Interview: Roberto Pianca
Born 1984, Swiss guitarist/composer Roberto Pianca studied music at the Amsterdam Conservatory (NL). He has played and worked with a variety of notable artists including Joey Baron, Russ Lossing, John O’Gallagher, Thomas Morgan, Dado Moroni, Pietro Tonolo and Savina Yannatou among many others. In 2008 he founded avantgarde trio Third Reel, the band joined prestigious and legendary German lable ECM Records. He appears on several albums as a sideman and has released two as a leader (Sub Rosa – WideEar Records 2017 and Mono No Aware - Honolulu Records 2021).
Pianca’s latest release “Water” is a collaboration with American multi-instrumentalist Pearson Constantino. Everything that happens in the liquid fabric of the world, whether in the shifting sparkle of a great ocean, the temperature variations inside a mother's belly or in the intricate meanders of a leaf; it is what can be perceived in Water.
The extended and evocative sounds, sometimes of wonder and beauty, other times of depth and darkness, remind us that there are no defined sizes of space. Each one contains a smaller space which in turn is huge and can encompass another galaxy.
The musical evolutions of Water's tracks are subtle, perceptible especially with careful listening, but meticulously curated by climaxes where the music only suggests sensations.
In a world overburdened with meanings and words, Water dilutes.
We had the pleasure of checking in with Roberto recently and he was kind enough to respond to a few interview questions:
Hi Roberto! Thank you for taking this interview with us! We just listened to your latest release 'Water' and it's awesome. What can you tell us about your creative process this time around and what's the backstory?
Of course, thank you! “Water” is a collective effort (named Needle) with American multi-instrumentalist Pearson Constantino. We started working together a long while ago, 10 years or more I believe. We recorded a bunch of ideas and improvisations back in 2015, in a barn in Vermont (USA), then mixed in the same place about a year later, it took a while for this recording to come out but it finally did and we are very happy about it. Its out digital and on vinyl.
Who or what motivates you to keep going?
Although I find it quite hard to find constant motivation in the world we live in, music in itself keeps me going, the beauty of things and the people that are able to share.
Do you write only when you feel creative or do you keep a routine regardless?
I tend to write whenever I feel the need to do it, regardless, my problem is that I’m very slow at writing my own music, it usually takes me a lot of time if I don’t literally force myself to finish something. Having a recording date (or deadline) usually helps.
Who are some of your notable musical influences? And what you do think about the current state of the music industry?
I’m influenced by all music I check out, I always think we all are a combination of all the things we check out during our musical experience, I feel influenced by Charlie Christian and Bud Powell as much as I am by Pat Metheny or Morton Feldman. And obviously many many others. As for the second part of the question, hard for me to say, but I find this idea music should be cheap or free extremely lame and dangerous.
What is something your fans don't know about you? Not necessarily your dirty little secrets, it could also just be something about what you like to do outside of music or things in general.
Well I love cooking, and fishing too.
Any live or virtual performances in your future plans?
I have some gigs (both live and virtual) being confirmed early this spring/summer and fall, so I’m getting ready to see them disappear.
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