Dear readers, we are pleased to offer you in this article an interview with a historic band from the Sardinian Prog Rock scene. We welcome Capside.
Hello, how are you?
“Well thank you, we are very happy to meet our friends from Progressive Rock Journal.“
Your sound combines Prog Rock with Jazz and Pop, how did your passion for these musical genres come about?
“Capside have always loved beautiful music, whatever genre. In the early days we favoured listening to classic rock, blues, heavy metal and the myths of prog, Italian and international, the Canterbury school in particular. Later we began to appreciate artists such as Charles Mingus, Miles Davis or the fusion period of Joni Mitchell, people like Steely Dan, Jeff Beck and others. For pop there is a separate issue. Everyone We all grew up listening to certain Italian music, Lucio Battisti, Fabrizio De Andre’, Franco Battiato or Lucio Dalla, who were yes ‘popular’, but never ordinary or mediocre. Here these are our pop references, but internationally there was no shortage of artists who were on the radio all the time and perhaps influenced us by osmosis. Just to names, I’m thinking of bands like REM, Simply Red, Supertramp, Man at Work, XTC, B-52s, Tears For Fears, without ever forgetting the greatest, The Beatles.“
The band has been active for many years and you have released 3 studio albums, how has your sound evolved over time?
“Capside in their early days, in the early 90s, played a mix of medieval prog, beat and heavy rock fugues. With the entry of Valentina in 1995 and Gio’ in 1997 we started to shaping our current style. Jazz veins were added to our sound, chords particular chords, compound tempos and so on. Dilated tracks in full prog style alternated with more ‘popular’ songs, but without any specific intention, in a natural way, perhaps favouring Valentina’s voice, which perhaps Valentina’s voice, which started working on more sophisticated arrangements, possibly elegant arrangements. Making a good pop song is really as much of a challenge as making a rock suite. It has to be simple but brilliant, it can be elaborate but not over-technical. It’s like building a cathedral in three/four minutes of music.“
The new album “Ladyesis” was released on July 04, 2023 how would you describe this new work?
“We believe Ladyesis is truly our artistic zenith, music and words fused together like never before. We call it a prog album because of its freedom to explore, but symphonic pieces alternate with introspective ballads, faux honky tonk, funk fusion songs and jazzy pop and even almost doom metal. In short, variety of sounds, genres, but always declined in our own way. The common thread is Valentina’s voice, which builds alternative arrangements, songs within songs.“
The instrumental and vocal parts are very intense, what themes do the lyrics deal with?
“Ladyesis is a journey into feelings, the feminine universe set to music. The unconscious and its dreams/nightmares, romantic or filial love, war, passion and contrasts. Dreamlike journeys and introspective journeys by night, stories that mix reality and fantasy in an imaginary imaginary classical drama. A poem dedicated to our children and a nursery rhyme that teaches courage even to those who think they have none. Again the inertia that sometimes condemns us to a non-life and the everydayness of gestures that cancels the beauty of creation. Finally, a descent into the underworld by scrutinising the human mind.“
The tracks are very elaborate and full of ideas, how does the creative process of your music take place?
“Everything starts with an idea, often a bass line or a particularly happy harmonic series of chords. Then it is an addition of layers, each with their own ideas, a challenge to see who does it better. There has always been chemistry between us, right from the start. We don’t make big speeches, we immediately understand what a song needs, where it needs to go, how it needs to develop and whether that particular song is ‘Capside oriented,’ which is fundamental for us. The finishing touches can also be worked out at home, but then, in the studio, the spark is ignited.“
The band’s sound is elaborate and energetic, will there be a chance to hear it live, do you have plans for it?
“Of course, we really enjoy playing live and it is a lot of fun. Maybe it’s difficult to find dates because of our musical genre, but we definitely try! Now, with the new record coming out we are trying to promote it properly and concerts are an essential part of our work, in addition to promotion through the media.“
You have years of experience in the scene, what advice would you give to new artists approaching music by proposing Prog Rock?
“Interesting question. I would say that if you like prog you still have to find your own way and there is no there’s no point in cloning bands from the past. It’s really frustrating to hear bands that imitate Genesis, Yes or Dream Theater all the time; it doesn’t make sense. Sure, some stylistic coordinates have to be assimilated, it is true for all genres and especially at the beginning it is understandable that a guy would try to chase certain styles. But believe me, the greatest satisfaction is to try, at least to try, to create something new, something personal, something truly your own. truly yours. Or else boredom.“
Today the market has changed a lot compared to the past, how difficult is it to establish yourself proposing a more refined genre like yours?
“As far as we are concerned, the passion and emotions our music gives us far outweigh the far outweigh the difficulties. Of course, our greatest desire is to reach as many people possible, all over the world; already with the internet and social networks we are able to do things unimaginable just a few years ago. We constantly get feedback that fills our fill our hearts and make us proud of our work.“
Music and Prog are constantly evolving, how do you see the genre in the future?
“I don’t think there will ever be a return to the glories of the past, to when progressive music was in the charts and filled theatres and arenas. Classic rock isn’t doing so well either, totally outclassed by genres where guitar or drums seem almost like antiques. antiques. But rock endures and so does prog, which still has millions of fans faithful. And then, if the genre is to be understood as ‘the continuous search for melodies eccentric, different and powerful melodies” it will certainly continue its path and perhaps it will cross its path with new great artists. Who knows?“
Do you have any other projects or artistic passions outside of music?
“There are those who are passionate about the Sardinian language, those who devour books, those who often travel by motorbike, those who cultivates a vegetable garden or organises gargantuan dinners for the family or the band. However, nothing comparable to a real obsession with music, eh.“
I thank our friends Capside for the interview, wishing them all the best for the continuation of their
artistic career.
Read our review of the album here: [Review] Capside – Ladyesis
Purchase the album on Bandcamp: https://capside1.bandcamp.com/album/ladyesis
