Interview with Pete Devine of Pete’s Rock News and Views (http://petesrocknewsandviews.com)
PD: How would you describe yourself or your band as an artist?
MR: True. I mean, me and the band we’re always very involved to be honest, organic and committed to play the music. Our recording session takes hours and hours just to adjust tones, for exemple. Not for each instrument, it’s fast but to check how is sounding the whole band.
PD: Can you tell us briefly about your background – i.e. where you’re from, how you came to make music, etc.
MR: I’m from São Bernardo do Campo, a city in Sao Paulo capitol. I started to play guitar during my 9, 10 years old. It all started years before with a TV Ad of ‘Jive Bunny and The Mastermixers’, a 50’s, 60’s stuff compilation. You know, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Glenn Miller… It was a gateway for a new world with no return for me.
I played in different local bands, I had experiences writing songs in the past but I’ve decided give a next step in 2017 or 2018 when I started to write the songs for the ‘Electric Art’ album. Since then I’m looking for improve this and I love to do this.
PD: Who and what inspires you to make music, both in terms of musical and other influences? What do you like to write about in your songs?
MR: Well, I really love the idea to start from nothing and make something happen. It’s grateful to see an inspiration seeing the light of day. My main inspiration is in play guitar, I really love it! So others inspirations sure are my heroes, all those blues guys like Elmore James, Howlin’ Wolf also Johnny Winter, Jimi Hendrix; bandas like Cream, Led Zeppelin, Mountain, John Mayall and The Bluesbreakers. It’s all fascinating for me, I like the album concept, I like the idea to keep all this art alive.
The blues is always around the people, basically I write songs about these feelings. Blues is a pure emotional music.
PD: What are your aspirations as an artist?
MR: As an independent musician I’m not counting to play in stadiums, even my music I think is out for the business nowadays. Actually I like to do what I do, I love to recording in the studio and I love to play on the road. My aspirations are find a way to keep these both ways on the track. You know, release an album and go to the road. I’m happy.
PD: What is the proudest moment in your music career so far?
MR: The first time a song played in a big radio station. It was in London. I need to mention all good
reviews that albums have caught so far. I’m really thankful about it.
PD: Promoting one’s music is such a challenge these days, especially with so many new artists emerging from bedrooms in the day of the home studio. How is that going?
MR: Sure. There’s no more big records companies investing millions and millions in a new release. In the internet there’s space for everybody, I think this is good, the most of people meet my albums by this way.
It’s going very well, as I said I’m grateful in musical journalists like you give me an opportunity to talk about my music. On this aspect t I’m happy with all results so far.
PD: And how do you book and promote your live shows and tours? Any performances coming up?
MR: Yes. We will play in a private event nex June 2nd. It will be great to warm up the band. After this gig I’m going to NYC to play with my friend Michael Muller, an amazing bassist! We will play in the Stich Blues Club.
I’m in touch with some agents for who knows a tour soon. Some festivals in UK are interested.
PD: What do you think about downloading music online? What about streaming sites like Spotify?
MR: As a music lover honest I don’t like it, I still buy CDs (who knows vinyls soon). The bright side is fantastic to discover new and good stuff. I don’t have a personal Spotify, when I’m interested to discover something new (even for past albums) I usually read web sites about it or by YouTube.
PD: What song do you wish you’d written and why?
MR: That’s difficult, so many to mention but probably ‘How Many More Times’ – Led Zeppelin version. This riff is simply killer! I can improvise a lot in a great feeling.
PD: So, what are you working on at the moment?
MR: I got all songs ready for an instrumental album. Huge influence of these old heavy blues songs. I’m still working on arrangements in my home studio and I’m really excited and looking forward to record these songs.
PD: Where can we learn more about you and buy your music/merch online?
MR: It’s all concentrated in my website: www.mariorossiband.com
Thank very much for this interview Pete! Big pleasure! 🙂
Mario Rossi Band links:
Band/Artist location – Sao Paulo, Brazil
Website – Facebook – You Tube – Bandcamp – Merch –
Apple – Spotify – Amazon – Deezer –
Check our page for Mario Rossi Band
