In Music for Galleries & Museums, Gang of Tolstoy has once again transformed itself to produce an album that objectifies abstract art into experimental chamber music, or rather, chambers of music that are, in effect, galleries displaying works as per soundscape title with 'Fukushima, Mon Amour' and 'The Day We Left Earth' dramatically prophetic, but also celebratory as in 'Our Song 105' and 'J Project', so tune in, space out, and read what Luigi Monteferrante has to say about his eclectic artistic career in the Belpaese.
(Article by Serena Genova in Tandem Magazine - Toronto)
Canadians are very much aware of the immigrant narrative: the journey to a far, unknown land in search of opportunity and the numerous obstacles that are part of such an ambitious endeavor. But we rarely hear about first or second generation Italian-Canadians that go back to their parents’ or grandparents’ homeland, especially for purposes of sparking a more “creative imagination.”
But this was the case for Luigi Monteferrante, a Montreal-born and raised musician, author and poet, who moved back to Vasto Marina, Abruzzo (a seaside town and also his parents’ birthplace) about 20 years ago, in search of inspiration for a novel he was working on at the time. Today, the ambitious artist has released several CDs; his latest is Gang of Tolstoy, which has a unique electronic edge. (Throughout) Monteferrante has continued to write.
"I originally came here [Vasto] because I needed something to spark my creative edge,” he says. “I felt that this would be the right place, since I spent a lot of time here as a child,” says Monteferrante. “Fast-forward to today, and I‘ve released a slew of novels and albums, which are all reminiscent of places that I’ve lived and things that have sparked my imagination. Gangs of Tolstoy, for instance, was inspired by my fascination with living in an urban setting [Montreal]
– skyscrapers, the energy of the city, various landscapes. I combined this with various software and electronic ensembles, which I think made for a really unique result.”
When he set off for the Belpaese, Monteferrante was originally an author/poet, and he says that, “the transition from author to poet was the result of my collaboration with my friends who are musicians. I questioned why they weren’t writing their own stuff, and essentially it was from this point on that I began to write my own music. I like exploring various forms of art.”
This is evident when considering the variety of Monteferrante’s work. “I think my next project will have a classical edge!” he says. As a teenager growing up in Montreal, Monteferrante was greatly inspired and influenced by classical music: “My mother sang classical tunes, and I always listened to the classical music of CBC Radio, while I’d write in my garage! Today, I still listen to it via Internet.” Classical music aside, the music and artists who have influenced Monteferrante is certainly eclectic: “From Monteverdi and Vivaldi, to [American rock band] the Talking Heads. I like to think of my work as comprising all these influence,” he says.
An artistic career as diverse as this creative artist’s is one that is deserved of recognition – just think, in 2002, he embarked on his North American book tour, by Vespa! Monteferrante went from Montreal to Washington on a 1986 PX125 E model (for non-Vespa fanatics, this is a model that only goes a maximum of 85 km/h!).
When asked whether coming back to Canada throughout his career sparked nostalgic sentiment, Monteferrante says that he “plans to eventually return back to Montreal. I love the energy and vibe of the city.”
Overall, this is one eclectic artist to be on the look out for!
DISCOGRAPHY: No Place Like Happy, Urban Space, Beau Monde, I Love DJ, Viola by the Window, Ghetto Blaster, Music for Galleries & Museums.
Many thanks to FLStudio-Image Line, makers of Fruity Loops, the most complete DAW/virtual studio anywhere: http://flstudio.image-line.com.
NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES & VENUES
29 April, New York, CUNY/Calandra Conference on Italian Film, Fashion & Food - 9 am;
30 April, Montreal, Association of Italian Canadian Writers event at Blue Metropolis International Literary Festival - 6 pm;
1 May, Montreal, Matrix Magazine's Reading Series - 7 pm;
3 May, Williamsburgh (NYC), Pete's Candy Store - 7 pm;
6 May, Philadelphia, Da Vinci Arts Alliance - 6 pm;
7 May, Skippack, PA, Art Gallery - 1 pm;
10 May, Toronto, The Arts Bar - 7 pm;
11 May, Montreal, Visual Arts Centre - 7 pm;
12 May, Montreal, Casa Italia, co-curating Arte Montreal/Generation 2.0 with aicw.ca - 6 pm;
14 May, New York, Cornelia Street Cafe - 7 pm;
16 May, Wildwood High School, NJ - to be confirmed.
NOTA BENE: Luigi Monteferrante shall read from Stiletto Heels & A Pork Pie Hat, a new collection of poetry with taped interludes from Music for Galleries & Museums.
Contact: info@luigimonteferrante.com
Read more...