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Hi Alex, welcome to VENTS!! How have you been?
Hello Vents, thanks for having me on board, I am very well, trying to keep myself busy working on my project during Covid.
Can You talk to us about your latest single ” Emma “
Yes of course, ‘Emma’ single is about my first love when I was at the age 15/16. I have never forgotten the beautiful face of Emma and how much I was in love with her. She has always remained in my thoughts, we were both in love but unfortunately her parents never allowed us to be together because we were too young. So, Emma’s mother decided to send her to live with her father in Germany, i haven’t seen her since.
Did any event in particular inspire you to write this song?
I started writing Emma’s song after the loss of my friend Don White, we have been friends and working together in the music industry for many years, we made an album together in the 90’s called Alex Russo and other records. A few days before he died he asked me never to give up on my dreams because he always believed in me and my talents, that’s what gave me the motivation to carry on writing songs.
How was the filming process and experience behind the video?
It was a great day for me and the crew, I remember it was a very cold day but I really enjoyed the day out and singing in different places. I chose to shoot this video in Battersea park because it is where it all began, I’ve spent many years in the park having fun with friends playing football, tennis, jogging and enjoying refreshments in the coffee shop by the lake. It has always been my dream to make a music video in this park.
How was the recording and writing process?
I really enjoyed every moment in the recording studio. The staff and producers made me feel very comfortable and helped me to get my feelings out and to find the right tune. It was a mix of ideas concentrated in a matter of moments and the song was born, it is easier when you work with professional people who made me feel very comfortable working with them. I must say that the producer Chris Hall was the right man for the job. I was very pleased with his work on this particular song ” Emma “.
What role does Italy play in your music?
Well a lot, when I was a teenager living in Italy, music played an important role to develop the inspiration to become a singer. I have always listened to music, buying records and music magazines since I was a young boy. The first record I bought, was the song of Claudio Baglioni called “Questo Piccolo Grande Amore” and I still have the original copy from 1972, but the song that gave me the inspiration to become a singer was at the age of 13 years old when my father heard me singing an italian song from the singer Massimo Ranieri called “Erba di casa mia” in my bedroom. He decided to take me to a piano Bar in Milano and performed this song live on stage. I remember it was a late night, this huge dark smoky room with candles on tables full of people and a pianist playing my favourite song, the crowd applauding me after my performance. For a moment, I didn’t know where I was, I thought I was dreaming and during my standing ovation I felt like crying, my father smiling at me, giving me a huge hug and saying well done son for the good performance.
How has Stevie Wonder and Neil Diamond influenced your writing?
(Tom’s version) They have both been a massive influence on musical creativity ever since I moved to London in the early 80s after deciding to pursue a career in music at an early age. Having grown up listening to and singing their songs whilst taking singing lessons and working as a singing waiter at an italian dine and dance restaurant, performing covers of italian songs as well as popular songs from the likes of Lionel Richie and of course, Neil Diamond and Stevie Wonder.
Having both listened to and sung these artist’s songs for almost all of my early life, it’s no surprise that their influence has rubbed off onto my songwriting, singing and lifestyle as I am a romantic at heart and their music really resonates with me in this way, even to this day.
(Alex’s Version) When i moved to London in the early 80’s i was in my 20’s , I was so excited and happy to live in a bigger city. It certainly wasn’t easy from the beginning but I was determined to achieve my dreams to be a professional singer. I was working as a singing-waiter in a dinner and dance italian restaurant and performing every night singing covers of Italian songs and popular international songs like Stevie Wonder ” I just call to say I love you “, Neil Diamond ” Hello Again”, “Love on the rocks”, “September morn”, Lionel Richie ” Hello ” Truly ” All night long ” Customers in the restaurant like my voice and encourage me to carry on singing I was so determined to be a professional singer that i started to have singing lessons to perfect my voice.
Being for so long in the industry has it been easy for you to evolve throughout the years or you see yourself more as a purist?
Having grown up listening to and singing a lot of romantic and soulful music throughout my life from artists such as Neil Diamond and Stevie Wonder, I have grown accustomed to it as my prefered style of music in terms of my musical strengths. Because of this it would be safe to say I am a bit of a purist when it comes to sticking to what I know as I feel that it is best to focus on what I am good at whilst writing and singing songs that I am passionate about.
Does the new single mean we can expect a new material – how’s that coming along?
Yes of course, Emma’s single will be released on the 26th of March 2021 and I am in works to complete the album this year, waiting to record my last 3 songs I wrote. unfortunately we are on Lockdown at the present moment but i am very exciting for the next sessions in the studio
Any tentative release date or title in mind?
Yes 2 songs that I have in mind one is called ‘Falling in love Again’ and the other is called ‘Covent Garden at night’, I haven’t decided yet which one to release but I think I will have a meeting with the producer first.
What else is happening next in Alex Russo’s world?
Writing songs and planning to form a band, eventually, travelling the world singing my songs and other cover artists.
Watch the video HERE: https://youtu.be/KIsFDOIAygY
