For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to Amycanbe? How long has the band been around?
Everyone of us has a different background, from Hard-core punk to cover band to electro and folk.. Me and Marco started to play together more than 15 years ago as an acoustic-loft- Kingofconvenience oriented duo.. then he met Francesca while she was (and she is) playing with Comaneci..and during the recording of our last album Matta joined..”replacing” 2 bandmates who are gone.. but generally we all come and go or still sometimes collaborate with bands of our area like 64 Slices Of American Cheese, Dang Dang, Caffè Sport Orchestra, Aidoru, Sybiann to just name a few
What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?
The name is always been the same, I like to remember that it came to Francesca in dreams.. no particular meaning...Francesca always like to play with sounds and that just sounds good and positive in a way...
Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs and do you think these topics will change over time?
Me and (above all) Marco write the music, than Francesca adds lyrics and Matta adds the magic.. glueing all together.. Topics are vast, but always referring to something Francesca has been trough.....like with the music, words just happen, Francesca says...it is all about suggestion....Francesca like the words to be open for everybody to see what they want to see...and generally lovingsomething or someone is what they reflect, even though not so obviously...it is more a question of feeling, y'know....
What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?
I always answer with my own taste and influences (that actually change often....eheh)..in this period I listen to a lot of reiterative stuff: Deerhunter, Spacemen 3, Tha Brian Jonestown Massacre, Stereolab…and so on and on and on and on...but I have to admit that almost everybody in the band have been loving classics like Beatles or Radiohead or italians like Battisti, Lucio Dalla....anyway we never write consciously inspired by any other artists, probably that happen...but it is not our intention, we just follow our pure instincts
Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?
Again, for me…it was when I saw Instant Street videoclip by dEUS… such a wonderful melody and arrangement!
I saw them live too, but I never liked them so much like in their first 3 records...by the way I personally wanted to play with some other but I would call it more "project" than a "band" than after Marco and Francesca, and especially Paolo (now left) joned , we realized that we were a band actually and we could even play out somewhere....it just happened.
What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, eat …
Well.. I am really into Yoga/Meditation.. but I never tried this before a concert… the most important thing is to laugh together before EACH concert.
What is great about playing live or being on tour is that you get off from your problems at home and we feel again like a band of friends only....it is a real relief in itself.
What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?
Ehm.. it is quite ridiculour, but recently while touring in South Italy someone robbed us of everything … and this episode had enormous resonance, to such an extent that I Ironically call this “the most famous thing we did in the past 10 years!!!"
...apart that...our highlight is problably having been able to staty together for so long and grow-up musicially at every album or gig together.
If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
Too many…!!! I will write the very first that comes to mind: Tame Impala
By the way...is there any great band intersting having us a opening act?...we will be keen to join!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
PLEASE ! let us play with Tame Impala!