The song and emotions of Naples — Interview with Giovanna Panza
The voice of this interview
Giovanna Panza
- Profession
- Singer, author and composer
- Country of origin
- Naples, Campania, Italy
Giovanna Panza, singer, author and composer, is at the heart of this conversation on the theme: the song and emotions of Naples. The dialogue retraces experiences, choices and reflections that emerged during the interview, leaving room for the guest’s voice.
The beginnings and passion
When did you start interested in music?
Panza: First of all, say hello. I started as a child when I always listened to good music thanks to my grandmother and my parents. My ratings went from classical works such as the “Cavalleria Rusticana e i Pagliacci” to arrive at Burt Bacharach in Charles Aznavour. The first professional stage recording experience I made it with Eugenio Bennato at the age of 21.
Afterwards, I started to be passionate about jazz, so Sarah Voughan, Ella Fitzgerard, Miles Davis, Coltrane, have shaped my idea of music according to that kind of language.
How important is it for a musician to find a recognizable style and identity?
Panza: The personality of a language, in this musical case, is fundamental to any artist. In the case of a songwriter the uniqueness can give it not only interpretation but also compositional style and the nature and quality of the texts. If all this comes from a truth, it works and comes to people
What is music for you?
Panza: Music is my ideal size, the perfect one because it is my antidote to the greedy part of life
“Music is my ideal dimension, the perfect one because it is my antidote to the greedy part of life”
How do you feel when you sing?
Panza: When I write and when I sing it stops time and it cancels in me every pain to give way to a melancholy but hopeful passionality
Music and words
How much does the lyrics of a song count for you compared to music?
Panza: “ As for me, text and music are born almost spontaneously inspired by a word, content, emotion or phrase that tirelessly turns me into my head. Usually when I start writing a song I take the guitar and magic happens to them, words seek and find the music and vice versa, without pre-established rules.”
Among your experiences participations, what do you remember with satisfaction?
Panza: The Recanati Award I participated in 2004 and results among the winners with the track “ ‘O tuorto e ‘a rane”, a tammuriata by electronic sound
“I started to get passionate about jazz so Sarah Voughan, Ella Fitzgerard, Miles Davis, Coltrane and many others have shaped my idea of music according to that kind of language.”
Is your style called a fadist explaining why?
Panza: “When I released my first CD entitled “Amarangrè” in 2012, Federico Vacalebre in his review called me “Newpolitan fadist” probably because the sounds of the songs and my vocal language, at times, recalls the fadist style”.
Does your voice range in different repertoires?
Panza: I officially began my career as vocalist of Eugenio Bennato, although I did not feel very close to popular music. After a while I discovered the jazz I think helped me find a personal expression in the interpretation of the songs in dialect. To the classic Neapolitan song I approached when I started writing in dialect, about fifteen years ago
The path and ideas
Can you talk to us about your last jobs?
Panza: Now I'm working on my second CD of original songs, with texts in Neapolitan, of which I am composer whose artistic production is entrusted to Mario Formisano, historic bassist of Alma Megretta
Do you have a particular conceptual ideal project to arrive as a maximum aspiration?
Panza: The project has been the same for years, being able to always do what I like, which allows me to be happy to be able to convey it to others through music
Greetings from the director L'ABBATE MARIATERESA: "Wondering our RITA PARDO DI AVER INTERVIEW A GRANDISSIMA ARTIST OF THE MUSIC PARTENOPEA GIOVANNA PANZE AND CONCLUDE A MIA PERSONAL NOTE THAT YOUR LIMPIDA AND CHIARA CONTINUE
