You have participated in the Emergenza Festival Edition 2015/2016. What made you decide to take part in it?
First of all we were willing to measure ourselves with other young bands like us, and we were also looking for a way to spread our music outside our city, so we thought Emergenza could be the best way for doing this.
As you approach the world final, what is your state of mind?
Of course we are very excited for this great opportunity. We have very positive feelings about it and we are very concentrated on preparing the best show possible. Finally, we are very proud to have the possibility to play alongside famous bands such as Sum41, Limp Bizkit, Royal Republic, Wolfmother and Nada Surf.
What is your best memory from your Emergenza experience?
Winning every phase of the festival was great, but the best moment was definitely the victory of the final at Alcatraz: It was our best concert ever.
What's behind your band's name? Any specific meaning?
Earthist comes from the combination of the words "Earth" and "Artist", we chose this name because it is quite uncommon and unique and it fully represents our nature of playing with different ideas and mixing them
If you had to choose a famous song that represents your band...which one would it be?
AC/DC's "It's a long way to the top".
In our city we are known for putting so much effort and dedication in everything we do: rehearsals, concerts and so on. We really care about what we do because we love music and we know that in order to reach higher and higher levels we have to work hard.
Can you tell us a funny story or anecdote about your experience on stage? And one which happened in backstage or during the preparation of a show?
We lived a very curious and funny situation during our stay in Milan for the Emergenza finals: the first night, after all the shows, we were called on the stage with all the other bands that played that night for the nominations announcement and, when they called our name, Rolling Stones' "Sympathy for the Devil" was playing in background. After few minutes we were announced as one of the four bands nominated for the final prize.
The following night, before going back to Alcatraz for the final announcement, we were sitting in a bar. Rolling Stones were on the radio, and we heard "Sympathy for the Devil" again: the same night we were appointed as Emergenza Italia winners. Since then we like to think to that song as our lucky charm.
How would you describe your music?
We usually define our music as a mix between Britpop and Indie Rock, but when we compose we try to draw inspiration from whatever we feel good for the song. We all listen to quite different music, so, when we write, these different influences usually come out and enrich the final work, making not so easy to cluster our music in a precise genre.
Before you go on stage, do you have a ritual or a good luck charm that goes everywhere with you?
We do not have any, we usually warm up on our own in order to better get concentrated on what we are going to do later. We only meet right before the show to encourage each other.
What is your dream gig?
We have always dreamed of a huge Wembley gig like those of Muse, Queen or Foo Fighters, but also playing as opening act for Biffy Clyro would be enough. By the way, Taubertal is already a dream coming true ;)
What can audiences expect from one of your live performances?
We always do our best on the stage: we are always willing to positively impress the audiences with high level performances, surprises, and also by involving them in the show. This is everything we would like people to expect from our gigs.
If you could invite a band or an artist at your party, dead or alive, who would it be?
We have many idols and role models, but our favorite one is Sir Paul McCartney, because he is the icon of a person that lives for music: despite having already reached the maximum success he could he still rocks all around the world with the same energy of a child. Moreover he is a true legend, it would be a huge pleasure meeting him (and we think that after few drinks he may reveal some funny stories about his career)
What are your short to medium term plans after the international final?
Taubertal will be the greatest occasion ever to play the songs from our first album "Lightward": we have been promoting the album since its release in 2015 with several gigs and we got very positive feedback. After the final we will continue to do so (we are going to play two gigs in London next October) but we will also go on writing new songs for, we hope, a new album.
What inspires you when you are composing (musical inspirations or others)?
As mentioned before, we draw inspiration from many different bands and influences; but the main inspiration comes from bands like Coldplay, Biffy Clyro, Imagine Dragons, Killers, Oasis and so on.
What question did I forget?
One of the first things we are usually asked is the reason why we chose the name "Earthist", so you got all the points so far.
Why do you think you deserve to win the 2016 Festival edition?
During this year we have achieved many goals through passion, sacrifices and dedication. We are at the world final, why should we stop now?
NEWS
9
2016August