“That was the past... What we are today is fully represented in our debut album.”
Certainly one of the most energetic tracks in our Darkness Calling: Volume II playlist is “Modern Age 2.0” by the Italian post-punk outfit known as Underzone. This stellar song was released a little over a year ago, but it’s a new discovery for us — and a welcome one. It begins with a pulsing, ominous synth, but it shortly morphs into a fun, toe-tapping track with tight drums, melodic guitars, and a vocal performance that’s downright fun.
Yes, we used the “f” word at Darkness Calling. With that said, there’s an undeniable darkness about the whole thing, even if it is a classic sort of Hanna-Barbera/Scooby-Doo kind of darkness. Trust us when we say that this should be taken as a compliment. Underzone is haunted house music with a tinge of camp, a hint of nostalgia, and a wealth of talent.
The guys of Underzone were nice enough to take part in an e-mail chat with DarknessCalling.net, even though there’s a strong possibility that English is their second language. I hope they won’t mind that I’ve taken the liberty of tweaking their words a bit. Regardless of our probable language barrier, Underzone definitely communicated their enthusiasm for music and their desire to create the perfect post-punk sound. Read on below.
DARKNESS CALLING: Thanks for speaking with us! From what I understand, you guys are from Messina, Italy. We are based in the States, but we love your sound. Can you tell us a bit about some of your influences growing up? Was the post-punk scene fairly popular in your area, or were your tastes considered obscure in Italy?
UNDERZONE: First of all, we thank you for your appreciation, especially as an overseas listener! Really! We didn't expect that our music could spread so fast and so far. Our influences are rooted in English and American 80’s post-punk. In 1980’s Italy (and even today), there were a lot of bands inclined to post-punk — close to the dark, cold, and new-wave sounds. Some of those had international success, like Neon or our fellow citizens Victrola. However, for the most, our taste is surely obscure in this area, as we believe it is also obscure in yours… but we’d be glad to be proven wrong!
DARKNESS CALLING: Can you tell us about your members and their roles in the band?
UNDERZONE: No problem! The band is composed of three members: Stefano Restivo (voice and guitar), Tiziano Giunta (bass), and Francesco Zagami (synthesizers and drum machines). We can tell you that we have known each other for a long time, and we had common musical experiences, but that was the past. What we are today is fully represented in our debut album.
DARKNESS CALLING: That first album was released a little over a month ago. What was the process like writing and recording it? How long was Underzone in existence before the album came to fruition?
UNDERZONE: The band was born in early 2016 and was formed as a classic punk band. The choice to move to the electronic sound (including synthesizer and drum machines) came later. We needed almost two years of learning to be able to record and release the first single “Modern Age 2.0” with the music video produced by Uollax Comics in April 2019 [See below].
That period was divided between sound research, songwriting, and recording in our own studio. The mastering process was handled by the great Ottavio Leo at his own studio, and ended in early 2020.
DARKNESS CALLING: Your artwork and logos are very visually striking. Can you tell us anything about the development of your unique look and how it compliments your music?
UNDERZONE: We're happy to know you like it. We like it, too! We believe that the logo, like the rest of the artwork, instantly communicates the spirit of the band.
DARKNESS CALLING: Are there any plans for additional music or music videos in the future?
UNDERZONE: Absolutely, yes. We are working on a new music video for another song on the album, but we won't reveal which one yet. (It's a surprise!) We also have a lot of ideas to work with for the next album.
DARKNESS CALLING: We can't wait to see what the future holds for Underzone. Thanks for sharing your music and your words with us! Is there anything else you'd like to mention for our readers?
UNDERZONE: Thank you for the interview, and thanks to the readers! We invite you to listen and follow us on our social pages.
No comments:
Post a Comment