Bio: Formed by Italian singer-songwriter Simona Lamparelli, Ruby Wave is a four piece ensemble backed by Kenny Cha (guitar), Tyler Mashek (drums) and Pietro Gennenzi (bass). Ruby Wave melds the warm and welcoming atmosphere of Lamparelli’s Italian heritage with New York City’s vivacious energy. Ruby Wave performs across the five Boroughs and has been heard at venues including Rockwood Music Hall, Silvana, The Shrine, Muchmore’s, and Bodeguita BK.
Following is a small interview:
- Do you have a predominate subject matter?
It’s always hard for me answer to this particular question. I usually try to be open as much as possible, mentally I mean: I love explore always different genres and find new sounds. I think also that everything that I have heard in my life may be considered important in some way. It’s kind of like “What to do” and “What not to do”. And, moreover, depends also of what we are talking about: aesthetic? Stage presence? Composition? Writing? There are many things I consider when I study an artist… Bay the way, If I have to answer so quickly, I could say that my main inspirations are Lucio Dalla for his artistic completeness, Dizzy Gillespie for his sincere and cheerful restlessness and Nirvana for their being what they were.
2.What musical time period(s) do you resonate with most?
I change every time! Varies according to my period of life… For example, I definitely consider grunge music of mid-1980s the soundtrack of my teens memories. Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Mudhoney… I focused my attention to the Nirvana’s sound and the Hole’s vibes: Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love were huge inspirations for me, for different reasons. At the end of the high school, I was exploring American folk music, indie/experimental rock and rock and soul blues music of mid-to late ‘60s, finding in Syd Barrett’s dragged words, in the warrior kindness of Joni Mitchell, in the animal instinct of Janis Joplin, and in the unique penetrating timbre of Nico’s voice, everything that I was looking for that time of my life… From my university years, I started to go into indie rock, alternative rock, folk, and then lead me to different universes and contaminations, from jazz to blues, to the extreme of electronics. Florence and The Machine, The Do, Kimya Dawson, Bjork, Cat Power, Zaz, Benny Goodman, Ella Fitzgerald, Johnny Cash, Natalie Prass, Molly Tuttle, Any Other, Odetta, God Help The Girl, PJ Harvey, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Chet Baker… These are the top names of my favorite playlist on Spotify, but you can check by your own my crazy world:
International music:
Italian music:
Since that moment, I am trying to build solid bases of knowledge, with a book about the history of music in my hands, and my Spotify’s Discover Weekly Playlist in my ears!
3. How would you describe your sound to someone who’s never heard you?
We are close to a perfect mix of Florence and The Machine, Lana Del Ray, Gold Help The Girls and Daughter. But in an Italian way!
4. How did your members come together?
It’s a pretty story. At first, I spent a long time exploring the contemporary music scene of the City, attending concerts of different genres and looking for famous and unknown artists, discovering venues and vibes, and playing acoustic solos occasionally, here and there: simple, intimate and warm shows, for few. All this, under the name of Blue Velvet. After a while, I felt the necessity to change: what I was doing was not enough for explain 100% my personal and artistic growth since the time I arrived in the Big Apple. That’s why I started a new project: since August 2019, I changed my name in Ruby Wave and I started to consider seriously my career, opening official accounts online and starting to promote myself in a professional way. So I decided to posted a “AAA” for musicians interested to be involved to this crazy project on Facebook. After a long time of selection of all the candidates, I decided to play an intimate concert only for who was interested to hear my music alive, booking a rehearsal room and sharing all that I had until that moment. So, we started a band, looking for organize my songs with all that they needed for being what they are now, thanks of hard work and the personal touch of each member of the band. We started to play together in September 2019 and the feeling with each member of the band, from Tyler Mashek (drums) and Kenny Cha (electric guitar), who followed me since the origin of this adventure, to Pietro Gennenzi (bass), who joined the band in October 2019, was immediately positive. So positive, that we define all of us like Ruby Wave now! In few months, we played in amazing venues (SHRINE, ROCKWOOD, PIANOS, SILVANA, MUCHMORE’S, BODEGUITA BK) and we took part of interesting and creative local initiatives (ACOUSTICS UNDER THE STARS, HARTSTOP BK, GAMBA FOREST, CROSSROAD BROOKLYN), but we are still working on our sound, our identity. Rehearsal by rehearsal. Show by show. Day by day.
5. Is music a side-job or it is a primary focus?
Right now, is a side-job, but a primary focus!
6. What is your next goal or thingn you’d like to see?
Since the end of August 2019, I am working with Dashiel Rowland, a young and incredibly multi-talented producer, on my first single “TEMPO FREDDO” (which is going be out really soon!) and we are planning to produce my first EP all together. Can’t wait to make it happen! And SEE it, in my hands!
7. What about your next show?
This show is going to be WILD: next Sunday, January 19th 2020, Doors at7:00PM, we are gonna share the stage of Bowery Electric with other amazing local artists : FAY KUEEN @fay_kuen LIAM TORCHIA @liamtorchiamusic and SKARLIT @skarlit.music . Here is a Facebook link to the event: https://www.facebook.com/events/s/skarlit-ruby-wave-liam-torchia/2281908265433040/
If you have Instagram here is their account to follow:
https://www.instagram.com/ruby_wave_/?hl=it
And their Facebook page:
Rub Waves’ Members:
Electric guitar: @kunnychaguitar , drum: @tylermashek, bass: @pittgenn__
