Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Angelo Iannelli
Biography of Angelo Iannelli: https://www.angeloiannelli.it/
2 songs (“DAG” and “Come a Hollywood”)
The first song, “DAG”, is the second single from Vicini Margini, an album by Italian singer-songwriter Angelo Iannelli. This evocative and nostalgic track captures the emotions of a life being lived.
The song portrays the narrator’s search for self, depicting a sense of loneliness in which the absence of warmth is symbolized by a burning cigarette—the only “lit thing” nearby.
“DAG” is an emotional journey that invites listeners to reflect on their own experiences and to find a sense of connection in an often desolate world.
The accompanying video, directed and edited by Iannelli himself, was filmed at night in a desolate Rome.
MUSIC VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKuLfzPmj8k&list=RDtKuLfzPmj8k
WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT HIS ALBUM “VICINI MARGINI”
“Soft, melancholic even within more present dynamics, ancient but not old.” RaroPiù
“An album to be read, an album that seeks to lead me to those “margins” that define the space between our comfort zone and the rest of the world. And Iannelli’s voice often strives to liberate this state of quiet, seeking not only calm reason but also the impetuous timing of an instinct.” Bravo On Line
“You can sense the familiarity of a singer-songwriter who knows how to capture the signs behind which emotions and feelings lie. It’s no coincidence, after all, that he’s also a writer who has honed the sensitivity of someone who captures and conveys his “feelings” to those who listen or read.” Musica Mag
“Angelo Iannelli is always two steps away from the border, as a challenge but also as a need to see everything. “Vicini margini” seems powerful in its simplicity. It’s certainly not a record to let time slip away» Mondo Spettacolo
The second song, the single “Come a Hollywood,” moves between singer-songwriter music, indie, and It-pop, with a sound reminiscent of the 1980s. It explores the lack of communication that can sometimes arise within a relationship. Written in a single night, the lyrics—true to Iannelli’s signature style—blend melancholic, reflective, and intimate tones with irony and sarcasm, occasionally giving way to unsettling and self-destructive imagery. The song also reflects on artistic and creative activity.
Its airy, catchy chorus makes a clear reference to cinema, the singer-songwriter’s great passion, while the verses gently shift between bitterness and humor, references to contemporary life and current events, and literary and theatrical allusions. These culminate in a closing that suggests everything can ultimately be traced back to a vast Theater of Cruelty.
MUSIC VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuuUHie8ndE
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
Definitely my mother singing at home. Then, as a child walking along Via del Corso in Rome, I accidentally bought a record: Theorius Campus by De Gregori and Venditti together. I listened to “Signora Aquilone” and “Sora Rosa.” It all started with those two songs.
How did your passion for creating music begin?
I started by playing with words, then intertwining them with sounds. I was searching for a kind of compact unity between sound and language—a complete sound–word package.
What’s the story behind your current music project?
I’m rediscovering two of my best-known songs, “Come a Hollywood” and “DAG.”
I wrote “Come a Hollywood” in a single night. A melody had been buzzing around in my head for years, and then the words suddenly poured out, in a cascade of melancholy.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
I’ve been looking for the right definition for a long time, but not finding one actually makes me feel freer. It’s simply Iannelli’s music—nothing more, nothing less.
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
Great question. I’ve learned that you have to be yourself to the fullest extent—in your voice, your lyrics, your melodies, your harmonies, and your arrangements. Completely yourself. Twenty years ago, that might have sounded trivial; today, it’s probably the most meaningful thing I can say.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
I couldn’t live without the piano and the guitar. I’m old-fashioned.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
I can’t get enough of music from 1970 to 1975—an incredible period. Cat Stevens, Jim Croce, Labi Siffre, and American rock, folk, and country. But I really love almost all kinds of music; even contemporary music can still offer something interesting.
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
I’ve tried to live radically different lives, each with multiple phases, always driven by a desire to explore new and unexplored worlds. I believe that this curiosity allows my themes to remain very diverse.
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
People often tell me that my music makes them want to look at life more deeply, in a society that tends to love only the superficial—or even the superfluous. Perhaps my greatest gift is the ability to dig deeply into every aspect of life. But when you dig deep, you also have to know how to climb back up.
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
Not only music, but also literature, cinema, and theatre—my other artistic pursuits—have taught me that without dedication, things like talent, technique, sensitivity, imagination, and inner depth matter very little.
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
I’ve already seen many of my dreams come true, but I want to keep sharing something meaningful, regardless of the place. “Conserva i sogni” (“Keep your dreams”) is the title of one of my songs—so that says it all.
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
Above all, Edoardo Bennato and Francesco De Gregori. But first, I need to finish my new novel.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)
Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/intl-it/artist/63zU0K5ZugOWkmwA62vPcj?si=rL1vfeDvTC-_14tUssLIiA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angeloiannelliofficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angeloiannelliofficial/
YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9R24w11KvhR6o_PbMYPfwHKhASx_o2lG&si=20oUeRURycBhF3-r
Official site: https://www.angeloiannelli.it/
Wikpedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angelo_Iannelli_(singer-songwriter)
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
My dream is simply to guard and preserve my secret dreams.
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
I hope listeners sense that each of my characters holds a fragment of me—memories from the past, reflections of the present, and pieces of myself still unfolding.
If you want here you can add a representative Youtube video to insert below the interview 🙂
LINK:
DAG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKuLfzPmj8k&list=RDtKuLfzPmj8k
Come a Hollywood: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuuUHie8ndE
