Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Dan Bernardini
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
– My earliest memory is probably being around 3 or 4 years old, and singing the prerecorded song on my dad´s little electric Casio keyboard to myself. I think it was “Ode to Joy” or another one of those orchestra classics… Whenever an adult heard me singing they made such a big deal of it being a recognizable tune, that their reaction stuck in my mind.
How did your passion for creating music begin?
– My dad and mom are opera singers, so music has always been almost too present in my life. After going to film school, I realized I liked writing… and that some of the poetry I was creating had a rhythm to it beyond just words.
What’s the story behind your current music project?
– I used to work as a language teacher, and at some point I had found the perfect spot to start a surf/language camp in Portugal. When I shared my plans with people I considered friends, so that we could build this dream together, they stole my project out from under my nose (after lying for months to my face about their actions) and created it without me. I was heartbroken, and in times of great distress, I usually turn to music to self-soothe/express myself.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
– That’s a very hard question for me… I´m a big fan of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and their music has influenced what I do. I also love Journey, so part of me hopes that when someone hears my music, it sounds like the soundtrack to a beloved movie they forgot.
It should be something that makes you feel like you´re young again. Warm summer nights of infinite possibilties… when you´re out on the prowl, looking for love and ready for anything
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
– You can´t control anyone but yourself. Nothing will ever be perfect, but you won´t be disappointed if you give your all and do your best.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
– My voice, my ears… probably a keyboard of some sort, and a mic. Those are the essential tools for me. I can play a little piano, but don´t know anything about software… so the instruments and studio stuff has to be done by trusted friends. Which sadly, is hard to come by.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
– I don´t know if he´s really considered to be an indie artist at this point in his career, but the dude from Stranger Things (Joe Keery) performs under the alias “Djo” and I like his vibe. Very talented, straightforward compositions with nuance and power in their progression.
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
– I find the creative process to be one of the most enjoyable parts of life. It is freedom, constrained only by the limits of one´s imagination!
The financial/marketing/distribution side of making art, on the other hand, is literally torture. I think I speak for all indie artists, when I say that trying to sell one´s work is miserable from start to finish.
As I previously mentioned, the personal experiences that push me into music tend to be painful events in my life like betrayal, failure, etc. It sounds strange to say it like that, but I guess it´s the things I ruminate on that end up emerging in my work, more than the happy moments… and now that I think about it, maybe it should be the other way around. Great question, you´ve revealed part of myself to me!
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
– You are seen. Your life and experience on Earth has value. We are in this together. Enjoy life as much as you can, even if the human experience is flawed. Find the beauty.
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
– The paradox that sadly, an individual´s artistic talent doesn’t matter as much as I thought, when it comes to achieving success… And there´s no accounting for taste.
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
– I would love to perform at the Superbowl halftime show. The size of the audience, the pageantry, the history, and the creative possibilities really speak to me.
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
– If it´s any artist at all, probably a film maker, because the medium uses music/writing/acting/mise-en-scene/lighting/costumes/editing/etc. to create the most complex form of entertainment known to man, at this moment in time. Kubrick or David Lynch come to mind, because their movies speak with images, as well as words… and the tapestries they weave are intense, emotional roller-coasters that help us understand our human condition more deeply. Coppola makes the list as well.
As for musicians, Freddie Mercury and David Bowie have always seemed like very sensitive, visionary artists with whom I would have loved to make music with. Their works reach beyond the limits of what sound can produce, and strive to create stories in our mind. There are so many… Serge Gainsbourg, Claude Francois… as for living musicians, I think Elton John or Paul McCartney would be sensational collaborators, with invaluable insight into the music-making process (to say nothing of their immense skill)
And of course, it would be a blast to jam with Djo and make some real bangers.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music?
-My instagram is “https://www.instagram.com/9.a.n.i.e.l”
and my Tiktok handle is “tiktok.com/@dan.bernardini”
I unfortunately don´t have a website, and Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/artist/6VpSFCINvNhcnqB60uKu7R?si=QBQpSIEwQjakBvwlQwhl2A) doesn´t host all my songs yet due to a problem with the distribution site I used… so I guess my Soundcloud page would be a good start: https://soundcloud.com/dan_bernardini
Also, check out the 1st volume of my Sci-Fi book “AS ABOVE”, currently available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DNFV2YZH with part 2 coming out soon 🙂
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
-These last few years have humbled me in many ways, so I cant say I dream of much more than being able to provide for my family… for that to happen through my music would be an incredible dream come true. Recently, I don’t have the time or money to record much of anything, as basic life in Switzerland is terribly expensive, and studio time is exorbitantly pricey.
If someone used one of my songs for a commercial or something, so I could have regular money coming in, that would allow me to finally make an album, as well as pay for groceries/insurance/rent/etc. So I guess that would be a dream come true.
And if an established artist (Come on Djo, don´t leave me hanging!) liked my stuff enough to collaborate on a project and take my credibility/audience to the next level, it would be incredible.
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
– I wrote a science-fiction novel, with the second volume coming out shortly.
I also scripted multiple TV shows that have yet to find a producer, but are extremely detailed, prepared and fleshed-out (basically ready to film, once the pre-production aspects are settled).
If you want here you can add a representative Youtube video to insert below the interview 🙂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVWctRAdfYY -> interview answers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHPhkLxD_74 -> music video “Feeling L.O.E.”
