COVERSTORY: TIZIANO FERRO – Italian charming! Interview: Andrea Beckert, photos: Nicolas Guérin, copyright: EMI Music Italy Srl Tiziano Ferros new album “Alla Mia Età“ was a welcome opportunity for us to talk to this charismatic single about his work, good ideas, travelling, food, future and much more, and we had a lot of to laugh during this phoner. Hello, Tiziano, how are you? I am fine, thank you. Where are you at this moment? I am in London, it is raining and it’s quite cold, but sometimes I enjoy this weather, well, if it isn’t raining all the time. I mean, in general I like the different colours of the weather. Let’s talk about your new album “Alla Mia Età“. This album is full of very emotional songs. Where are the most autobiographical details on this album? Special in the song “Alla Mia Età” (= in my age), which kissed the album. I think it is a dangers moment where I live and reflection is quite important for me. Special young people should understand where they are going. In my opinion, it is more an important message, because sometimes we live in a hurry world, we are going too fast, we don’t really care about ourselves. Maybe the rest of the album “Alla Mia Età” is more about yourself, about the world, about your energy. It is about loving yourself and about the refection not to forget about that. There is always a stage in human life between girls and boys and there life. They forget that you have to love yourself first, otherwise you can not project love outside of you. That’s right. In the video such as on the backside of your cover there is a picture of very young Tiziano Ferro. How old are you on this picture? (laugh) I am not sure, my mum sad that I am three, but I think I am four, but I am not older than four. My mother showed me this picture and when I saw it, I sad: “Oh my god, this is me?” Now, I am 29 years old, it was like relieving, like recognising, that I still losing my face and I have changed. I think it is necessary to change. I don’t belief that people don’t change, they don’t want to change, but we have to change. It is important for human being; it is the value of crown up. That is the reason why I would like to use this picture. It is nice to see, where I am now. It is quite sweet, I think. (laugh) Absolutely it is. What was the greatest challenge you faced into during publishing your new album? Actually, I don’t see it as a great challenge. I don’t understand why people ask after challenge. Pressure comes only from the last successful album and I used to take care of it not to get out of control. I think the most important thing is that I enjoy really doing music and this album is the result. I had too much fun, so it wasn't a challenge for me. I tried a new sound, I bought a new machine and I sang. It is the best thing in my age and I really enjoy it. You know, I really, really enjoy standing in the studio, that’s the reason why I am there. I am relaxed in the studio, now I like to go out of the studio and to go on tour. I still enjoy it for a couple of years. I am not sure, but I never saw this album as a challenge, I really wanted to publish it. Lot of people around the world tells you that you have a radio hit, this becomes a little bit stressful, but that is the job. How long did you worked on it? I truly don’t know it, because I still have to publish new songs. The video was an adventure. I really take care about to keep the positive part of my own. I went into the studio with few new songs. I could choose with my arranger and change some parts, too. There was no one moment that I sad: “Now I start recording a new album.” The recording took a couple of months. I mean, the conception is always going on, you know, now I am thinking about the tour. I like it, I want to do it. I have a small studio, well, it is more a corner, but I like it. That’s definitely what I enjoy most. Let’s continue with good ideas, for example the bonus track “Breathe Gentle”. I think singing in English is a very good idea, do you agree? ;-) Well, I think, I do. I don’t like it, when people really hurry into a special emotionally relationship. Breathe gentle is the only way you can really enjoy small things, special if you love to run a lot very fast. That doesn’t work in a relationship. I believe that’s a good massage, you better start slowly and it seems like that it is nothing special, but the result is better. Are you looking forward to repeat singing in English? I wasn’t singing in English until yet. I grow up with English and American music. I like it, but I get confused sometimes, when the American company thinks that I will break the English market, but I don’t want to do this. In fact, I am very lucky, I will keep my luck until to the end of my life. That is why I don’t want to push too much in the English, because otherwise I don’t want that the company to think, that I will go there. (laugh) I would like to work on relation with them, but that’s different. So yes, I will do it as long as I enjoy it, but my languages are Italian and Spanish. English is only the basic, but I really enjoy it, and I have a lot of fans in South America. What was your best idea you ever had? (laugh) Maybe moving to Mexico, I lived there for three years and I studied languages. I am thinking in Spanish, I enjoy it. (laugh) Now, I am living for three years in UK. In the end it was the best thing in my life, it gave me a lot of inspiration, it really opened my mind, I met interesting people and I got back in contact with normal life, for example I had to clean up my apartment by my own, I had to go to the supermarket, I got back in reality. During your concerts you support AVIS (an Italian blood donor organisation) and appeal for giving blood. Why is this so important for you? Yes, that’s right. I think I really have to do something. I can not give blood, because there are some rules. I travel a lot outside of Europe, I go a lot to tropical countries, like Mexico and South America. They told me, that I can not give blood, if I travel there for a couple of months. But I have to do something form my side, so I support AVIS. I think it is important to talk about it. They told me, that young people would like to do something for there own people, but they don’t have any information how to help. That is the only point. I imagine it is so easy to take about it. I will support AVIS during the next tour as well. I am wondering, if you are able to separate business and private life? Yes, I do. I have a good control over my own life and a strong value to my family. It is a part of my life and it is the way how I am touched by my job. I found a lot of pictures at your photo gallery where you are smiling. How often are you smiling during a day? (laugh) Always, always! (laugh) You know, it is a part of my job to see me right, that is a big part of my boss. I am quite positive and I always like smiling in my life. What does routine means to you? Well, I am afraid of routine. For example my music is the result of quite lot luck of ideas and I like changing. Routine is something that really can depress me. What are you doing first, when you arrive – for example after travelling – at home? You know, I am a single guy, so I take care about myself. The first thing is to separate clothes after colours. (laugh) And then I go to the supermarket, because my refrigerator is always empty. I look some movies and I stay at home during the first night. I always come home with a lot of emotions and usually I spend a whole day in bad, it is important to slow down, I really like slowing down sometimes. I go to the pub with my Italian t-shirt and I am the only Italian in the pub. (laugh) I like it. Italy is very well knows for there delicious cuisine. Are you famous for your cooking, do you like it? (laugh) No, I am not. I don’t like the process of cooking, which is too long. The mean time I eat all the ingredients and that’s the only problem I have. I love food, I am the perfect guest, invite me. I don’t enjoy cooking, it makes me nervous. Believe me or not, but cooking is definite one hundred percent fun! I know, people say that, they would like to teach me all over the world. At the last two pages of your booklet, you are writing “This record is a promise.” What do you promise us? I am always honest with myself, this is so important, that is what I promise to myself. I can not promise not to change, because I would be lying. I think people have to chance. I always know where my basics, my family and my friends are. The honest about my music is very important to me. I enjoy music and this was always that what I wanted to do. It is a responsibility, at the end it is the right thing and I am happy, no other reason or stuff like this, that’s the kind of promise to me, where I am now. What can you tell me about the “Alla Mia Età Europe-Tour”? At the moment we are only planning an Italia-Tour and we have one extra gig in Zurich, too. We were not asked for a European tour until now, because the album was released in March, and in Italy the album was published in November 2008. I was surprised, that my last single was number one in Austria such as “Una Storia Importante” from Eros. I am faithful of your country, I have lot of beautiful memories, and I hope that I will come again, I am sure I will. That sounds good to us! Finally, if you where a journalist, what would you like to ask Tiziano Ferro? (laugh) Well, this is defiantly not my job. (laugh) I would be interested in what he learned about travelling around the world. I met and talked to so many interesting people in several countries. I would like to write a book about my travelling experiences. – I am thinking about what I learned about travelling. I think we can hold a whole interview about this. (laugh) Yes, maybe we can continue when you are coming to Vienna. ;-) We are looking forward to see and hear you as soon as possible! Thanks a lot for this detailed conversation! Enjoy your life! Thank you! Top