Big Cowboy Interview by Christian Lamitschka for Country Music News International Magazine & Radio Show
Lamitschka: Music has
many new fans throughout Europe who may be hearing about you for the first
time. How would you describe yourself and the music you play to someone who has
never seen or heard you?
Answer:
Well, I’m a man „of constant sorrow“ AH AH AH, I’m a man that loves american
stuff (music, horses, guitars, pick up trucks, Harleys) since when I was very
young. Outgoing but shy at the same time, my music tells who I am, not what
people think I might be by the way I act. This is the reason why my music is so
intimate, simple and melodic.
Lamitschka: What is your
latest CD and how’s it doing?
Answer:
My latest CD is THE HIDDEN ROOM, due on
October 22nd on GO COUNTRY RECORDS
Lamitschka: How did you
choose the title for the CD? Is there a story behind the name?
Answer: The hidden room is a personal place, hard to
find and not for everyone. I borrowed this idea from a friend, she suggested it
because of the intimate nature of all its songs.
Lamitschka: Do you write
the songs yourself? If not, how do you go about finding the songs for your CD?
Answer: Some
songs were written by a friend of mine. she’s a writer. I felt them like mine
immediately thanks to the bonds that tie me with this special friend. The music
therefore has been a matter of few minutes. I penned all the other songs
Lamitschka: Please tell
us about the songs on your album (influences, etc).
Answer: Emotions
that are the backbone of our lives, even if we believe that we make our choices
intellectually, were the common thread of this cd. The idea of Freedom, too
often confused with a sort of loneliness, can be easily found here. The sound
is different in each song, despite the use of just a few instruments beside my
guitar, Everything is strictly acoustic.
Lamitschka: What is the
difference between your last CD and your current one?
Answer: I made my previous album (great effort, 2
cd’s) with the band I played with for a
lifetime, so to speak, called The beer
drinkers. With them I shared ideas, efforts and songs. This album comes from my
emotions, and the musicians involved in it left their unmistakable mark
following my lead.
Lamitschka: What
kind of songs do you like to record the most?
Answer: Ballads for sure, they represent my
way of being.
Lamitschka: You did a
duet with Valentina Mazzaretto. How did that happen to come about?
Answer: I
heard her sing at a concert and the determined gentleness of her voice
impressed me. She sang harmonies on my previous album; when I decided to make a
video for Cowboy Sad Lullaby, thoroughly acoustic with no bass drums and
electric guitars, I thought that her voice was perfect, and I was right
Lamitschka: What is your
favorite song among all the songs you have recorded and what’s the story behind
it?
Answer: . Back in 1991 a dear brother in arms
friend of mine passed away. That very night I wrote a song that I then
published as an independent. After 28 years from the first draft this song
still moves me, so I decided to record it again in an acoustic version. It will
be the 8th track of the cd (8 reminds of the infinite symbol written
vertically). You got to listen to it, it’s the only song with a solo played by
me.
Lamitschka: Who inspires
you musically and how deep do your musical roots run?
Answer: I’ve
listened to a lot of music, from Hank Williams to George Jones, from Merle
Haggard to Glen Campbell, going thru the Eagles up to Brad Paisley and all
today’s artists. But James Taylor is the one who inspired me the most as far as
melody is concerned.
Lamitschka: What’s your
favorite song that you wish you could have recorded?
Answer:
Probably my next new song but I would be Happy to record Our Town by James
Taylor, it always bring tears to my eyes.