What is your names?
My name is Francesca Bono.
What is your genre of music?
I’m not really interested in labelling my music, it always feels a bit discomforting, unless you’ve decided to write something that is genre specific. It’s not my case, but I would say that, with this album, I’ve written proper songs that might have been influenced by different styles and sit somewhere between oblique husky ballads, art rock, ambient and experimental pop.
Give us a little bio about you.
I live in Bologna, Italy, with my partner and our kids, and I’ve started playing music when I was 9 or 10. During my childhood I’ve always moved from one city to another, something quite ordinary in the US, but not that usual in my country. I think that this fact has somehow shaped me in the grown-up I am today. I’m curious, restless and I’m all for change. I had a band called Ofeliadorme that was crucial in my musical upbringing, and now I play in an experimental duo called Bono / Burattini, besides writing songs under my own name and collaborating with other musicians and visual artists.
What made you go into music?
I always wanted to be a musician, when I think about it, but as a child I had stage fright, I even hated school plays. I think that although I started singing and playing at a very early stage in life, locked in my room, it was when I was in my twenties that I really felt the need and urge to step forward. I challenged myself, and one step at a time I defeated stage fright and insecurities about my wish to play my own music.
Who are your influences?
I’m influenced by many different bands and musicians, I’m pretty sure that what I listen to seeps into my music, one way or the other, whether I’m aware of it or not. I can drop a few names, just to give a (non-exhaustive) idea of what I grew up with: Broadcast, Sonic Youth, Boards of Canada, Velvet Underground, Low, Angelo Badalamenti, The Cure, Portishead, Nick Drake, Laurie Anderson, Brian Eno, Steve Reich, Nina Simone, Radiohead, Bill Callahan, Terry Riley, Pauline Oliveros, Philip Glass, Ennio Morricone and some old school hip-hop such as A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul…
Are you a signed?
Yes, I’m signed to two different labels, one for my solo work and the other for the duo: WWNBB and Maple Death Records.
You released your latest Single ‘Velvet Flickering Heart’, tell us more about the single and the meaning behind the song.
It’s a song I wrote a few months before I went into the studio to record the album, it was pure instinct, and I think it somehow introduces some of the themes that run through the entire album, one of which is revealed in the lines “Do what you wish, in time. Do what you wish, it’s time.
Describe the track in two words.
Haunting and enthralling.
What was the writing and recording process like?
I wrote the 8 songs at different times, but with some common features, and recorded them in 7 days in Bologna, with the help of some friends, including Mick Harvey who also played various instruments. It was all very straightforward, with very few overdubs. I wanted the album to maintain a kind of organic rawness.
Who did you work with on the single?
I worked mostly alone, and the final version sounds a lot like the demo I recorded in my home studio, but there is Vittoria Burattini’s drumming that gave the song a magical touch. Most of the guitar parts were already written, still Egle Sommacal added some nice ideas, and Silvia Tarozzi recorded the obsessive violin part that makes the second half of the song so intriguing.
Can we expect a music video and if so tell us more about the making.
Not for this song, but my friend and talented visual artist Susana Ljulianovic did a great job with the video for “Black Horse”. You can watch it here
Can we expect an Album or EP and If so, what can we expect form it?
My first solo album is titled “Crumpled Canvas” was released September 28th by We Were Never Being Boring, both in digital and vinyl format. It’s a collection of 8 darkly haunting songs, but there’s also a certain dose of bliss.
Do you have any live shows coming up?
I played the very first show a few days ago at a chiarming little theater, as a duo with multi-instrumentalist Francesca Baccolini, who will be touring with me. More live shows will be announced shortly.
Let us know where we can get tickets if so.
I believe you can find tickets on DICE.
What else can we expect in 2024?
I’m working on brand new music with Bono / Burattini, the experimental synth/drums duo I play in with my buddy Vittoria Burattini, and on a theater project.
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
Sharing is caring. That’s what I teach my kids too.
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
If it’s a band, the musicianship, the vibe, how the audience reacts, and in general I’m looking for some kind of connection.
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
Sure! Here they are:
Instagram
BandCamp
Facebook
