• Artist Name:  Lorenzo Gabanizza
• Hometown:  Italy

What project(s) are you currently working on?

I am currently working on my new album All the Words We Never Said. It’s a folk, country album. It has a deep message of freedom and justice. It’s inspired by real events around the USA and of course, personal life events. This album encloses the previous singles and the current one, “You’re Not There”, featuring the multi-platinum legend Jeff Christie. This is the way it works today, in the digital era, shooting singles like bullets, and I don’t like this much: much better I think the good ol’ times, where you had an album and a couple of singles to promote it…

What inspired you to pursue a career in music and when did you know?

I always knew I wanted to be a musician. Or at least, I’ve known it for as long as I can remember. I know for sure that I was already singing at the age of 3, but not in the usual way all children sing. I would sit in front of the turntable and sing and choose my favorite songs, and did it “On loop”, till my mom toke me away. I remember those songs: “Roly Poly” by John Carter; “Candida” by Dawn; “Eloise” by Barry Ryan; “Yellow River” and “San Bernadino” by Christie. So, if I had to tell you what inspired me in pursue this career, I could say my parents, or more precisely, they gave me the means to pursue my desires filling home with music. But if I had instead to trace the decision back to a precise moment, it was when I first picked up Christie’s single “Man of Many Faces”. The cover was the one in which Jeff, Vic and Paul are standing in a wood (I think in Belgium) and Jeff, on the left, is wearing a blue leather jacket. Like the ringing of a telephone, or a bell, I heard the purpose looping in my head: “I want to be like this.”. Obviously, in my head as a child, (I was 4 years old), this resulted in practical imitation, but growing up, this childish purpose grew up with me, revealing itself day after day for what it really was: “I want to be like that”, it became therefore, “I want to be a musician”. I was 6 years old.

If you weren’t pursuing a career in music, what would you be doing for a living?

Nothing outside the artistic sphere. I could say, I suppose, I would be writer or poet. Literature is in fact another deep-rooted passion of mine and which led me, collaterally to my musician career, to publish 5 books of poetry and 1 book of short stories.

What is your favorite downtime activity?

Reading, listening music, watching movies, walking in the woods or in the mountains.

Who is your biggest celebrity crush?

Well, I am a too much an old turkey to get crushes. But I have a bunch of actresses the look of which I like very much: Kate Winslet, Kate Beckinsale, Rachel Weisz and Stephanie Sigman. As far as youth crush is concerned, I would say Marilyn Monroe. Not the curly, glossy Hollywood image, but the natural Marilyn, with her straight hair, blouse and jeans. You can have a glimpse of this immortal beauty on Bert Stern’s Santa Monica pics, or even in some parts of her latest movie “The Misfits”.

Who is your favorite sports team(s)?

I love football and a lot of other sports. Wrestling too. As an Italian, I love soccer and my favorite team, according to a family tradition, is A.C. Milan.

What is the last movie that you watched?

Black and Blue. Liked very much how Taylor painted a grey line where good and evil is mixed and Naomie Harris is absolutely stunning on her role.

What is the last album you listened to?

Red Man, by Barry Ryan

If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Christie, by Christie

What is the greatest country song of all time?

I am a pantheist artist…I don’t like monotheistic assumptions. I can say that in my view, among the greatest country songs of all time are: “The Girl I Left Behind Me,” “Ain’t No Grave,” “San Bernadino,” “Roses in the Snow,” “I’ll Fly Away” and many more.

What has been your favorite city/town that you’ve visited out on the road?

Namur, Belgium.

What is your favorite meal?

Pizza.

Who is your dream duet partner?

The one in my new single.

Who would you like to go on tour with?

Jeff Christie, Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, Elvis Presley… Queen, but I am not sure Adam Lambert would be glad about that Lol

What is your ultimate career goal(s)?

Spreading emotions. Generally, my songs have a message to share with the audience, but even if it is not received, the important thing is that the listeners may feel some kind of emotion listening to my music. This is how a bridge is created, a contact between souls. Sharing, after all, is the basis of every type of art.