Not that I planned to become a multimillionaire or diving into a 7-up swimming pool (alight! I still dream about it and I'm working on it), but everything I wanted from Summer2011 turned out to be an epic fail. No American Tour, no Indietracks, no epic romance with a famous rockstar, niet. Loneliest summer ever since 2009 (you see! That's what's Indietracks stands for!).
That's why me and some friends of mine - like those cats and dogs abandoned along the highway when it's hot outside and everybody's having fun - decided to join forces and gather around on the possibly indiest project in town: Plato's Summer Stars.
That's it: basically a summer diary for musicians where we'll keep tracks of our summer days and post a song on our experiences from time to time, from the happy relieve given by a fucking good watermelon to the blondie that planted a rotten knife right into our heart on the last summer gig being not even aware of it.
That's right. It's all in our little Plato's Cave. This project was all we needed to get rid of some trash and get some space, so we'll have an excuse to invite you all to dance in it in winter and stars will have something to talk about while hanging in their summer skies.
My intention was to try to make a jpop song as a tribute for my Japanese friends hit by so many terrible things in so little time, but somehow seems like I ended to write my first Paul Simon song. Anyway, here's my song. I really needed to express my feelings on what happened so far away over the sea. It could happen to you as well, and it wouldn't be right. Anyway, anyhow, anywhere. Let's hold on to what's precious above all in times of trouble. If Japan has a virtue has to be found in the braveness of its people... so GANBATTE KUDASAI NIHON!
"Little soul Hangin' on the town Little soul Look at what we've lost So many things we've lost are gone And now I need to be alone With the one I love The one who's singing Little soul words Need to listen close To your heart beat fast and loud
Little Soul Rock
Little Soul We cracked the core Little Soul Reach the very source Our safety is planted in the trash Is getting daily deemed at last Let the Motown stars Show up in droves With lil' soul claps And then collapse to their best sound Anything loud"
Back from Roma Pop Festival we were really excited to see a nice little band from Rome called "I Demoni", just when everyone else's attention was set on "Virginiana Miller" on the other stage.
We were so delighted by their show what we soon decided that our mission was to become a I Demoni cover band.
So here we are now, with a cover of one of their tracks called "666 Molto OK". Go and say hi to their site.
Back from Rome. I spent 3 days with a couple of friends and loads of pop (we were there for Roma Pop Fest indeed). It was fun. Three days doin' nothing but walkin', drinking', eatin and listening and dancing to fine music.
Last day, when I woke up in the hotel, I had TWO strange dreams. Before waking up, a radio in my dreams was broadcasting this "parallel universe" Verve song. I tried to rush a first acoustic version just to remember it, since my real goal now is to record at least a cover from I Demoni, a band we saw at the Festival that really made our days! (now I'm a superfan!)
Guess you'll have to wait for that anyway. My Alesis Soundcard hit the floor for the third time and seems like it finally managed to crash :(
"So here I was here I was running up those stairs to get the highest floor I was there I saw the light 'was about to knock but doubts came in my mind
Was that I To get by I am so sure I didn't realized
Mama was gone Papa's gone too no one is left inside to call to open up the door and let me cross the line
This is the realtime this is the real time the real life the real after life
So here it was about time fun was nearly over so we said goodbye we had our days all a lie as we foundthat nothing really has passed by So we hanged out reaching homes and the radio never stopped to play that silly song
Richard is gone Nick has gone too drugs didn't work so I'm resting too Running up that green to reach the blue"
When it became quite clear I was about to make a whole album from "impossible love songs", a DJ friend of mine named Kaypea accused me to be "blinded by the pop stars". And of course she was terribly right, but the very moment she said that instead of having any psychological reaction I went like:"Hey! That's a marvellous title for a pop song!". And so her we are, with this little Smitthesque tribute filled with Jennifer Lewis and Karen O.
This post reminded me that while I'm proceeding to record vocals in a real studio, I've also spent time carrying on other two songs meant to be some sort of duets with two almost acclaimed indie pop girls. That's the chance to post the lyrics in case I forget how they goes!
One song is about an Italian adventurer and hero from 1800 called Garibaldi meeting the Indonesian equivalent of Cinderella, while the other is about me writing short stories about Nina Persson from Cardigans (I really did!).
Songs are still "Under Construction", still you can try to imagine how they will sounds like with a little help from the lyrics.
BLINDED BY THE POP STARS
Little princess Natalie in psychological waars got to win your Globe Awaards helping me is the role
Scarlett Scarlett sing along you got to whisper that horse he's a fool in a ghost world you're not meant for him at all
Jennifer suggests I won't live without her as I'm modeling worlds I will forget no more
MIlla can't you see THere's nothing left to fear though I can't tell you're real or real fantasy, because...
I was blinded by the pop stars Baby I was blinded by the pop stars And I'm burning my eyes setting my thoughts on fire selling my world to the franchise
blinded by the pop stars Baby I was blinded by the pop stars it's so hard to resist when I look at the screen electromagnetic cute sights
and there is a girl that never goes out....
Karen left me with an Oh turning me into some strange playboy but it's mia who won my soul with her unsual joy
Jenny Lewis is having fun she's available now Neko just won't let me down as long as she is around
Fiona loves and hates I can't live without her as she tells her friends I'm one of her casual guests
Pin-up Sammy Fox can't touch you without pop a bubble framed my heart I know it's about to blast
and there is a girl that never goes out.... that will never never never cross my path downtown
and there is a girl that never goes out.... and I'll never never never see her leave that house
* * *
WHEN GARY MET PUTIH
Not a patriot revolution just a way to show the world freedom was a resolution to get close to his real love He was told that fame and glory were awaiting in seaports but he couldn't stop from wondering on a home to call his own
But I hope that you'll come They say France is thorned by war and a life by the sea won't deny this chance to me
Gary! Garybaldi he was wounded at the heart for she had him still so damn fast he just couldn't stop her dart She was swinging by a sweet swing she was singing silly songs When the man came on to see her had a look and turned to a stone
Garibaldi cought a gold fish he was swimming in the sea and the fish he fished was talking for he once was a real king He told:"Gary go to Java there's a princess you must save" So the merchand marine captain Took an oath to save his dreams
But I hope You won't sleep I'm so far from Italy hurry up dance with me don't deny this chance to me
Gary! Garybaldi he was wounded at the heart for she had him still so damn fast he just couldn't stop her dart She was swinging by a sweet swing she was singing silly songs When the man came on to see her had a look and turned to a stone
* * *
SHORT STORIES 'BOUT NINA
Lying in bed I keep thinking of you you drove me mad it's so true Since we got through on a carnival cruise I spend my days with no clue
Nobody cared when I entered the room It was a cold afternoon ready to play on the smallest venue Nobody came... but you
And you were just oversight fancy dream to come alive stuck in a trip between lines
Writing short stories 'bout Nina Writing love stories 'bout you Meeting my dear ballerina Trying so hard to catch you
And I'm so very super blue don't turn off your Abajour
Writing sweet stories 'bout Nina Inking more pages on you faking a place I could meet her Fool's paradise coming true
Leading a band must be hard in the end struggling with fans and the press I hope someday you could get your revenge you can hang on here'till then
It was a blast when the last light went off rocking the cheap stage for sure Your dreamy eyes set on me, eagerly no secret you couldn't read
And I am dust in your mind Lazy boy get a life You Shouldn't waste all this time...
Writing short stories 'bout Nina Writing love stories 'bout you Meeting my dear ballerina Trying so hard to catch you
Writing short stories 'bout Nina Writing love stories 'bout you Meeting my dear ballerina Trying so hard to catch you
When it's clearly a stupid lie A bad fiction for juveniles inner spaces that won't be mine throwing shadows on my blue eyes Come grow up please wake up
Che soddisfazione. Dopo la strepitosa recensione su Sentireascoltare ecco anche Enrico Veronese che recensisce il nostro disco"Febrero" sulle pagine di Blow Up, una rivista musicale che è sempre stata un punto di riferimento per tante "scoperte indipendenti". Un onore essere propro lì in mezzo ai "Joy Formidable" (che straadoro, e si sono beccati solo un sei) e il rocker italiano Umberto Palazzo.
"Quella di Mark Zonda e di KinGem Records è una piccola bella storia che dalla provincia romagnola entra in contatto con gli angoli del mondo indiepop, partecipa a compilation e cover, inizia a produrre, chiede featuring e si fa arrangiare. "Febrero" accumula le versioni più piene del pluriennale lavoro dietro Tiny Tide, perfezioista e filologico nello scegliere come tutelari Bowie e McCartney, Smiths e Cure, l'ndiepop svedese e quello giapponese mutato dai nostri anni Ottanta: c'è da dire che vestite di abiti più corposi e migliorato anche l'apporto vocale, le canzoni vengono esaltate nell'artigianato delle armonie, onesto e cristallino, capace di buttarsi a mare per il r'n'r vitaminico di Ginger Genie o riavere la rotta durante Mask Me Mask Me Mask Me. Fatti salvi pochi riempitivi, il livello è in ascesa e quasi mai banale, di questi tempi non è poco." Enrico Veronese.
This song hasn't been properly released yet (Jonny Lee Hart, playing guitar and bass on dat) and "Come Along Pond" has already been share on two podcast! Well dun Pond! :)
've always been fond on Yuka Honda, the cute clever half behind Cibo Matto. I knew that band thanks to a magazine review, back in 1995, when Internet was quite out of hands for the times. At least in Italy. But it was only in 1996 I got the chance to find the band first album in Dublin. It was gold. Since they made me noticed that Wiki wants a collection of songs to last at least 35 minutes to be called an album, I choose the chanteuse as final muse for my "impossible love songs" collection, mixing lyrics with memories of those days in Dublin. Any reference to the number stations enigma is a mere conspiracy against pop music.
THINKING 'BOUT YUKA It wasn't meant to be you It just wasn't meant to be you The bus had stop and you got on, we drove and we got lost You rose your thumb Then pinky came and it was clear You wanted me to come I guess there's something more And now she's asking me why I'm so late and didn't call
I was thinking 'bout Yuka (You can never really tell what happens after that) I was thinking 'bout Yuka (You can trust your feelings, nothing matters in your head) I was thinkig 'bout Yuka (You call for another drink, she's blending with your hand) Thinking 'bout Yuka Thinking 'bout Yuka Thinking 'bout Yuka Thinking 'bout
Double Virgin' Megashorewas meant to be the stage Acting other lovers lines from long forgotten days "don't know what I'm doin sweetheart, but I'll never stop" Music be the food of love... play on
You were talking 'bout Mika (Can't you really tell that now it's happening the same) You were talking 'bout Mika (c'mon close the door, forget about your past) You were talking 'bout Mika (caravan get goin', no need to be left)
Hand some na kanajo shojo marmalade joy ribbon merging out paths shame blame ash in your tray test rest so young at heart love fast you're mine at last gone"
Here's the new "Impossible Love Song", as my dear friend Rima from Annemarie use to call'em. It's called "Hatherley", and I partially felt the urge to write and play it because of some mixed feeling crossin' my mind these days. Clearly dealing with a pretty girl, looking really a lot like her in one of her pics. And because - yesss - "Charlotte Hatherley" it's so much more than a pretty face and seeing my musical hero playing in Glasgow a year ago was really something to be. And didn't all the unrequited love stories start in that city? Enough. Guess this one will take the place of "Febraury" in the next album. Meanwhile I'm leaving you with the lyrics awaiting for some feedback. Buona settimana!
Hatherley Written by Mark Zonda Double-Checked by A Nice Person
"Glasgow the first time that we met Blue eyes I surely won't forget You popped in staring at the crowd And Oh, My, there was no doubt...
You You You I was looking at you you you I was looking at you you you I was looking at you I was paralysed You You You I was looking at you you you I was looking at you you you I was looking at you and your uniform You So far so cool You You had to knew My mind is gone Head for the Moon
I'm really through I'm really through Hatherley... Hatherley...
When did we start to talk and comment every clips and the cryptic note places we both craved to go spending our time to check updates in any post like counting ghosts being there at any cost
I was afraid to violate your perfect smile, your state of grace
A year has gone and I forgot how does it feels to get in touch And since La Sera evening show All I was looking for
't was you you you I was looking at you you you I was looking at you just close your eyes You So far so Cool you you you I was looking through you you you I was looking at you, and my stupid look You You had to knew My mind is gone Head for the Moon I'm really through So clear to see Come dance with me Come dance with me
"Zonda è un entusiasta, innamorato della musica indipendente e di tutte le sue premesse, che si 81 chiamino David Bowie o Left Banke, Primal Scream o Ash, Beatles o Elliott Smith. Malgrado uno sforzo maggiore in fase di produzione tanto che si è spinto a coinvolgere band come gli svedesi Stars in Coma, i britannici Brigadier e lo statunitense Anthony Rochester - la dimensione lo-fi è il timbro predominante, come una patina sulla pelle del suono e una cartilagine che frastorna le strutture."
