September 03, 2005
Interview with Chris Catena
The music is the driving force behind this site and behind the music is the artist that creates it. What I enjoy most about the interviews is the insight into the artist and seeing just what makes them tick and when it comes to Chris Catena there is a lot involved in this artist! Chris is definitely an artist through and through and if I had asked him the question - Does life imitate art or art imitate life? - I think Chris’ answer would be they are one and the same!
In the answers Chris gave to these questions I think it is obvious that art and music are Chris Catena’s life and if you have not given a listen to Chris’s music I would suggest a visit to www.chriscatena.com as there are a lot of different projects and sounds to experience. I hope you enjoy this interview and getting to know one of today’s more artistic musicians.
1. While those who know your music know you are more than your average musician I’d like to take a moment for you to introduce yourself as if you were meeting someone for the first time …What would you like people to know about you?
Of course! Hi guys … My name is Chris Catena and I am freaking out with rock and roll, since I was a child. Yes I am a bloody damn rocker, I am a great fan of this music and I am always trying to do it with “respect”.
2. You have some exciting things coming up, including the release of “Still Alive and Freakin' … Live Rough in Rome” and “Return of the Galactic Freakboy”! Could you tell us a bit about these two projects and give an update on each?
Well, the live album is finished and I am just waiting to know which label will release it. It contains few songs from the previous studio album plus a couple of unreleased songs “I’ll Be There For You” (live version) and “Endless Love”(studio version), plus a cover of the famous Deep Purple hit “Burn”. The album is, according to my opinion, exciting for the quality of the sound and the vibe you can breath among the tracks. It rocks hard and that’s the most important thing! It’s full of solos, improvisations and energy. That’s my point of view of course!
The “Return..” album is a concept. Being really into the music of 60’s and 70’s I can’t be not in love with such kind of psychedelic masterpieces of the rock culture such as Pet Sounds, Sergeant Peppers as well as Yellow Submarine, Sf Sorrow and other stuff like this, so the new album will rock really hard but at the same time will have a structure like the old style concepts. This last year has been one of the worst of my life and when you’re feeling lonely, depressed and frustrated you start writing! Unfortunately this is the best time to be creative … Yes the time when you have deep and painful emotions to take out from your mind and your soul. It’s the heart that demands it and you have the duty to put anything you can on paper or in music. This is the journey of my soul, inside my soul, out of the good and bad, inside the good and bad looking for a shelter to hide and to protect myself from the bad to recover from the pain, to taste a bit of good. In the end after this journey into space, somewhere in the haze, a virtual space (“the space around is something that I know, but got a universe of questions inside my soul”), the shelter for me to carry on, to rebuild my strength, my courage, I have the resurrection! As the song “Resurrection” says “gonna free my mind, leaving the world behind, but never cross that line to where I can’t let go”, so I turn my back around and start my trip back to my body and the reality ‘till I realize I am “Coming Home”.
3. “Return of the Galactic Freakboy” has quite a line up of artists giving their support and playing on the album. How do you think this is adding to the album?
The album has some really fine musicians that shared with me the joy of doing music such as Bobby Kimball, Doug Aldrich, Bruce Kulick, Pat Travers, Carmine Appice, Earl Slick, Marco Mendoza, and many many more….They are gonna give a touch of experience, skill without injurying the personality of each song and the intention of the composer. I love to exchange notions and impressions with such titled musicians.
4. Your style of music and style in general is that of a true artist, more inclusive of such things as the art of music and the experience. What is it that drives you to bring such an experience to all of your songs?
I have never tried to follow a specific plan in doin’ my music. Music is for me like a canvas. I am the painter and according to my mood, I am gonna choose the colours. I never tried to start from the sketch, I always start from the colours to see what’s the final picture. These colours are the different styles of music I am in love with and this is, of course give, an idea of what’s my approach in making music and packaging it. Mainly I make music for myself, to feed my soul. My music is like a Van Gogh painting ! Colourful.
5. Speaking of songs, is there one song that you have worked on, or are working on that is special to you that you could share some of the history with us and why it is special to you?
Well, it’s kind a funny … Two songs of my new album “Forgive Me” and “The Last Goodbye”. Both are dedicated to my girlfriend Debora. We broke up a few months ago, after around 8 ½ years. The first song was written and dedicated to her when we started our relationship, the second one has been written now that the relationship is finished and is also dedicated to her.
6. Each artist has their own way of doing things; each songwriter has his own process. When you are working out an idea for a new song in your head how do you usually go about the creative process?
I just save it on a recorder and call any of my friends who play guitar to work on the music with me. It’s a traditional way if you like but it works. I am not a guitar player but I love to compose on guitar so I need the other’s help.
7. You list quite a deep and diverse array of artist that have influenced you on your website, www.chriscatena.com and I was wondering if there were a couple that you would say have influenced you the deepest and if you would please explain what they as artists and their music has done for you?
Stevie Wonder is my biggest influence since I was a small baby and my sister used to play a Greatest Hits of his. He is one of the finest complete musicians, he is the “soul man”, nobody can give me the same emotions! The other big influences that gave me the “GO” to pledge my alliance with rock and roll are 4 bands I knew all together, in the same time, all in one shot “SWEET, SLADE, DEEP PURPLE, KISS”- Ohhhh Yes!
8. As a fan as well as a musician I am sure that you are always wanting to know what is next from your favorite bands … So to help those who are wondering about what’s coming up from you…What are your plans in regards to future albums and perhaps touring?
Well, first of all I need to give life two these brand new two creatures. The Live album is some kinda conclusion of a period of my musical life to give the go to a new one, heavier, modern, different but keeping always the groove and the flavour of my previous work. Then I have few other projects I am in, like the new Vitalij Kuprij album, few tributes, Tommy Denander’s Radioactive third album, the debut album of “Pavic” and so on. Touring? I did few concerts in the past I am proud of, with fine musicians such as my friend Daniel Flores, Tommy Denander and Kee Marcello. I had a real cool time playing with them and I really hope to have the chance to promote my music even with a few gigs in and out of Italy. Here I am … Just listen to the live album and let me know if playing live is not joyful and a really nice thing to do.
9. What would you say is the greatest asset to artists of today, the Internet, home studios? What new development would you say is the most beneficial to the artists of today, and on the flip side what obstacle do you feel today’s artists face that those from as early back as the 80’s didn’t have to deal with?
I regret to say, now we lost a bit the flavour of being in a real band with musicians you can work side by side. Internet gives you the big chance of sharing files with other musicians, creating songs together and saving a lot of money, but on the other side, I welcome the bands which still want to play in the canteens, welcome to the real traditional bands, to those who still keep the faith alive. I hope I will have a real and definitive line up to play a lot around with!
10. Last but not least, do you have a closing message for your fans?
Enjoy life, love each other, be responsible and try always the best to be what you are, be yourself! THANK YOU SO MUCH to all the rockers who believe in my music.
Posted by Kathy at September 3, 2005 12:10 AM