Evolve, explore new musical territories, remain united after thirty years of honored service. Blonde Redhead’s musical history is perhaps exemplary. Born in New York from the fortuitous meeting of the Japanese singer Kazu Makino with the Italian twins Amedeo and Simone Pace, Blonde Redhead take their name from a song by DNA, a no-wave band from the 80s. They will perform this evening, in the first of their only three Italian dates, in the courtyard of the Castello Estense in Ferrara. Appointment at 9pm.
Simone Pace, you just played at Primavera Sound in Barcelona. How was it? And what do you expect from the move from Barcelona to Ferrara, two important but very different realities?
“Barcelona thrilled us a lot. There were really a lot of people. We hadn’t played Primavera Sound for a long time. In Ferrara, however, we’ve never played: starting in a new place is always a good experience and then it’s very important for us perform in Italy”.
In Ferrara you will present your new album ‘Sit down for dinner’. How was it born and what themes does it cover?
“For the themes you would need to ask Kazu and Amedeo: they are the ones who write and the themes are always very personal. This work was born after a long gestation. Kazu carried out his solo album, then went on tour. it was also Covid and then my daughter was born.”
How important, if it matters, is the connection with Italy for your band? What relationship do you have with Italian music?
“Amedeo and I were in Italy for the first 13 years of our lives. We grew up in music, with cousins who were musicians. We were exposed to a lot of Italian and classical music. It’s a foundation that has followed us until now, much more than rock or punk. Then, as soon as we left music college, Amedeo and I discovered our own way of composing and this is thanks to punk: it freed us.”
We have been in business for 30 years now. That’s a lot for a band. What is the secret to staying united?
“We were lucky. In our band there is also family: Amedeo and I are twins. It must also be said that we follow a philosophy: we ignore how much time has passed. We don’t allow time to be a limit. For us, each record is a ‘opportunity for rebirth, also because every time we release a work it’s a bit like giving birth, having a child: it matures, becomes an adult, independent.”
Francesco Franchella
