Fil Bo Riva: This band is why Filippo wanted to make music
At Fil Bo Riva one comes at the moment as a lover of music projects from Germany very difficult. Since September 2016, the band around Filippo Bonamici and Felix A. Remm thrilled with the EP "If You're Right, It's Alright", among others, as the opening act of Milky Chance, but the fans waited for the debut album so far in vain - until now! Because from 22 March there is "Beautiful Sadness" in the record stores to buy.
Three of the songs ("Head Sonata", "Time Is Your Gun" and "Different But One") have also made it into the soundtrack of the movie "Club of the Red Ribbons - How it all began". Apart from that, starting in April, a big tour will start in Filippo's native Italy. In an interview with the news agency, spot on news, the Italian-based Wahlberliner and Felix A. Remm talked about how their first common song came about and why their band would probably not exist without the Beatles.
Filippo, Felix, still stage fright before the concerts?
Filippo Bonamici: No, not really. In the beginning I hated it. It is still an overcoming to play live, but of course you get used to it. In the meantime it has become a lot better and when I play, I feel well and have fun. Now the fear is associated with a nice feeling.
Is there a ritual to get you in the mood for the performance?
Felix A. Remm: In the beginning we form a circle, hug each other and then we start to play. At some point in the course of the tour, a kind of normality, routine plays. The first shows are always awesome, but over time you get more relaxed. And once we are on stage and playing together, everything else disappears in the background and we become one with the music.
They say that they do not see each other as a band, but rather as friends, who share their passion for music. Is this the secret of Fil Bo Riva's success?
Filippo Bonamici: That's just the truth. We are a mix of both. When I explain this, it gives me a sense of freedom, because each one of us can still decide for himself what he wants to do. For example, if I want to work on a solo folk album for a year, that does not mean the band will break up.
Filippo, you speak three languages: Italian, German and English. In which do you feel most comfortable?
Filippo Bonamici: That changes constantly. I also lived in Spain for a year, so I also speak a little spanish. In no language am I perfect. But speak four languages ok, just one.
On the debut album you sing in Italian for the first time, how was that for you?
Filippo Bonamici: To be honest, I never really thought about it, it came spontaneously. I have been on vacation in Italy for a long time now. And it was just the atmosphere. I lay on my air mattress and had the chords in my ear, then bit by bit the ideas for the text came to "L'impossiblile".
What stories are behind the other songs that made it to "Beautiful Sadness"?
Felix A. Remm: There is a very nice story about "Time Is Your Gun". This is our very first common song that came about when Filippo and I met for the first time at his home - the second get-together. There we sat with him on the sofa and played a bit of guitar and so unconsciously wrote the song. And four years later, it was exactly this song that made it onto our album.
Your songs are often about love. What are the biggest challenges in being a musician when you have a relationship?
Filippo Bonamici: Be attentive and be there. What probably every couple wants each other.
Felix A. Remm: Trust. My ex-girlfriend went crazy every time we went. Many people still have this romantic, adventurous picture of a tour. That you party every night. At least for us that does not correspond to the reality ... But if the girlfriend thinks so and you do not report every evening, it will quickly stress.
"A Happy Song" might as well be heard on a Beatles album. How much did the Beatles shape your musical career?
Filippo Bonamici: The Beatles are really my all-time favorite band and the reason why I wanted to make music. Pink Floyd and Beatles were the favorite bands of my neighbors in Rome. That was my first reference to music. Four of us had a band - my brother, me and the two neighbors boys. I was Paul, my brother was John and the other two were George and Ringo. We cut out guitars made of cardboard that looked like the Beatles guitars.
And which band has influenced you, Felix?
Felix A. Remm: The Red Hot Chili Peppers. My mother forced me to learn piano at the age of six or seven.At some point I stopped that because I found it really uncool and because all my friends have annoyed me. Then I started with electric guitar instead and the then friend of my sister showed me the Red Hot Chili Peppers. I was really in love with the guitarist! I had a life-size poster, I bought the clothes and even dyed my hair brown. And I had a blatant scooter phase as a child. I got a scooter maxi-CD from my sister for my birthday and then only heard these three songs for half a year.
What is your personal favorite live artist?
Filippo Bonamici: I have not been to as many concerts in my life as you might think. I only started to attend concerts when I came to Berlin. Before that, maybe I was at four concerts. Including Paul McCartney in the Colosseum. But the most beautiful concert I can remember was the Libertines 2016 in Columbia Hall. When they celebrated reunion and the new album came out.
