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The BlackLava are a retro rock band from Turin, Italy that blend the best of the 70’s and the 90’s. The band are made up of Karlo (voice and guitar), Mark (bass), Fra (guitar) and Diego (drums), and here’s the lowdown on the band.
What are the origins of the band? How long have you been playing together?
Karlo: We came from other bands and we already knew each other. I knew Mark because we had played together at a festival and then we became friends, and I knew Fra because he played in a cool band and then we also became work colleagues. Diego became a member of Blacklava because he knew the former bass player!
Mark: Karl and I have been friends for a long time and we have always tried to create a band. Before, we played hardcore in two bands. Diego joined on drums through mutual friendships. First, I played the guitar, then I went to the bass. Francesco joined the solo guitar later, but I have always considered him a member of the band. He has always helped us live and in recording. I’ve always hoped it would sound fixed with us and now here we are!
Fra: I’m the last one who joined the band. BlackLava is a project born in 2014 and I engineered almost every song of the band! In 2018 I became the 4th member!
How did you feel performing your first gig? And how was it?!
Karlo: It was terrible, but super fun! Obviously, we were not ready, and we had taken the whole situation like a game! We played in a place not suitable for our type of music! The acoustics were bad. Only reverberations and echoes could be heard. The sound technicians, while we were playing, told us several times to turn down the volume and I at the microphone told him to go f..k himself! We ate at the restaurant all together and got drunk! Our former bass player was so drunk that he fell off the stairs and chipped his elbow! On the way home, he threw up in the car, and the funniest thing was that he ate gorgonzola cheese for dinner! Even after washing the machine several times, the smell of cheese remained!
What should people expect when they check the BlackLava out? How would you describe yourself?
Karlo: One of our reviewers expressed who we are better than us: “Fantastic retro rock from Italy, blending the best of the 70’s and the 90’s.”
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?
Karlo: Let’s say it’s very difficult! in the past it was difficult to emerge, because doing quality things was very expensive, and to publish an album you had to have good contacts! now everyone can create quality content even without having talent. Just knowing how to use the right programs. Now you don’t need to be a musician anymore! So to return to the question; we try to be ourselves, to do what we like, to be authentic. Strictly following fashions can work, but only up to a certain point. If we were to become a recognised band, I would do it being myself!
What are you working on at the minute that people can check out?
Karlo: We have just published the video of our latest single “Woman”! We are really satisfied! Usually, I take care of the whole part of the videos, but in some cases, when I want to have more quality and focus on other aspects, we rely on our video-maker friends!
What band out there at the minute do you feel that you would be best suited to open for?
Karlo: Black Stone Cherry!
Who do you feel is the next band to break out?
Karlo: I can’t answer you. If it is a famous band sooner or later they will make a reunion (RATM, My Chemical Romance): If we talk about debut bands instead, then all the bands that think they are cooler than the others and that have objectives that are not respected. I saw a lot of bands investing large sums of money and then wrecked badly because they did not reach their goals! You have to be down to earth!
What are your first musical memories? And what was the light bulb moment that made you go “I want to do that”?
Karlo: The first musical memory is the Queen cassette. The disc was ‘Innuendo’. I was 6/7 years old and my sister would loop the song! Instead, the moment when I decided to become a frontman was after listening to the first Linkin Park album! I knew every single song by heart!
What was the last gig that you attended as a fan?
Karlo: Two Gigs! the last of Linkin Park. Unfortunately, for reasons related to the laws on sound impact, the audio was very low! I hate concerts where if I sing I cover the voice of the singer! I have to be wrapped in sound! Instead, the expected last was that of the 20 years of Mezzanine of Massive Attack. Me, Diego (my drummer) and our two girlfriends went to visit Rome and see the concert. The location was bad, an old indoor stadium. Boring concert and mostly out of tune singers. Right now, I’m afraid to see the concerts. Maybe I bring bad luck Haha!
Which album that you have in your album collection or Spotify playlist would surprise most people?
Karlo: “Backstreet’s Back” by Backstreet Boys! It was my first CD that I bought, and I’m still proud of my pop streak!
What are your plans for the rest of 2020?
Karlo: I can’t answer you right now. We had a lot of projects that we definitely couldn’t do now. In Italy, we are in quarantine closed at home for Covid-19 since March 12th. all events are cancelled, and you can only go out to take the dog out, or shop and for serious reasons. The quarantine deadline is now April sometime, but even if this proves true, public events will not be able to happen for a long time! We are becoming social again, but the situation changes day by day, so it is difficult to plan!
How active are you on social media and where can people connect with you?
Karlo: We are quite active in social networks and you can contact us on Facebook and Instagram
#stayathome #staysafe
