Interview with Max Marino & Sofia
How is it that you started playing music? When Max was 12 years old start to play drum; at 16 years old learn to play acoustic guitar and at 17 years old he love electric guitar, and no never separated. The electric guitar is source of inspiration in almost all pieces of Max.
What are your names? / Who plays what? / How old are you?
Our names are Max and Sofia / Max writing, composing and arrange all his pieces / He play electric and acoustic guitar but for writing music use other musical instruments (keyboard, violas, violins, cellos, drum). Sofia and Max singing together / Music has no age.
Have you had other previous members? “Max Marino & Sofia” is a duo. There have never been other members.
Did you make music even when you were young? When Max was 17 years old compose in all parts his first song. This song has never been published but is one of next projects
Where are you from? We are both Sardinians but we live in Trieste.
What year did the band form? The “Max Marino & Sofia” duo officially born in December 2015.
What's your style of genre? Max Marino & Sofia’s style has been named by specialists "pop-rock-metal-melosymphonic”. It is a new genre of music. More musical genres are harmoniously amalgamated in a distinguished, originally and unique melodies.
What inspires you? Max inspires by disparate situations: “love for my wife Sofia, myself experience or people experience, winter sunset colors or summer, a movie or a lovely book. And much more......”
How often and where do you rehearse? Max play guitar every day. Max and Sofia singing together one or two time to week.
Do you have other interests of work outside the band? We loving everything is it art. Sofia loves theater, cinema, entertainment TV and the advertising world. Max love create videoclips.
Are you looking for a booking agency, and what are your thoughts around that? We have no thoughts about. Sofia and I will evaluate if necessary.
Are you looking for a label, and what are your thoughts around that? "2 come noi" album is self-produced. Sofia is duo's manager. She is responsible for public relations, about performances dates. However we can listen for new business relationship. If they arrive we’ll evaluate at the moment.
What made you decide to make this music? This music has always been in to my DNA. Sofia help me to acquire awareness and working hard for propose my music in public. I will never get tired of thanking her!
What are your songs about? My songs talking about various themes that inspired me: love, promises, moods, defeats, desires. The common thread is almost always the symphonic arrangement and the palpable energy contained within.
Who does the composing and writes the lyrics? Max writes, arranges and music all his pieces. Sofia wroted and singing a rap part of a song entitled “Ingabbiato”.
Do you start with the music or the lyrics? A song can born suddenly when I play a musical instrument or I'm walking in the city. Sometimes the words arrive first, sometimes the melody immediately takes over on my mind. In some cases music, words and arrangements arrive simultaneously. There are no rules on this. Music is freedom of expression.
Do you compose in a certain enviroment? Absolutely. The environment must be clean, tidy, bare, minimalist. So I let’s go myself, freeing my emotions and giving vent to my art.
Have you done any covers live? We love singing the songs of the album “2 come noi”
What language do you sing in? Max writes in italian and english lyrics but we sing only italian songs.
What are the least and most people to attend one of your gigs? Public usually is numerous and warm.
What ages are most of your concert attendants? Professionalism is important to us. Age is a purely personal factor.
Do you always play the same songs live, or do you vary? Depends by context. We usually decide our performance starting from public, location or event.
Do you have a regular place you play live often? Sofia and I love performing in theaters.
What was your first gig like? The duo “Max Marino & Sofia” performed for the first time in a theater in Trieste. A unique and unrepeatable emotion for applause and immense human and professional satisfaction.
What was your latest gig? Not long time ago. Currently we are engaged for realization of an upcoming musical project. We are receiving numerous requests.
Have you had to cancel a gig? Fortunately it never happened.
Where have you played live this year? On several occasions in Italy locations.
Where do you plan to gig the comming year? We are organizing the calendar. We would pleasure to receive a proposal from Sweden, a country we love.
When did you start to sell merchandise, and what do you have for sale? The album "2 come noi" was released on December 21st 2016 and is downloadable in low cost from all Digital Stores, listen for free on Spotify or buy the physical disk at link in homepage of our website ilmassimodellamusica.com. Also just sending to us a message on Facebook @maxmarinoandsofia.official. We recommend to purchase the physical CD because, at low cost, you can get a CD with the booklet inside with lyrics songs and unpublished photos.
What do you think about people downloading music instead of buying records now a days? We are not digital world against, but download illegally music is not good. Behind the creation of a music album there is an immense work end also is many expansive. The physical CD is very important. Represents material realization of the work of each singer/musician
How do you think the music industry have changed because of this? Digitization allows to all artists to share online their creations, propose themselves and making known.
What do you think of my work? Your work is interesting. For us artists is a valid opportunity to make ourselves known.
How do you think and know that this interview will help you in the music business? Your questions are interesting. Your public will read and know that there is Max Marino & Sofia’s duo. We have follower by different parts of the world: U.S.A, Canada, South America, France, Italy, Japan and South Africa. We would like to make ourselves known in Sweden and in the countries of Northern Europe. This places always like us for beauty and culture. Well would performing in Sweden too.
Do you have any role models or idols? Lucio Antonio Vivaldi!
Why do you think that they exist? The idols have done an unique and unrepeatable thing!
Is it easier to find inspiration from older bands, or bands that are more active today? It’s subjective.
What have been your biggest obstacles? [Max] The family when I grew up never understood my talent limiting and hampering my creative and musical skills. I had to work hard lonly.
What advice would you give other bands or artists? Must follow always own inspirations and never give up. Each of us possesses the gifts that the Lord has given him. It's a shame not to let them bloom.
Do you have any new material? We have great new pieces. We can’t wait to present in public.
Your web sites? https://www.ilmassimodellamusica.com
How can people reach you? Writing for us on Social Media
What are your plans for the future? To making known our music around the world.
Do you have something to add? Sofia have a wish: "Fenice", the last song on the "2 come noi" album, become a film soundtrack. Therefore we invite the experts to listen carefully and scrupulously to the composition.
