When did you start playing? What was your first instrument?
My first experience ever playing an instrument was when I was something like 6 years old and my brother showed me how to play some easy chords on our dad's acoustic nylon Epiphone.
What were the first songs you learned?
That would be Knocking On Heaven's Door, which is what my brother taught me
Did you take lessons and for how long? What was your teacher like?
I took piano lessons for about 12 years at the local music school, then switched to classical vocals after not being able to sing along with Nightwish. Been studying that ever since. If I don't experience a nervous breakdown, I just might get my bachelor's degree in classical vocals next year. I've had a lot of teachers, most of them were good but some have been truly awesome. The lady who taught me about volume here in Italy was more than helpful.
When was your first performance? What gear did you have?
In elementary school they figured I could sing so they made me do it. They may have done me a huge favor there.
When did you start or join your first band? What did you play? How long did it last?
I founded an almost-acoustic group playing Irish folk tunes somewhere around 2009, I did vocals, tin whistle and occasional guitars. We played and gigged together until I moved to Italy.
How have your gear preferences changed over time? What is your favorite gear now?
Well the real difference is now I actually have my own gear - You don't need a microphone for singing opera - I'm loving my Shure beta 58A mic, it does a nice job on dynamics and colour.
How much gear do you own? How much have you sold? What are you hoping to own in the future?
I have a Korg x50, incredibly portable, an Ibanez acoustic guitar which has an unfortunate preamp too Chinese to work properly, a mandolin, some tin whistles. And a nice stage piano.
I've never sold anything really, trying to be really picky when buying stuff (especially after the ChIbaneeze guitar which I was unable to sell when I didn't like it. Turns out I wasn't the only one).
Hoping to renew the piano one day as it's gotten a bit dented from travelling. Need to do loads of gigs first. If one day I would wake up with a huge amount of cash I'd probably go check the Vpiano by Roland out immediately. They say it has harmonics.
How have your influences and playing style changed over time?
My first "influences" came from listening to my brothers listening to Metallica and Offspring in the other room
As for vocals, the more I study classical the more I tend towards a kind of Nightwhish-y gentle use of the voice. It will fit in with the music I'm writing, eventually.
What were your best / worst performances like?
Best performance: An acoustic set with Irish tunes. I made half of them cry. It was awesome.
The worst: A gig with a big band when I had a bad fever and by rights shouldn't have even left the house. The saxophones were tuned differently from everybody else and I had a really hard time convincing everybody that we were all having a good time. Especially when I was murdering Aretha Franklin.
Have you ever had any studio experience? Where at?
I occasionally work in a studio in Rome as technical support for keyboards and general assistance. Did record some demos there when trying to find gigs with the Irish songs.
Do you still play? If you don't why did you stop?
I play/sing because I somehow feel like I can't keep myself from doing it. Like Montserrat Caballé said, "if I don't sing, it's like I don't exist". The worst times in my life this far have all been occasions when my voice just wouldn't work. Happens a lot less here in the south it seems!