MSK

photo by Rus Anson - www.rusanson.com 

Antonio Musco ( aka MSK ) is an eclectic italian artist. Born in Sicily, Italy and he traveled across the Europe before moving to San Francisco in 2010.

San Francisco inspired the 6 tracks of the EP ( MadeinSF ), a blend of electronic , downtempo, funk and  world music.

-So, let's start with name , MSK. Why did you choose this and what does it mean for you?

My last name is Musco, so when I started to produce electronic music back in 2003 i needed a name. Just took the consonants of my last name, changed the C with a K (sounds more exotic, isn't it?) also because a famous cruise ship company. Then i figured that MSK is already used worldwide by graffiti crews, soccer teams, frequency shifting, Moscow time, etc so i wanted to stick with MSK but I added .fm to make it unique. Also because of my love for the radio. That's MSK.fm

- But who are you?

Antonino Musco, a simple human being that loves music and seeks harmony in this existence. I was born and raised in Sicily, Italy but traveled a lot and lived in different countries, trying to learn as much as I can and to keep my mind deep and interested.

-And if i ask you why do you make music and what does it mean to you?

Music is something that i need, at least I need to be around music every day. Music feeds me, its food for my soul. Making or listening to music is a serious thing, you can compare to a nine-to-five job but with longer, sometimes endless, shifts.

bandcamp page

-Let's talk about the birth of your new EP “Made in SF”.

I was on production hiatus for 5 years, since I published "MSK - Am I Scared?" and "Sicilian AV project - live bootleg" in August 2008. Since then I traveled a lot and lived in different places until finally settling in the Mission District in San Francisco, a place I can call home now.

Here I've set up my music studio and recorded with local artists and great musicians just visiting in town. I've learned a lot and gained much more experience in the past 5 years so these songs are, for me, a more mature approach to songwriting and production. The EP was published by Bad Panda Records in April and so far got a great feedback from the listeners. It represents my experience in the City, even the lyrics, wrote by the singers, are tuned into that.

- How would you define your sound?

I love jazz, funk, afro-american music in general and also love experimental stuffs, electronic and world music. I feel the downtempo is the best pace for this project, with a blend of acoustic and electric instruments. Also during these years I've opened and really got into hip-hop and urban sounds a lot, influence that you can find in MadeInSF mood.

-What genres and artists influenced your music the most?

My biggest influences were, are and always be Ennio Morricone, Nino Rota, Charles Mingus and Frank Zappa.

-You come from Catania, Italy. What do you think about the music coming from your country and how do you see yourself in relation to them?

You know what, according to the music that I love and make, there is not a big scene in Italy and neither in Sicily. Catania in the nineties was great for the alternative rock scene, here in San Fran I always met some musician who tells me that he was playing in Catania during those years and was a blast. Nowadays it's different and it's also hard for me to find a gig over there. So i do my things here in SF and go to Sicily in the summer for vacations.

- Why did you choose San Francisco?

Was love at first sight. At that time I was living in Rome, came here visiting and decided to stay. This City meant a lot for me, was a big challenge to re-start from scratch in another continent but I dealt with it pretty good and after 3 years i'm still happy of my choice. I've grown professionally a lot here. 

San Fran is very progressive city, maybe the most progressive in the US, and California is just lovely, whose landscapes remind me Sicily and Italy.

Also living in here helps my radio and music job a lot, being surrounded by great musicians and artists and sharing knowledge and feeling with them easily.

-Who do you think are the most relevant musicians nowadays and who are you listening to the most?

Too many to mention! Nowadays, I'm talking about the independent scene, the average quality level is higher comparing the past. I host two weekly radio shows so I'm listening a lot of new stuff every day but never get bored.

-Do you have a favorite artist and song?

Maybe Fabrizio De André - La domenica dell salme. I grew up listening De André, I've listened his records million times but still find new meanings in his lyrics. Definitely another cornerstone of my musical education.

facebook fanpage and official website

-How much does the live element matter in your music?

It's very important because I grew up listening to jazz and improv music. I always bring musicians, singers, MCs and other performers to my shows. A visual elements is also included: can be a live painter, a live sculptor, a mime, belly dancers, a VJ or an illustrator. I firmly believe in mixed arts and always being a promoter of multimedia performances.

-If you could pick an artist or a band to play with on a stage, who would you choose?

Rage Against The Machine, period. Do you remember them? I've seen them live in Milan in 1996 and so far is the best live concert I've ever attended, these guys were on fire and the crowd too, unforgettable show!

-What do you think about the music industry nowadays? Wanna talk us about your experience with the labels? What advice would you give to all the young artists looking for a record deal?

I currently collaborate with Six Degrees records, pretty well respected world music label worldwide. It's been almost a year now and thanks to them I'm getting to see the insights of the music industry. Also working with radio helps a lot to get a sight of the industry; but honestly, what can I tell to young artists looking for a deal: don't get demotivated if the record label you sent your demo never write you back, keep pushing your band/act with music production and live shows. There is way much (never too much) music out there and for a record label is hard (impossible) to listen to all the unsolicited demos they got in the mail. Even the smallest record label gets tons of unsolicited demos in the mail, how can you blame them for not replying you? 

So just do your thing and keep getting better and better, in the studio and especially live.

- Talking about Sicilian AV Project

Sicilian AV project is an audiovisual antimafia collective started in 2005, a "serious" approach to music at least for the topics exposed. It's something started as a research/study on sicilian literature during my university years that ended up in a multimedia show describing Sicily as a metaphor - an analogy - of the entire country or maybe the entire world.

Jazz, downtempo and electronic live music played by a quintet accompanied by live illustrations thematic visuals. We recorded a self-titled debut album in 2007 and a "live bootleg" the following year, we did a number of shows in Italy (also playing at the prestigious Villa Celimontana Jazz Festival in Rome) and Slovakia but since I moved to San Francisco the project is on hold. This coming summer we are recording some new stuff with the collective to release by next fall/winter. 

-And at last an easy one: Beatles or Rolling Stones?

Beatles please!

The Lad and The Others

The Lad and The Others Facebook Fanpage

-Hi The Lad and The Others! Let's start with the name of the band, why did you choose this?

Hi, I'm Alex from The Lad and The Others, I'm glad to talk with you about the band. We choose this name because it's cool and sounds good, we love it.

-Why do you make music and what does it mean for you?

I personally make music since I was 16. I don't know exactly what is the process that brings me to write a song, all I know is that's important for me, is life that become music as for everyone in this band. We also do it for the money, we want to be rich! (laugh)

- Talking about your new album "Lightout Tales".

This is our first work together, we're totally proud! Lighthouse Tales is for us the boat that leaves the port and sail away to nowhere. It means so much for us just because we started something, a new beginning, direction unknown. It smells of dreams and that's so important for us.

-Talking about the compositions of your songs: how and where they born? Do you have a favourite?

I write songs in every place. When I was young I used to write songs in the bathroom because of my family, I don't know, maybe I was just young and insecure. Now during a road trip, I love road trips. Together we work in studio, our second home, we spend many time there, is the coolest place in the world because we are such a family.

- How would you define your sound?

As Marco says every time: "Woody, sweet, biting, floating". We all agree with him.

-What genres and artists influenced your music the most?

No artists, no genres in particular. Everyone in this band got his personal music background made of genres and artists completely different from the other one, what you listen is what we are together. Luca and Marco loves metal or similar, Simone mexican folk music. I've got no ears.

-You come from Rome (Italy). What do you think about the music coming from your country and how how do you see yourself in relation to them?

Good bands, bad bands.. We don't wanna talk about other bands, it's your job! (laugh) We just can talk about us, listen to The Lad and The Others, they surely are a good band at all.

-What's your favourite artist and song?

That's so personal.. "I'm only sleeping" is my favorite song of all the time.

-Who do you think are the most relevant musicians nowadays and who are you listening to the most?

In a "Pop" world, it's hard to say who's the best, "who got the most expensive distribution and the cheapest production?" it's the right question. Anyway, Frank Turner is the artists I'm listening in these days, I really like him and his music but of course Noel Gallagher is the most relevant musician at the moment.

-How much does the live element matter in your music?

The live show is the most important thing for us. We meet the crowd and little or big it remains the boss. Every show is a great moment for us. 

-If you could pick an artist or a band to play with on a stage, who would you choose?

Nobody, we're in love with our sound! (laugh) If we have to choose, surely Sid Vicious because he doesn't really play the bass and it means no variations!

-What do you think about the music industry nowadays?

Less artists, less quality, less investments, less products; what do you think about the music industry nowadays?

-What is the message that you'd like to express to the people who listen to your music?

We haven't a message, we aren't Messiahs! (laugh) We talk about what we live, what we need. The way we are is concrete, true; this is what you can find listening to our music our having a beer with us. We haven't a message but we'd like people find out the way we are.

-What is your favourite book and movie?

Marco's favourite book is "High Fidelity" by Nick Hornby, we talked about that book days ago. I'm blind, I can't read but my favorite movie of all the time is The Snatch by Guy Ritchie, it inspired long part of my life.

-How and where do you see yourself in ten years from now?

Rich and famous, surely on Sunset Boulevard, obvy! No mustaches, We promise.

-Beatles or Rolling Stones?

Beatles.

OTTONE SCAMMACCA

-Who are you?
I’m a human being (ahah sounds like out from a dramatic movie)…formally I’m targed as “Ottone Scammacca, a 21 years old Italian guy from Rome” ..but yes, I’m a human being with big passion for music…


-Why do you make Music and what does it mean for you?
I make music for my own, and that’s what it means… It makes me feel good, feel relaxing, and if people like it that means they feel the same too and I can just appreciate it! I think that behind every well elaborated track and every work made with passion there is part of me because it came from heart and all feelings, emotions, life memories or everything else, involuntarily influence my music…as every artist I think



-You have been chosen as  the winner of the contest by Tristan Prettyman, do you wanna talk us about this experience?
It was a great experience that I will never forget this was the first time that I joined a contest and to my surprise I won for my remix for an American artist with a crazy voice! As I wrote my intent was to give more importance to singer's voice and emphasize the melodies of the organ and guitar accompanying them with a very addictive rhythm of drums and continuous and at the same time broken by a strong bassline. Anyway i am really proud to my name, even if in a small way, as producer of a track in releasing on Capitol Records, the label that has produced so many artists that I admire and that the only name gives me the creeps (nothing is signed then it says little for good luck haha).

-What do you think of the italian musical situation?
Many many artists worthy of the name, a few that are worth much less than those under contract ... It 's full of people that has no passion, coping styles and songs just to make money and so behave many record companies who prefer a safe gain to quality music ... We are rich of talented artists, you just have to find them! But and in my humble opinion maybe it's better than some of the music remains a niche! Too much money could ruin it...

-What tools do you use to compose your music?
Then the operations center is the PC via programs quite affordable, two of production and one of mastering. To this i connect a keyboard controller and a sound card to whom i connect the microphone (for recording acoustic instruments, sounds, noises etc..) guitar or synthesizer.

-When we will listen to your debut EP/Album?
My first EP, "Personal EP", was released on Trynacria Records, a label owned by the group Berlin Big Jam Promotions thanks to Salvatore Battiato who I send a hug to, (including "Freaky Juice "is over on some compilation of Ibiza and Latin America) ... then again in 2009 I had the great honour of seeing" Samarcanda "published on Gardenia Records of Smilax Publishing for which I must thank Dario Piana and Riccardo Sada . In the future we hope the best ahaha!

Plastic String 

-Tell us about the "Plastic String" project.
Then Plastic String is a project created by me and my "partner" Benedetto Fiorentini. We want to create an online magazine of experimental electronic music and not only offering interviews, reviews and columns, at the international level, in the footsteps of a few other online magazines, blogs, etc. I know Soundwall (regarding club, electronic techno etc,) CheapSound (which focuses particularly on the Roman scene niche), your Indie's Way Magazine etc... I take this opportunity to thank our staff as Vittoria, Massimiliano, Giuseppe, Pietro e Andrea.


-Where and when did you start learn to play ?
I started my neverstarted carreer..mmm…like 5 years ago, I think…I never learned to play ahahah..I ‘ve just brought out my ideas! And computer music helps a lot in that kind of stuff…obviously now I’m trying to combine analogic to digital, but I started with computer music and controllers.

-What's your favourite artist and song?
Mmmm very hard to answer…Depends on periods, I have many favourite songs and many favourite artists…for example right now I’m listening a lot of Dandy Wharols and Kiss (their moves are sooo cool!)!

-What genres and artists did influence your music?
I listen to a very wide set of music genres and styles; downtempo, electronic, trip hop, new wave, techno, 60’s, 70’s and 80’s music, rock, house, rap, chill, brit pop, nu-disco…from Tangerine Dream, Genesis to Kraftwerck, Seven Lions, Chris Liebing, Gotye, Carl Craig, Inner City, Florence and The Machine, Deep Purple, Jefferson Airplane, Kollektive Turmstrasse, Biggie, Brandt Brauer Frick and Rocketnumbernine…you know it could be a very big list! Ahahah..I like everything I think is made with passion, everything I think a kind of experimental work and that may give me some ideas and inputs!



-How much the live element matters in your Music?
I think live element is the key for the perfect production… I think music is the instinctive expression of what we have inside, you know, feelings, emotions etc. So, live music, spontaneity, is the only way to perfectly and deeply bring out what you really want to express with a track!

-What do you think about Music industry nowdays?
Mmmm thaat’s a long long matter so I will answer as shortly as possible: music is becoming a prostitute, most of people in music business prefers a certain profit to music quality and this fills international musical overview with bullshits, tasteless and passionless productions…I honestly would like to talk about a ..musical decline, even if, obviously and fortunately there are many “exceptions to the rule”!

-What is the message that you'd like to express at the people Who listen to your Music?
I may would like to say too many things with my music ‘cause maybe I feel and think too many things in my head…so all I can say that now comes to my mind is just, enjoy your life with awareness, do everything makes you happy and follow your passion.

-Who do you think are the most relevant musicians nowadays?
All people that produce music with passion and fill it with real feelings…even if nobody knows you (as me), just go on, continue what you do and never stop it, because the important is that this makes you feeling good. 

-How would you define your sound?
Experimental, contorted, complicated, insane and mine.


-What is your favourite book and movie?
I like adventure, action and catastrophic novels (Clive Cussler, Dan Brown etc)…In my best movies top ten we find: “Intouchables”, “Man on Fire” “Avatar”.. but, in general, I love Denzel Washington, Jim Carrey, Eddy Murphy, Nicolas Cage and Will Smith movies.


-How and where do you see yourself in ten years from now?
Ahaha I really don’t know…and to be sincere that scaries me a lot! I can only hope for the best!



-Beatles or Rolling Stones?
Beatles Stones