Maybe there’s no specific reason why On the river sidethe new album by Willie Peyote, comes out today. However, it is certainly no coincidence that the single brought it forward by a day – yesterday, April 25th Giorgia in the country that marvels, very themed with Liberation Day, complete with reference to the current Prime Minister. «The analogy between two engaged couples who meet and rediscover themselves in love and our country, where every now and then we fall back in love with fascism, came to mind», says the Turin artist. «And maybe someone comes to dream that this new love will last twenty years again, like the first time».
In the past he would have written an invective on a similar topic. Why did you choose a metaphor?
«Because I feel so much violence around me in language, even on social media. I wanted to send a message without exacerbating the tone. The choice of April 25th, however, is dictated by two reasons: the first is that it is an important date for me and anyone who cares about the history of the nation. The second is that given what is happening – let’s also think of the censorship at Rai – many are scared and tend not to take a stand. April 25th is the perfect day to reiterate what you believe in.”
Both the title of the album and the new promotional photos ooze “murazzitude” from every pore.
«True, and in fact for me “On the river bank” closes the Turin trilogy opened in 2015 by “Savoy Education” and continued with “Tôret Syndrome”. While writing the new songs I realized that I had recovered a similar approach to that of nine years ago. And the idea of the river takes me back to what I know best, the city of Turin and the Murazzi.”
Is Turin the same as nine years ago?
«There are points of contact and differences, but it is the world that has changed. After years of crisis, it seems to me that there is an atmosphere of awakening in the city, especially in the underground. And it was Turin that taught me that it’s always a good sign when things come from below.”
Where is the gym of the “obsessed people who do gymnastics in the window” that sings in Good luck?
«In via Cernaia. I live in the Quadrilatero, I get around on foot and pass by it when I go to Porta Susa. It has always struck me and I have tried to identify with these people who run in front of passers-by at dawn. They must have a lot of discipline and self-esteem. Even if they are no longer seen today, they have set up tents.”
On Saturday evening he presented the new songs in four secret shows at Blumusica, the rehearsal room in Borgo San Paolo. All played live, without backing tracks or electronics, with a rich horn section. A less rap Willie?
«I think it depends on the listening that accompanied me during the writing of the songs: Paolo Conte, Amy Winehouse, Arctic Monkeys. And then Stevie Wonder: the spark from which this album started was an aperitif at the home of Enrico Allavena (trombonist and curator of the wind instruments on the album, Ed.), immediately before an edition of Amici di Piero. The whole band was there, we found ourselves watching Wonder live and thought: why don’t we do something like that? The whole album is recorded the old fashioned way, with the musicians in the same room.”
At Blumusica you also played the cover of A cigarette by Fred Buscaglione.
«It reflects my growing interest in the figure of the “crooner” and the love I have always felt for Buscaglione, a true flagship of this city, even if you often tend to forget it».
Why is the album divided into two, six songs released today and the others on an as yet unspecified date?
«Because I’ve written a lot of songs and I couldn’t wait to publish the first ones. And then they say that people’s attention span has now dropped to the point that an album is only allowed to be listened to for a week. So I’ll get at least two.”
