Hi Aaron, welcome to VENTS! How have you been?

-Hey VENTS, thanks for having me back! I’m grateful to say that I’ve been doing pretty well, despite everything that’s going on in the world. Some emotional ups and downs, but I’m very busy and still finding time for my health and sanity, haha. Just FYI, the “l” on my computer isn’t working, so anyone who may be reading this, please forgive me for not capitalizing some of the titles I mention.

Can you talk to us more about your latest single, “D20: Alpha Rift Tribute”?

-“D20: Alpha Rift Tribute” was inspired by a recent lead I played in the upcoming movie, “Alpha Rift.” My character, Nolan Parthmore, is a big tabletop gamer, and in playing him, I became fascinated by his obsessions. While filming, I knew I wanted to eventually make a Nolan Parthmore song, an origin story of sorts, but was having trouble with writer’s block, so I walked away from it in order to focus on other things.

After seeing the film at the cast screening, I revisited the beat. I knew there was something there, but the vision wasn’t lining up just yet. I ran the idea by the director, Dan Lantz, and he suggested finding a new beat and creating a song that honors Nolan’s character and his love for gaming at the same time. Now, little did I know, one of my costars, Graham Wolfe, who plays Viccars in the film, is a huge hip hop head, musician, and producer. He created an original beat, and that’s when everything started to align. The chorus came to me while riding the 1 train from 59th to 157th street in NYC. I wrote the verses while riding the long island railroad to a funeral. I tend to find a lot of inspiration for lyrics while in motion.

After a couple of drafts, Dan and I thought it would be a good idea to bring in stunt coordinator (and multi-faceted performer) Adam Danoff into the writing process. I didn’t want to disrespect the gaming industry by using any possibly incorrect references. Adam helped immensely with this. He’s a big D&D’er, and his help with the lyrics enhanced the song and took it to the next level. It was truly a team effort.

Did any event, in particular, inspire you to write this song?

-This isn’t the first time I’ve made a song that related to a movie character I’ve played. All my characters inspire me, and every one of them has their own theme song, but I don’t write songs for every single one. There was something special about Nolan Parthmore, so I knew I had to do something. It’s all about finding that spark that sets the wheel in motion.

How was the filming process and experience behind the video?

-Due to Covid-19, we had to observe protocols, so when Rachel and I were in the same shot, one of us would wear a mask. Adam was wearing a medical mask UNDER his Orc Mask, but other than that limitation, the shoot was an absolute blast. We were able to shoot in the same location that we filmed parts of the movie in, Tiki Tiki Games, so it felt like a reunion for my character. He was returning home. It wouldn’t have been the same if we shot anywhere else. I brought some Dalla Villa flair, via my background in dance, to the filming and am essentially playing two characters in the video (Dalla Villa and Nolan Parthmore). Everyone brought their A-game to the shoot and had ideas to share. Dan provided all the equipment, props, made several large D20 dies, etc. He’s truly an amazing creator. And Rachel Nielsen crushed her rap and video performance. Don’t let her know that it’s my favorite part of the song. 😉

How was the recording and writing process?

-As soon as that spark came, the chorus came, and the verses flowed like water. I knew the character and just started to play. I didn’t put so much pressure on myself for it to be something, and that’s important for any art I do. I have to let go of the result and focus on the process in order to do my best work. Hats off to Graham Wolfe, who also produced/mixed/mastered the track. I sent him a few lyrical attacks on the verses/chorus, and we bounced ideas off each other until we found the right lead. Sometimes, I can be so wrapped up in my own vision that I’m unable to view the work from a birds-eye view. It’s important to have people you can truly trust — ones that will let you know if you’re slipping.

What role does Suffolk play in your music?

-I received all of my early musical influences while growing up in Suffolk, Virginia. I listened to people like Eminem, Kanye West, and Linkin Park. Jazz was an early influence as well since I learned how to play the tenor saxophone there. Suffolk brings with it all the teenage baggage of 18 years to my music, and I have a lot to pull from. I am who I am due to my upbringing and past experiences. I wouldn’t change anything. More to be revealed.

Does your background as an actor influence your work as a musician and the other way around?

-Absolutely. It’s all about acting. You’re telling a story. You have to connect to the material in order to reach across those headphones/speakers and connect with the listener. It’s essentially a monologue. What are you saying? Who are you talking to? Why are you saying these things? Also, being a musician helps me understand the musicality of a character in a script I receive. With their lines, I start thinking about how this person would say them. Would they talk slow or fast? Does their pitch change midway through? Are they consistent in their patterns of speech? Like acting, music tells a story. They go hand in hand.

You are also a gamer – do you try to always inject some of your love for gaming in your lyrics or music?

-So far, D20: Alpha Rift Tribute is the only one that has my love for gaming in it. I’m still a noob when it comes to D&D, in particular, but I really enjoy it, and the Alpha Rift cast currently has a campaign running every week. I play a half-orc Barbarian named “Colin Half-Fist.” He’s got a brain the size of a half-fist but loves to rage, hehe. I foresee many more gaming references appearing in my future songs as I continue experimenting and honing in on my musical voice. I’m a big fan of the God of War franchise as well as The Legend of Zelda franchise. Perhaps references to those will make it into my future songs.

Does the new single mean we can expect a new material – how’s that coming along?

-I have a few tracks in the works but can’t decide whether I should release more singles or focus on an EP/album. I’ll have moments of inspiration some days and won’t feel like writing/rapping on other days, but overall, I’m focused on songs that mean something to me. What story do I want to tell? It’s gotta come from a real place. Once that spark hits, the lyrics flow out effortlessly. The process of creation should be effortless and fun, but sometimes I experience pain, frustration, and writer’s block. However, that pain makes those win moments worth it.

Any tentative release date or title in mind?

-As I said, it’s all up in the air right now. I have a few tracks cooking but no release dates, and I’d prefer to keep the titles to myself for now. I don’t wanna say that I’m putting something out there and then not do it. I like to follow through on what I say I’m gonna do.

What else is happening next in Aaron Dalla Villa’s world?

-I’m excited to share that I’ve got three feature films that will eventually be coming out (Alpha Rift, All Those Small Things, Bird Boy). I played a cameo in the movie The Scary of Sixty-First (just played at Berlinale), have two costars on TV shows (Girls5eva and On The Verge) that should air later this year. I’m busy auditioning for great projects, helping my friends get through this tough time, working on more songs, and staying grounded and focused on the goal – making a global impact through my work.

Connect with Aaron Dalla Villa online:

Official website: http://aarondallavilla.com/

IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3434373/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aarondallavilla/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aarondallavilla/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/aarondallavilla

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6ZPC8mi4UJerc12e765nyX

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoA7lZjg-gPje2Nfu1dZGZQ