Breaking the Ice
Muirsical Conversation with Barbara Rubin
Unless you follow the Italian progressive rock scene or are native to Italy, there's every chance you won’t have heard of the multi talented songstress and vocalist Barbara Rubin.
However her name is already familiar to many in the field of progressive rock across parts of Europe and the U.K., but I only became aware of Barbara when FabricationsHQ received a review copy of the singer’s debut album ‘Under the Ice’ as well as a copy of the recordings done by the band project she is involved in.
The group in question, LoreWeaveR, are progressive melodic metal and musically far removed from the sound and style of their vocalist’s solo album.
LoreWeaveR’s ‘Imperviae Auditiones’ remains unreleased at the time of this interview, but ‘Under the Ice’ is starting to break through that solid barrier floating atop the prog waters, making some ripples as it surfaces.
And rightly so - it’s an interesting album and very hard to pigeonhole.
This is Barbara’s first U.K. interview, and the multi instrumentalist talks about her solo album, band project, musical background, influences, and career in music thus far.
Ross Muir: I have to say right at the top of the interview Barbara that I listen to, and hear, a serious amount of music in many musical genres, and ‘Under the Ice’ intrigued me and piqued my interest like very few albums have recently.
The LoreWeaveR material, however, struggled to push itself above the progressive metal crowd and we’ll talk about why that may be later.
But first to your solo album.
Based primarily on piano and vocal arrangements, with other instrumentation such as flute, cello and guitars supplying additional layers, it’s an album that produces different textures and some almost ‘ethereal’ moments, as well as more traditional pieces from ballad to rock.
Where did the inspiration come from to produce such an interesting collection of songs?
Barbara Rubin: I don’t think there is one artist or genre that inspired me especially. This album is a mixture of everything I have played, listened to, or sung. The instrumental layers and arrangements were born through my classical education and love for baroque music, but by eighties British pop/ rock music too. The vocals take their style and groove more from seventies and eighties American hard rock. I was also influenced by nineties progressive metal and my experiences playing with the band Arcansiel where I was keyboardist and violinist for their ‘Swimming in the Sand’ release as well as live concerts. I am lucky that I can express my thoughts and feelings with music, and my classical education gave me the means to do that.
RM: I found the title track to be both a haunting and captivating opening to the CD, and it sets up an album that is reminiscent of British singer songwriter Kate Bush. Although there is no true comparison to that artist vocally, or even in song similarity, there are clear comparisons to her music, more progressive arrangements, and her off-the-wall or ‘non-conforming’ songs.
Are you aware of Kate’s work, and is that the sort of artist that inspires you?
BR: I love Kate Bush’s style, but I have never really dwelled upon her music.
I know of her seemingly unlimited talent, incredible personality, and that she is part of British musical culture, but I think that classical harmonies are the basis for my music as well as Italian prog and pop music.
Under the Ice
Muirsical Conversation with Barbara Rubin
Unless you follow the Italian progressive rock scene or are native to Italy, there's every chance you won’t have heard of the multi talented songstress and vocalist Barbara Rubin.
However her name is already familiar to many in the field of progressive rock across parts of Europe and the U.K., but I only became aware of Barbara when FabricationsHQ received a review copy of the singer’s debut album ‘Under the Ice’ as well as a copy of the recordings done by the band project she is involved in.
The group in question, LoreWeaveR, are progressive melodic metal and musically far removed from the sound and style of their vocalist’s solo album.
LoreWeaveR’s ‘Imperviae Auditiones’ remains unreleased at the time of this interview, but ‘Under the Ice’ is starting to break through that solid barrier floating atop the prog waters, making some ripples as it surfaces.
And rightly so - it’s an interesting album and very hard to pigeonhole.
This is Barbara’s first U.K. interview, and the multi instrumentalist talks about her solo album, band project, musical background, influences, and career in music thus far.
Ross Muir: I have to say right at the top of the interview Barbara that I listen to, and hear, a serious amount of music in many musical genres, and ‘Under the Ice’ intrigued me and piqued my interest like very few albums have recently.
The LoreWeaveR material, however, struggled to push itself above the progressive metal crowd and we’ll talk about why that may be later.
But first to your solo album.
Based primarily on piano and vocal arrangements, with other instrumentation such as flute, cello and guitars supplying additional layers, it’s an album that produces different textures and some almost ‘ethereal’ moments, as well as more traditional pieces from ballad to rock.
Where did the inspiration come from to produce such an interesting collection of songs?
Barbara Rubin: I don’t think there is one artist or genre that inspired me especially. This album is a mixture of everything I have played, listened to, or sung. The instrumental layers and arrangements were born through my classical education and love for baroque music, but by eighties British pop/ rock music too. The vocals take their style and groove more from seventies and eighties American hard rock. I was also influenced by nineties progressive metal and my experiences playing with the band Arcansiel where I was keyboardist and violinist for their ‘Swimming in the Sand’ release as well as live concerts. I am lucky that I can express my thoughts and feelings with music, and my classical education gave me the means to do that.
RM: I found the title track to be both a haunting and captivating opening to the CD, and it sets up an album that is reminiscent of British singer songwriter Kate Bush. Although there is no true comparison to that artist vocally, or even in song similarity, there are clear comparisons to her music, more progressive arrangements, and her off-the-wall or ‘non-conforming’ songs.
Are you aware of Kate’s work, and is that the sort of artist that inspires you?
BR: I love Kate Bush’s style, but I have never really dwelled upon her music.
I know of her seemingly unlimited talent, incredible personality, and that she is part of British musical culture, but I think that classical harmonies are the basis for my music as well as Italian prog and pop music.
Under the Ice
RM: I find the sign of a strong song is if the music, melody or even the vocal delivery captivates you before the listener understands its meaning - if the lyrics are in another language, for example.
‘Ero e Sono’ is one such song, performed in your native Italian. That’s a lovely tune even when the lyrical significance is lost on people like myself who are, sadly, not familiar enough with Italian to be able to translate. What is the message or inspiration behind 'Ero e Sono'?
BR: In that song I play the part of a person that has just died after a long illness. The song starts with the verse: “Ecco…splende qualcosa in alto e più…il là…”
“Something shines, overhead and still beyond”
“Ora vado via, non cercarmi perchè sono lontano e vicino, sono nella’aria che respire”
“Now I'm going away, don't look for me because I am near and far, I am in the air you breathe…”
The final chorus says: “ero, o meglio più non ero, sono o meglio ora sono”
“I was, I was no more, I am, I am more now”
It is not very easy to translate but I hope it helped you to understand something more about this song.
Ero e Sono
‘Ero e Sono’ is one such song, performed in your native Italian. That’s a lovely tune even when the lyrical significance is lost on people like myself who are, sadly, not familiar enough with Italian to be able to translate. What is the message or inspiration behind 'Ero e Sono'?
BR: In that song I play the part of a person that has just died after a long illness. The song starts with the verse: “Ecco…splende qualcosa in alto e più…il là…”
“Something shines, overhead and still beyond”
“Ora vado via, non cercarmi perchè sono lontano e vicino, sono nella’aria che respire”
“Now I'm going away, don't look for me because I am near and far, I am in the air you breathe…”
The final chorus says: “ero, o meglio più non ero, sono o meglio ora sono”
“I was, I was no more, I am, I am more now”
It is not very easy to translate but I hope it helped you to understand something more about this song.
Ero e Sono
RM: As I mentioned earlier, ‘Under the Ice’ is one of the most interesting albums I have heard for some time with some genuinely memorable moments - it’s also an album that is impossible to categorize.
It will be labeled ‘progressive’, and tracks such as ‘Liar’ follow progressive (rock) themes, but it might be more accurate to simply say ‘Under the Ice’ should be labeled ‘Barbara Rubin’ music.
Presumably, all the songs were written and arranged by you?
BR: Thank you for labeling my music in that way. Yes, I wrote the music and lyrics. I arranged the songs with the great help of Simone Morandotti, a very talented musician and formidable keyboard player. He also played and arranged the drum, guitar and bass parts. I arranged all the vocal parts, piano and strings.
RM: Although you have a number of guest musicians on the album, you play piano, violin, viola and synth-pad on 'Under the Ice', and in the past you have played keyboards with other artists such as the band you mentioned earlier, Arcansiel. Do you see yourself as vocalist or multi-instrumentalist - or perhaps both?
BR: I love to play instruments and I love instrumental music, but nature made me a vocalist. The piano is a great machine to write music with though, and strings are a great love… I cannot live without their fascinating sound.
Liar
It will be labeled ‘progressive’, and tracks such as ‘Liar’ follow progressive (rock) themes, but it might be more accurate to simply say ‘Under the Ice’ should be labeled ‘Barbara Rubin’ music.
Presumably, all the songs were written and arranged by you?
BR: Thank you for labeling my music in that way. Yes, I wrote the music and lyrics. I arranged the songs with the great help of Simone Morandotti, a very talented musician and formidable keyboard player. He also played and arranged the drum, guitar and bass parts. I arranged all the vocal parts, piano and strings.
RM: Although you have a number of guest musicians on the album, you play piano, violin, viola and synth-pad on 'Under the Ice', and in the past you have played keyboards with other artists such as the band you mentioned earlier, Arcansiel. Do you see yourself as vocalist or multi-instrumentalist - or perhaps both?
BR: I love to play instruments and I love instrumental music, but nature made me a vocalist. The piano is a great machine to write music with though, and strings are a great love… I cannot live without their fascinating sound.
Liar
RM: Jumping back to your introduction to music, when did you first get the musical bug, and what were you listening to?
BR: When I was a child, maybe ten years old, I was listening to Beatles music.
Oh, and KISS music - “Rock and Roll!” Very funny! Anyway, The Beatles are still a great love today and a great lesson for a musician! They have written a lot of masterpieces. My first performance was the song ‘Yesterday’ when I was eleven. Good performance, but I left singing soon after and started to study violin when I was fourteen and didn’t start to sing again until I was nineteen.
RM: Were your family or parents musical, or involved in music?
BR: No, nobody is a musician, but my father and my grandfather have beautiful voices! Wonderful tone!
RM: You graduated in Violin after Musical Studies at the Conservatoire in Piacenza, and studied classical music. Did you consider pursuing a classical career at any point?
BR: Not really. I took to the streets of rock music before the graduation. I do love symphonic and quartet music though, and would like to write music for that ensemble. I hope it will happen in future, but I will have to study again for it!
BR: When I was a child, maybe ten years old, I was listening to Beatles music.
Oh, and KISS music - “Rock and Roll!” Very funny! Anyway, The Beatles are still a great love today and a great lesson for a musician! They have written a lot of masterpieces. My first performance was the song ‘Yesterday’ when I was eleven. Good performance, but I left singing soon after and started to study violin when I was fourteen and didn’t start to sing again until I was nineteen.
RM: Were your family or parents musical, or involved in music?
BR: No, nobody is a musician, but my father and my grandfather have beautiful voices! Wonderful tone!
RM: You graduated in Violin after Musical Studies at the Conservatoire in Piacenza, and studied classical music. Did you consider pursuing a classical career at any point?
BR: Not really. I took to the streets of rock music before the graduation. I do love symphonic and quartet music though, and would like to write music for that ensemble. I hope it will happen in future, but I will have to study again for it!
"'Under the Ice' is, maybe for the first time, the true Barbara Rubin style."
RM: I’m assuming you are influenced not just by classical or contemporary Italian music and artists, but also by European and world music in the progressive, pop and rock genres. Any particular influences or artists that inspire you musically? Just who are the artists that rock Barbara Rubin’s world?
BR: I love Marillion, Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, Elisa (Italian artist), Dream Theater, Boston, Skunkanansie and, as I said before, The Beatles. But my greatest inspirations come from the classical artists and baroque music - Bach, Leclair and Scarlatti. However I also like Burt Bacharach, Joni Mitchell, Nick Cave, Guilt Machine and recently I discovered the wonderful vocal style of (Scottish singer) Elizabeth Fraser.
RM: For the last few years you have been involved with progressive metal exponents LoreWeaveR. How did that association come about?
BR: Arcansiel introduced me to the ‘progworld’, but playing instruments, not as a singer, so for me was a bit more difficult to understand the various musical structures. But playing in the background as a keyboard player I started to understand the style, the rhythm, and those free structures, so eclectic. It was a good schooling for my solo work as well as the LoreWeaveR project. I think that between progressive rock and progressive metal there’s a high degree of kinship.
RM: LoreWeaveR are currently unsigned, but recorded their album ‘Imperviae Auditiones’ in 2008 with pre-release copies made available to reviewers, potential distributors and record labels in 2009. Is that still the current situation?
BR: Unfortunately, yes. The album has had some beautiful reviews, but currently we are still without a label contract. So the band is still ‘new’ for most listeners, and has never had a release before 'Imperviae Auditiones'. It may yet be a problem. However, we have presented this work to some labels and we await an answer…
Bogus (LoreWeaveR)
RM: I’m assuming you are influenced not just by classical or contemporary Italian music and artists, but also by European and world music in the progressive, pop and rock genres. Any particular influences or artists that inspire you musically? Just who are the artists that rock Barbara Rubin’s world?
BR: I love Marillion, Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, Elisa (Italian artist), Dream Theater, Boston, Skunkanansie and, as I said before, The Beatles. But my greatest inspirations come from the classical artists and baroque music - Bach, Leclair and Scarlatti. However I also like Burt Bacharach, Joni Mitchell, Nick Cave, Guilt Machine and recently I discovered the wonderful vocal style of (Scottish singer) Elizabeth Fraser.
RM: For the last few years you have been involved with progressive metal exponents LoreWeaveR. How did that association come about?
BR: Arcansiel introduced me to the ‘progworld’, but playing instruments, not as a singer, so for me was a bit more difficult to understand the various musical structures. But playing in the background as a keyboard player I started to understand the style, the rhythm, and those free structures, so eclectic. It was a good schooling for my solo work as well as the LoreWeaveR project. I think that between progressive rock and progressive metal there’s a high degree of kinship.
RM: LoreWeaveR are currently unsigned, but recorded their album ‘Imperviae Auditiones’ in 2008 with pre-release copies made available to reviewers, potential distributors and record labels in 2009. Is that still the current situation?
BR: Unfortunately, yes. The album has had some beautiful reviews, but currently we are still without a label contract. So the band is still ‘new’ for most listeners, and has never had a release before 'Imperviae Auditiones'. It may yet be a problem. However, we have presented this work to some labels and we await an answer…
Bogus (LoreWeaveR)
RM: I must admit, having listened to 'Imperviae Auditiones', I find it hard to separate it from the many plying their trade in progressive metal, and part of the problem is that bands like Dream Theater are so established and renowned within that genre that everyone is now looking for the next Dream Theater. This may be part of the problem for LoreWeaveR. Would you accept that as fair comment?
BR: Well I think that, today, melodic ‘prog metal’ is an over-used genre. There are a lot of bands, and not all are able to create a mixture of effective melodies with such amazing virtuosity. I don’t know how much we were inspired by Dream Theater, but our music certainly goes in that direction. We cannot create music too extreme though, because we come from different genres. Not one of us only listens to ‘prog’ or ‘prog metal’, but we enjoy writing music together, it’s natural for us.
RM: One of the problems for me was that many of the songs were driven by a solid but regimented drum pattern or rhythm, which didn’t allow for the flexibility that is maybe required to give songs of this type more variation. Claudio Cavalli has since replaced original drummer Andrea Mazza. Does Claudio bring something a little different to the band, percussively?
BR: Claudio is a fanciful and creative musician, yes. I think that he produces more colours in his drumming. It’s easy to work with him.
BR: Well I think that, today, melodic ‘prog metal’ is an over-used genre. There are a lot of bands, and not all are able to create a mixture of effective melodies with such amazing virtuosity. I don’t know how much we were inspired by Dream Theater, but our music certainly goes in that direction. We cannot create music too extreme though, because we come from different genres. Not one of us only listens to ‘prog’ or ‘prog metal’, but we enjoy writing music together, it’s natural for us.
RM: One of the problems for me was that many of the songs were driven by a solid but regimented drum pattern or rhythm, which didn’t allow for the flexibility that is maybe required to give songs of this type more variation. Claudio Cavalli has since replaced original drummer Andrea Mazza. Does Claudio bring something a little different to the band, percussively?
BR: Claudio is a fanciful and creative musician, yes. I think that he produces more colours in his drumming. It’s easy to work with him.
"...the LoreWeaveR project...we enjoy writing together, it's natural for us".
RM: I should add that I feel 'Imperviae Auditiones' does have some genuinely strong metallic moments such as the opening track, ‘Bogus’, and the light and shade of ‘That Night’ may be the highlight of the album. The latter also features some nice solo work from guitarist Francesco Salvadeo.
BR: Francesco has great musical range when the music needs a ‘groove’, but he can find moving melodies when he wants and he has a peculiar way to play that I like very much. Absolutely my favorite guitarist!
That Night (LoreWeaveR)
RM: I should add that I feel 'Imperviae Auditiones' does have some genuinely strong metallic moments such as the opening track, ‘Bogus’, and the light and shade of ‘That Night’ may be the highlight of the album. The latter also features some nice solo work from guitarist Francesco Salvadeo.
BR: Francesco has great musical range when the music needs a ‘groove’, but he can find moving melodies when he wants and he has a peculiar way to play that I like very much. Absolutely my favorite guitarist!
That Night (LoreWeaveR)
RM: Interestingly, you also sang in a Dream Theater tribute band.
BR: Dream Theater actually inspired me with regard to my solo album, but in connection with the instrumental and rhythmic textures. Maybe my vocals are influenced more by the natural shape for the melody that we Italian musicians have.
RM: With your musical background and appreciation for so many musical genres it should be probably no surprise that you can turn your vocal to pop, rock, ballad, progressive or metal.
Do you have a favourite style you enjoy performing or, like so many vocalists out there who have great sets of pipes or who are ‘flexible’ singers, is it just that joy of singing that gives you a musical high?
BR: I really love to sing hard rock! But ‘Under the Ice’ is, maybe for the first time, the true Barbara Rubin style. I composed truly what I would want to listen to, so I tried to write driven by my passion and desire to hear new music.
RM: You will be aware of a number of prog music festivals in Europe that are great events to promote new or lesser known artists as well as featuring ‘name’ bands. Any moves to have you appear at festivals such as the 'Summers End' or 'Winters End' U.K. festivals, or possibly other shows featuring Barbara Rubin outside of Italy?
BR: At the moment I’m very busy with promotion, radio and press, so we cannot schedule live concerts very much, but we hope to be ready in the winter and absolutely we will try to have gigs outside of Italy over the next few years, which will include new music. The U.K. is a wonderful place for music and musicians, and I will do my best to come over for some gigs - it would be great! The Netherlands is a great place for prog music, too. There is a great prog festival in Bakkeveen, and I was on that stage in 2005 with Arcansiel. I hope to go back there with my solo project.
RM: are you working on any new music right now, whether with LoreWeaveR or for another solo project?
BR: Yes! I’m working on a new song for a single that I would love to publish this coming autumn, and I actually arranged and completed the song for a musical competition. I know it’s quite soon for new work as I’m still promoting 'Under the Ice', but I couldn't use one of those songs for the competition because it had to be an unpublished piece. I can tell you that the title is ‘Eyelids’, but despite the English title the lyrics are in Italian with some parts in English. I love this combination of languages. And I have music for another album, but it is probably wise to take time to repose the mind from the current release.
RM: I look forward to hearing that new material Barbara, and it’s been a pleasure talking to you. I wish you every success with both 'Under the Ice' and LoreWeaveR. Ciao!
BR: Ciao Ross, it was my pleasure. Thank you very much for giving me the chance to be mentioned in your wonderful webzine!
Ross Muir
Muirsical Conversation with Barbara Rubin
July 2010
'Under the Ice' available from www.btf.it and audio download on Amazon and iTunes.
Barbara Rubin's Myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/barbararubinmusic
LoreWeaveR's Myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/loreweaverband
Audo tracks presented to accompany the Muirsical Conversation article by kind permission of Barbara Rubin & LoreWeaveR. No infringement of copyright is intended.
BR: Dream Theater actually inspired me with regard to my solo album, but in connection with the instrumental and rhythmic textures. Maybe my vocals are influenced more by the natural shape for the melody that we Italian musicians have.
RM: With your musical background and appreciation for so many musical genres it should be probably no surprise that you can turn your vocal to pop, rock, ballad, progressive or metal.
Do you have a favourite style you enjoy performing or, like so many vocalists out there who have great sets of pipes or who are ‘flexible’ singers, is it just that joy of singing that gives you a musical high?
BR: I really love to sing hard rock! But ‘Under the Ice’ is, maybe for the first time, the true Barbara Rubin style. I composed truly what I would want to listen to, so I tried to write driven by my passion and desire to hear new music.
RM: You will be aware of a number of prog music festivals in Europe that are great events to promote new or lesser known artists as well as featuring ‘name’ bands. Any moves to have you appear at festivals such as the 'Summers End' or 'Winters End' U.K. festivals, or possibly other shows featuring Barbara Rubin outside of Italy?
BR: At the moment I’m very busy with promotion, radio and press, so we cannot schedule live concerts very much, but we hope to be ready in the winter and absolutely we will try to have gigs outside of Italy over the next few years, which will include new music. The U.K. is a wonderful place for music and musicians, and I will do my best to come over for some gigs - it would be great! The Netherlands is a great place for prog music, too. There is a great prog festival in Bakkeveen, and I was on that stage in 2005 with Arcansiel. I hope to go back there with my solo project.
RM: are you working on any new music right now, whether with LoreWeaveR or for another solo project?
BR: Yes! I’m working on a new song for a single that I would love to publish this coming autumn, and I actually arranged and completed the song for a musical competition. I know it’s quite soon for new work as I’m still promoting 'Under the Ice', but I couldn't use one of those songs for the competition because it had to be an unpublished piece. I can tell you that the title is ‘Eyelids’, but despite the English title the lyrics are in Italian with some parts in English. I love this combination of languages. And I have music for another album, but it is probably wise to take time to repose the mind from the current release.
RM: I look forward to hearing that new material Barbara, and it’s been a pleasure talking to you. I wish you every success with both 'Under the Ice' and LoreWeaveR. Ciao!
BR: Ciao Ross, it was my pleasure. Thank you very much for giving me the chance to be mentioned in your wonderful webzine!
Ross Muir
Muirsical Conversation with Barbara Rubin
July 2010
'Under the Ice' available from www.btf.it and audio download on Amazon and iTunes.
Barbara Rubin's Myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/barbararubinmusic
LoreWeaveR's Myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/loreweaverband
Audo tracks presented to accompany the Muirsical Conversation article by kind permission of Barbara Rubin & LoreWeaveR. No infringement of copyright is intended.
