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Years
and years of music work are behind you. Before we start from the beginning,
have you had an idea, when you were very young, that you will become today
very successfull musician and sound engineer and are you satisfied? Fabry, tell me
please how you began with your music work? |
I am most curios
about your work in the early 80's, your Italo Disco work. If I'm right, you
started with your italo work in 1983 with the song „Rap O Hush“
by Marzio Dance DJ. You were producer of that song.
No, I started
the year before, in the winter of '82, ever with Marzio Dance Dj, in a project
called «XENON – The Adventure». I was the composer and the
player of that record. It was a big success. After that, again with Marzio,
I wrote «Rap-o-Hush», the hit. Marzio was a very famous Italian
DJ, he was from Florence, Tuscany. I can consider him as my talent scout. He
was the first to trust in me. And he was right!
As I could noticed Rap
O Hush have been released for Xenon label, with catalogue number 002. This is
only song you produced for that label. Anyway, can you tell me, if possible,
anything more about that label?! Who was the owner and key people?
As I already
said, I did more then one records for the Xenon label.. 001 was XENON –
The Adventure, 002 Rap-o-Hush and there was other song I do not remember, right
now.. It's been a long tiime.. The «key men» of Xenon was always
Marzio Dance Dj and Tiziano, the owner of the XENON DISCO CLUB in Florence.
Xenon was founded in 1982 by them.
Fabry, in 1985 you made
song under your name, called „Susy Oh“. Before I ask you about that
song, can you tell me abut the period between „Rap O Hush“ and „Susy
Oh“ (two years gap)? Any song or production (italo disco) I am not familiar
with?
The gap was again
because destiny.. I had a big car accident, and I was out for about 2 years.
During this 2 years I started to study sound engineering, my next main way
Song „Susy Oh“
is great italo disco song. Can you tell me more about that song?
Susy Oh was the
very first song I sung.. I was a young composer, and I worked for years in a
team in Livorno, with and for one «icon» for the italian djs, Riccardo
Cioni. I wrote lot of songs for him, all great success as «Arizona»,
«Olè-oh» etc.. One day he told me: now is your time! You
must sing a song! And I wrote Susy Oh.. I was very surprised about the success
of that song. I wrote it on a piano, at home, and then realized at the Riccardo's
studio in Livorno. I spended about 3 days for to record, arrange and mix Susy
Oh. Susy was an imaginary girl. I was inspired by an imagine in a wall, a commercial
of lingerie ? «wild and sexy tights»
You released that song
for famous Italo label Out Records. Almost every song of yours have been released
for different label. What is the reason for that?
That's why basically
I was a composer, so my main job was to write for many different situations
and artists. And any of those had different labels or distributors. I had no
exclusives..
One year after, you
released song „Hello“ under name Simoncioni. Why just Simoncioni?
Ah ah ah.. Good
question.. My name is Fabrizio, and my surname is Simoncioni.. both are very
long to write and to remember, maybe.. so Simoncioni was more simple.. During
the last years, in Italy, my surname is changed in a nickname, and almost everybody
now call me «Simoncia».
Can you tell me what
or who inspired you to make such a good italo disco songs?
Difficult to answer.. Songs are little miracles, they happends. Sometimes
inspired by a sensation, sometimes by a person, a situation, a smell.. Or just
by a sound. I started to write some song by a particular sound out of a synthesizer..
You made great italo
disco productions: Xario – Are You Leaving, Dorian Gray – Cry, Biafra
– Play Your Game, Banana Band – Let Me Go... Which song is your
favorite one and why?
Oh my God!! Let
me think.. It's been a long time, again... but for sure my 2 favourite songs
are «Vogue» by Dorian Gray and «Peace – inside my heart»
by Dirty Trick. Two really great songs and, to me, still actuals. One day maibe
i'll do remixes of those songs.
In 1990 you worked on
song „Peace Inside My Heart“ by Dirty Trick and on that song you
worked, among others, with Marzio Dance, again. That's mean that you two were
good co-operators since first singl Rap O Hush? Have you two been all those
years in contact and did you have any other coloboration except these songs
mentioned here?
Yes, Marzio and
I were great friends and we did good jobs togheter.. He was the «commercial»
mind, I was the «artistic» harm. We did lots of records togheter,
I think more than 6 or 7 for sure.. But the most famous are Xenon The adventurer,
Rap o hush, Play our game, mama say and peace. Now it's been a long time since
I don't meet him.. Our ways are far
What is your favorite
italo disco song(s) and artist(s)?
Difficult to
say.. In the early 80's, most of the artist was «fake».. I mean,
the imagine was not the singer, as you know for sure.. so all that I can say
is that Farina, Crivellente and Martinelli to me was the best composers.
What do you think about
italo disco music?
Italo disco started as a game, here.. but the italian melody has made an
unique style, as you know.. I think Italo disco was a good expression of dance
music, with more pop stylish.. I still like the old good Italo disco.
Tell me please, is there
a lots of difference between production of songs in the 80's or today? I guess
today could be easier because all new advance technology. But maybe production
of songs in the 80's had warmer touch? Or everything is in producer's capebility?
Hard question..
Today almost anyone could produce and recoord a dance song at home, with the
new computer based recording facilities.. but, for this reason, the overall
quality and creativity is falled down. In the past, to make a record was something
like an event, a particular magic moment, a full immersion in creativity.. now
is almost a job ? And, after this, there are too much produtcs with low or no
quality, and this is a big mess for the record market, as you can imagine..
After 80's what kind of music you produced? Can you tell me more about your
work in the 90's please?
After the 80's
I was study as sound engineer and becamed an Audio Engineering Society member.
I started to work on a different kind of music, the rock and pop rock music.
From 1990 to the present, I did hundreds of records for almost all the most
famous italian poprock artists, such as Ligabue, Litfiba, Negrita, Gianna Nannini,
Gianluca Grignani, Carmen Consolli, Niccolò Fabi, Daniele Silvestri and
many more.. I have in my room more than 35 platinum records. Now I am considered
one of the top Italian engineer and for sure tho one in rock music. I also produced
a band, called Stellakowalsky, and from 1998 I am also the Ligabue's keyboard
player on stage.
You were working so
far with so many famous sound engineers and I would like to know who was very
good, not to say best, sound engineer in italo disco era in your opinion?
In the '80 the
figure of the sound engineer, especially in dance music, was not known.. I mean,
usually who produced was also th e engineer (but normally they aren't real sound
engineer). So it's difficult to say who was the best.
Did you have wish to
work with someone in italo disco and you never had chance?
Not really. Maybe
with some international producer as Michael Cretu
You are still sound
engineer today and very famous and top one! What can you tell me about your
today's work? On what project you are working currently?
I am very proud
about my carreer, riight now.. I'm working on lots of differents project. The
last records I did are LIGABUE «NOME E COGNOME», NICCOLO FABI «NOVO
MESTO» and DANIELE SILVESTRI «IL LATITANTE», all multi platinum
records, here. Next month I'll go to Mexico and United States to record some
international artists in Mexico City and El Paso (Texas).
Can you share with me
and with others anything from your private life please? For example, you are
an pilot, what is interesting ?
Ah ah ah.. yes, except music my main ineterst is to fly. I really love
to pilot aricraft. I'm planning a long trip from my city (Arezzo, Tuscany) to
New York City, next summer.. will see. And I want to come in your beautyful
country, with my plane, as soon as possible!
Ohh, you are more than welcome! :-)
Fabry, what is your
goal?
My goal? Mmmm..
to continue to love my job as I love it since the beginning, and if possible
to improve my credits working with some big international American artists.
One other «wish» is to compose an original soundtrack from some
movies.. will see
Further plans?
Yes, to put my bones over white sands in some Caribbian island.. with lots
of girls, music, cocktails and sun!! AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
Would you like to say
sometning what is important and I haven't ask you?
Just one.. music
is my life and I want to thank you and all people who keep music alive. Keep
on rock!!!
Thank you again for
this interview. Wish you all the best.
Thank you too!!
CIAO!
My big thanx goes to my friend Kimmo Parviainen! http://www.kolumbus.fi/italoguru
©
Zeljko Vujkovic - March 2007 |
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