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Interviews
Paolo Rustichelli: Mystic Man
Katrina-Kasey Wheeler
Miss. Wheeler is a free lance journalist, model and aspiring actress. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from a private Jesuit University and is pursuing a Juris Doctorate, focusing on Entertainment Law.AAJ: There are deeper undertones to your music. The common thread seems to be the exploration of the mystic forces of music and life. On your album, Mystic Man you have said that it was a "compilation of sonic glimpses. Can you elaborate on that?
PR: I was looking to do a record with a compilation of songs from various genres. As I have said before I do not like to be limited by one genre and so that album is a result of that. I think it is important for an artist to try different things with their music from time-to-time.
AAJ: Especially in light of major record companies cutting their jazz divisions.
PR: The industry likes to categorize every artist, it is just easier to define someone in that way. I consider myself an artist that follows cutting-edge technological developments. This implies using new ways of musical expression with plug-ins and supporting new distribution media as digital downloads.
If I don't consider the CD totally obsolete, honestly, I think that it's at the sunset of its existence. For example, my album Neopagan (New Age Music, 2006) is still a work-in-progress, even though it has been released. The album can be downloaded with new versions and remixes as soon as I upload them onto my MySpace page. I think also, as do some of my colleagues, that the concept of an album will be obsolete soon.
Paolo Rustichelli with Carlos Santana
AAJ: I think Neopagan is a good example of your departure from this categorization placed on artists. What is behind the title?
PR: Since I was young, I have been interested in archaeology and things like that. I consider myself a free spirit and therefore I would classify myself as a Neopagan. I used this theme as a pretext to put together music history and spirituality. Neopagan can mean that one is into the environment—global warming, etc...
AAJ: Tuned into nature and one's surroundings?
PR: Exactly. For example, the song "Gaia Mater is dedicated to mother earth. The ancient Greeks used the word Gaia when referring to our planet. So there are a lot of songs dedicated to this Neopagan outlook on life.
AAJ: Are you currently traveling?
PR: I am working on a new album which will probably be released sometime this year. I hope to be touring soon, as well.
Selected Discography
Paolo Rustichelli, Neopagan (Next Age Music, 2006)
Placido Domingo, Sacred Songs (DG Deutsche Grammophon, 2002)
Paolo Rustichelli, Mystic Man (Island Records, 1996)
Paolo Rustichelli, Mystic Jazz (Polydor, 1991)
Carlos Santana, Spirits Dancing in the Flesh (Columbia, 1990)
Paolo Rustichelli, Opera Prima (RCA Italy, 1973)
Photo Credit
Courtesy of Paolo Rustichelli
