Introducing: Atwood

AtwoodAlice Grupallo and Daniele Mammola are Atwood, an alternative band hailing from Milan, Italy.  New single ‘Ghost’ has just been released and Alice fills in the blanks on our introduction to Atwood.

What are the origins of the band, how long have you been playing together?

We’ve been playing together for a couple of years now, and we started off as the usual rock band. Then we decided we wanted something more.

How did you feel performing your first gig? And how was it?!

We were shaking! We only have good memories of it, though. Many of our friends were there – a great night, for real.

What should people expect when they check the band out? How would you describe yourself?

When checking us out, you can expect energy, but also depth. We’re pop sounding, but we’re rooted in alternative rock and metal, so some elements of those will always be there. In disguise, maybe, but they will!

In what ways has the band developed between the release of your debut single ‘Black Mirror’ in 2018 and the current single ‘Ghost’?

I think we’ve become a lot more mature and self-aware. We’ve learnt how to manage our influences, we found balance.

What are the themes behind ‘Ghost’?

Ghost mourns lost loved ones, lost dreams, lost hopes. It tells the feeling of strain and helplessness that comes with the sudden realisation that some things are gone and will probably never be back. It is a reminder that the constant and relentless process of looking for those things, although painfully frustrating, is the only thing that’s left to do, even in the darkest of times.

For an independent band, the video for ‘Ghost’ is very slick, who created the video?

Dalilù, who’s the videomaker we’ve been working with since day 1. Check her work out, she’s super!

The new music scene is bursting at the seams with fresh talent, in what ways do you feel that a band has to stand out from the others trying to build a name?

Standing out has got super difficult to achieve. I’d say consistency and good care of social media are what can make a difference, now. The Internet is this huge ocean full of good fish – you have to make sure you’re the fish whose name people remember.

You list BMTH amongst your influences. As well as gaining thousands of new fans with their lighter sound, they also came in for a lot of criticism and accusations of “selling out”; what do you think of ‘Amo’ and the “new” BMTH?

We’re fans of both the old school BMTH and the newest stuff. They’ve just grown out the genre they started off with, and I don’t see an issue, to be honest. Music is such an interesting world, why stick to some genres instead of exploring? You can always go back, or change. At the end of the day, it’s just music. It should be fun, not judgemental.

What band out there at the minute do you feel that you would be best suited to open for?

Pvris, undoubtedly.

What is the local music scene like in Milan? Do you have a favourite record store?

The local scene is actually pretty florid, there’s a whole lot of great bands. It’s actually amazing, because live shows are always super interesting. Our favourite record store had to close down due to covid. It’s pretty sad, because it was THE place to get records and tickets.

Who do you feel is the next band to break out?

Holding Absence. They should get huge, they’re incredible.

What are your first musical memories? And what was the lightbulb moment that made you go “I want to do that”?

We’ve both always been “immersed” in music. We’ve been passionate about it for as long as we can remember, so it’s always been what we want to do, it sort of came naturally.

What was the last gig that you attended as a fan?

Daniele – Hands like houses

Alice – Thy Art Is Murder + guests

The album that you have in your album collection/spotify playlist that would surprise most people?

Daniele – A fair bit of hard bass

Alice – Many cello playlists

What are your plans for the remainder of officially the longest year ever: 2020? How are things in Milan at the moment?

Our plan is to record as much as we can, since we’re not “busy” playing shows. We have to get the most out of this unprecedented situation. Things in Milan are getting better after a very difficult period, which I’m sure you heard about. We’re trying to get back on our feet, but we’ll make it.

How active are you on social media and where can people connect with you?

We’re extremely active on social media. They’re the main means of communication at the moment, and they can be quite helpful when it comes to creating a connection with people.

 

Connect with Atwood here. 

Check Also

JENNY DON’T AND THE SPURS: New Single – ‘Pain In My Heart’

Based in Portland, Oregon in the US Northwest, Jenny Don’t and the Spurs have spent …

MOON SHOT | album’s title track “The Power” released

Scrap the old-school idea of a rock band and replace it with MOON SHOT, a …

AMIGO THE DEVIL | UK & RoI tour 2024 : US singer-songwriter announces July dates

US singer-songwriter Amigo the Devil (aka Danny Kiranos) has announced a July UK & RoI …

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *