started. This was before we were married so there is the rock n’ roll element too!

Azadeh: When I came here to study in 2001, RBK was consisted of Andy and Layla. Me and Layla used to take classical music lessons back home and we were always doing musical practices together since we were kids. She asked me if I wanted to join RBK as the second vocalist and since it was just an extension of our childhood dream I couldn’t turn it down.

Jacqui: I joined RBK at the beginning of 07, I think. They needed a guitarist with a metal influence, I liked their style so we decided to work together.

Which bands do you look to for inspiration?

Andi: I have a ton of inspirations for the music I write. I think the biggest ones are Linkin Park, Portishead, Massive Attack, Switchblade Symphony, Queen Adreena, Malice Mizer, the GazettE, Jack Off Jill, Placebo, Depeche Mode. I try to take the best parts of all of these, so the power and pop-structure from Linkin Park,, the soul and trip hop stylings from Portishead and Massive Attack, the haunting feeling from Switchblade Symphony, and the raw punky edge from Jack Off Jill. Even though there is massive crossover in some of these bands, what comes out the other side is initially quite incongruous, but by the time it gets the vocals and our own style stamped over it, it all comes together.

Layla: I’m mainly my own inspiration but people I am involved with at the time also are a big inspiration on lyrics I write or the way I sing. My music is from within my heart. As far as other bands go, I like listening to Muse, Placebo, Depeche Mode and lots of songs by other bands. So I guess as far as inspiration goes, if their music or lyrics touch my heart maybe subconsciously they get reflected on the song that I’m working on at the time or spark new ideas in my head.

Azadeh: Anathema and Malice Mizer.

Jacqui: Bands which love and who are dedicated to their work!

How easy is it for you to put a song together and how long does it take?

Andi: A simple concept can take minutes, but making it into something coherent can take forever. Sometimes the writing is the hard part, but sometimes it can be harder to “sell” an idea to others. “Teddy” was written in about 20 mins, but it took nearly a year to convince the band that it was worth doing, conversely, “Choke”- currently a live fave- took about a week from writing to playing fully as a band.

Layla: I mainly write the lyrics. Sometimes if I hear a song lyrics come to me instantly for it and sometimes it takes days or months and something gets triggered in my head when I hear the same song again and lyrics will be there.

Azadeh: I don’t write the music, me and Layla usually sort out between ourselves which bits to sing and it usually takes one or two sessions to master it.

Jacqui: It varies. Most of the time it’s pretty easy, we just jam things out and the songs develop from there. Other times I just work out guitar parts for ideas already written, and sometimes an idea is formed around riff ideas.

You’ve said that your lyrics are influenced by Persian fairytales- which ones do you reference on the album?

Layla: Many Persian fairytales are quite similar to brother Grimm’s ones. So where this album’s image is influenced by Little Red Riding Hood, we have similar ones in Persian where innocence gets abused in the path of growing up; In the Path of Pins and Needles, when a choice needs to be made. Only direct one I can mention is a nursery rhyme of ‘Aroosak-e-ghashang-e-man’ translating to ‘My pretty doll’. The translation of this forms part of the lyrics for Ballerina. My style is also very William Blake inspired. Simplistic nursery rhyme style lyrics but with deeper meanings. Very much like Songs of Innocence and Experience by William Blake. The other Persian influence is in Butterfly. The song is about Forough Farrokhzad, feminist poet who met with a suspicious death. The last poem she wrote was called ‘Parandeh Mordanist’ translating to ‘This Bird is going to Die’. The spoken words in this song sung by Azadeh are lines of this poem. The butterfly is her ghost. In Persian mythology Butterfly is the ghost of people who haven’t parted from this world yet, normally the ones who commit suicide or get killed. Similar to in Christianity, I suppose.

Azadeh: Ballerina is based on an old Persian nursery rhyme called My Pretty Doll. We used to sing it as kids. Ballerina is just a dark take of the same lyrics.

Your sound is difficult to classify. How would you describe it?

Layla: Many different influences, very mood driven. None of us like a set style of music and this changes depends on our moods. We are all very different people yet can bond musically hence the result is un-classifiable. Can only be a good thing. Something there for everyone. Music for the masses!

Azadeh: If Tim Burton had a band it would have sounded a bit like us I would think.

Jacqui: Umm… an enchanting mixture of Alice In Wonderland meets Marilyn Manson down a dark, Victorian alleyway in late 1900’s Whitechapel.

Do you have personal favourite songs from the album?

Layla: Mine are Ballerina, Butterfly and Deadly Yours.

Azadeh: Toy Soldier since it’s based on one of my favourite childhood fairy tales

Andi: “Teddy”, by a mile.

Jaqcui: Two actually, “Teddy” and “Butterfly”.

Your album is available to download from 26th Oct. Why did you decide to choose to go down that route instead of a commercial release with a record company?

Layla: The album was supposed to be released much earlier by the label, but delays in mixing, followed by a delay due to marketing and ultimately the economic situation hitting the label hard so that they would have had to delay the album due to a lack of funds led us to part company.

How much input did you have as a band in making the record?

Layla: The album was 100% us. Even when we were with the label they were very hands off on that front, which is one of the reasons we were happy to sign with them in the first place. Of course, if the band ever did sell out to a major label and got ruled over by their internal marketing departments, we’d simply take their money, walk the walk, then use the cash to fund a side project true to our creativity. But right here and now the band is 100% owned and ruled by us, everything you hear from us is us entirely, unmodified, not watered down. We do it cos it’s what we love, and even if RBK ended most of us would still continue with other similar projects. True music never dies.

Which do you prefer- recording or playing live? And why?

Layla: I love both, Recording is good cause you know it’s being put down somewhere where it’ll stay and it won’t be lost so you’re making a record of your art. Live is good, because I relate to most of my lyrics and singing is a way of releasing my emotions. However, sometimes where lyrics have brought up some things I like to forget back in my mind, I’d rather not be performing them. Catch a show soon you might catch a few sneaky tears running my make up down my face!

Azadeh: They are both good in their own ways. Live is good since you have the audience participation and it’s nice to see some feedback but you don’t always get a good sound and that could be frustrating. Recording is good in a way that everything is set up to get a perfect sound.

Jacqui: There isn’t one I prefer over the other. I love the recording and mixing process and hearing the songs come together. Playing live is definitely fun, it’s a different kinda performance vibe.

Are you planning to tour soon?

Layla: Hopefully, yes. Need to find a big enough suitcase for my dolls though first!

What has been the biggest highlight for RBK as a band so far?

Layla: Whitby shows. Always great audience and decent stage to play on. It makes us feel like real rock stars we are!

Azadeh: Playing in Whitby Gothic weekend three times, twice on the main stage.

Jacqui: Finally getting the RBK album done and dusted.

What would you be doing if you weren’t in RBK?

Layla: Things that I currently do, plus trying to form a band who sound like RBK. Maybe even in a dollhouse trying to lose weight so I fit.

Azadeh: I would concentrate more on my modelling.

Andi: I’d just be doing other musical projects, chances are they’d have something in common with RBK, tho I do have a big love of electronic and dance music, so possibly some mad, anime influenced, breakbeat, industrial dance project….with tentacles.

Jacqui: I’m very busy with my own music projects, writing with Martin Walkyier (frontman of Sabbat) for The Clan destined, session work and also writing my own instrumental albums. So I guess I’d be doing that.

How do you feel about comparisons to other female fronted rock acts like Jack Off Jill?

Layla: Its good. We don’t sound exactly like them but I can see why people see us similar. Troubled teenage angst, spooky dollhouse lyrics, play-on fairytales. Where is Tim Burton when we need him to form a band?!

Azadeh: it’s always a compliment to be compared to someone talented, but at the same time we are not copying anyone, therefore it’s nice to be recognized for our individuality.

Jacqui: People are always gonna make comparisons, it’s fine by me.

Image is obviously important for the band- was it a conscious decision to dress in that way or is it similar to your everyday style?

Layla: I love dolls, I love Victorians, I’m nostalgic. All of this inspire me to dress the way I dress. I do it in my everyday style too but not to the extreme cos i’m lazy sometimes. Lyrics and the music lend themselves very well to this image. A child’s nightmare. Don’t trust the dolls. Bizarre once quoted me saying ‘you can even get away with murder if you dress like a doll’. I’m innocent, honest!

Azadeh: As you say, image is a big part of RBK and that’s partially because as individuals we all are quite conscious of our image and we always try to create an impression through what we wear.

Andi: Bands are a package, especially in the MTV and internet age. Kids want posters in their rooms, they want people to idolize and get inspiration from. I find it difficult to get that inspiration from a bunch of people in jeans and t-shirts. You always hear that same old song though, the “They should concentrate on their music more than their image” idea. That’s bull. I’m a musician, my music will not get any better or worse just because I also spend time on my image. I don’t stop halfway through writing and go, “Oh that’ll do, I’ve not got time to finish it properly ‘cos I need to go get some new shoes”. That’s ridiculous. People who think that is the case for ANY band are stupid and should be killed, to death, in the face.

Jacqui: It was an unconscious decision! The way I dress on-stage is pretty similar to what I wear everyday.

Where do you get ideas for outfits? Do you ever get clothes specially made?

Azadeh: Films and paintings, I tend to get an idea from the past and mix it with something of myself and create something that is truly mine. Inspiration is good but I tend to stay away from copying as much as possible. Unfortunately I’m not good at making clothes from scratch but I’m qutie good at modifying things. You’ll be surprised by the amount of stuff that could be bought from high street shops and be transformed to something unique and original.

Layla: Read above. But new influences might come in future which might change the image slightly. I won’t reveal much yet! One of my other biggest hobbies apart from the band is clothing designer. I run a brand called Mort Couture. Azadeh has also got a big part in influencing what we wear. We normally decide on a design, etc, and I make them. In the past we used to buy them or get sponsored by clothing companies. But the album outfits are by me.

Andi: Visual Kei is a huge influence for me, Mana (Malice Mizer), Hizaki (Versailles) and Uruha (the GazettE) in equal doses. Layla makes a lot of my stuff too.

Jacqui: My image is something that I’ve been working on since I became a guitarist. I see things in clothes shops and if I like them, then I buy them. Layla and Azadeh are very good at making clothes, so they come up with all the ideas for their outfits.

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Scar is released on 26^th October, available from iTunes and all all major download sites.

RAZORBLADEKISSES.COM

Words Kay Weston

THE FASHIONISTAHASSPOKEN.BLOGSPOT.COM

2 DISCOVER – THE HAPPY HOLLOWS

This Californian trio may not have crept into your peripheral vision as of yet, but we at AGENT2 expect that all to change very, very soon. Veering from noisy slabs of post-punk to succinct doses of indie delight, The Happy Hollows conjure flavours of Sleater-Kinney, Deerhoof and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Currently unsigned, there is no doubt this exciting, fresh and dynamic three-piece will be commanding plenty of column inches in the near future. Remember where you heard of them first.

MYSPACE.COM/HAPPYHOLLOWS

Words Colin French