Interviews: Anno Mundi

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Dark Metal/Metal band, Anno Mundi from Italy. Check out the interview!

1.Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that?

Gianluca Livi: because of we live in Rome, I proposed “Caput Mundi” but it sounded a bit too grandiloquent and self-referential, so Alessio, who is a Black Sabbath fan, proposed Anno Mundi. The Latin language represents us particularly, as it is still the official language of Imperial Rome.

2.Why did you want to play this genre?

Gianluca Livi: We love any sound of the early seventies, from Black Sabbath to Van Der Graaf Generator, passing by Deep Purple, Yes, King Crimson, Uriah Heep 

Alessio Secondini Morelli: Since adolescence I have always been very close to the sensitivity, imagination and feeling of the heaviest and most complex musical genres. Starting to play from these sonic coordinates turned out to be completely obvious.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

Gianluca Livi: Mattia and Flavio were my friends while Alessio, Federico and I had a common friend (Andrea Ciccomartino, singer and guitarist of italian hardrockers Graal) who introduced us to each other.

4. Each band member favourite band?

Gianluca Livi: Genesis, Megadeth, Porcupine Tree, Pat Metheny, CSNY.

Alessio Secondi Morelli: Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Saxon, Iron Maiden, Slayer, Pink Floyd 

Mattia Liberati: Weather Report, Tribal Tech, Area, Herbie Hancock, CCCP

Flavio Gonnellini: Genesis, Frank Zappa, John Scofield, Tribal Tech, Mac DeMarco 

Federico "Freddy Rising" Giuntoli: Rovescio Della Medaglia, Whitesnake, Frank Zappa

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Gianluca Livi: generally, some melodies jump into my mind and I repeat them as a mantra, adding something more, listen to them day after day.

Alessio Secondini Morelli: There is no fixed method. Sometimes I get the inspiration to talk about a certain theme, and then I look for some ideas that fit perfectly in the musical ideas of my personal archive. Others let myself be carried away by music, which gives me the right inspiration to select the argument to be associated.

6. Where was your last gig?

Gianluca Livi: as opening act of Norwegians hardrockers Brutus, in Rome.

Alessio Secondi Morelli: I don't think so. If I well remember, our last gig was at RoMetal, a terrific Metal festival in Rome... 

7. Where would you like to act?

Gianluca Livi: I would like to play live in an ancient Roman amphitheater, In studio, probably at Abbey Road.

Alessio Secondini Morelli: I'd like to play in the Chicago House of Blues, but it's an impossible dream.

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

Gianluca Livi: with my band, Anno Mundi.

Alessio Secondi Morelli: with Tony Iommi

Mattia Liberati: with Patrizio Fariselli

Flavio Gonnellini: with John Scofield

9. Whom not?

Gianluca Livi: never with mercenaries

Alessio Secondi Morelli: never with those who do not know how to convey emotions

Mattia Liberati: I wouldn't like to feat. with famous musicians for their technical skills.

Flavio Gonnellini: never more with members from historical prog bands.

10. Any of you has ever suffered from stage fright? Any tip for beginners on how to beat that?

Gianluca Livi: I happened to get on stage very nervous when I realized that I was there only for the profit of people who didn't know who I was. There are many club owners who hire artists able to bring people - friends or fans - to their shows. But they are interested just to the money. They wanted people who drink like sponges, spending a lot of money. They don't care about the artist and the music they play and this is one of the horrible aspects of live music in small clubs and pubs.

Alessio Secondini Morelli: Well that's an interesting question. Frankly, not up to now. I've always thought about going on stage because I feel like doing it. But it is also true that the audience in front of me has never been oceanic.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

Alessio Secondini Morelli: The Metal of the '80s, British and American. Some giants of '70s hard / prog but also some of the best italian singers.

Gianluca Livi: I love so much prog and rock from the seventies so, when I write a song, I always have, in my mind, the great prog and hard rock "dinosaurs" of the past. Sometimes, I look to the present. For example, I love so much Procupine Tree, Wobbler, Jordsjo, Røsenkreütz. I really appreciated the two albums of italians Ingranaggi Della Valle, formed by our bass and keyboard players Mattia Liberati and Flavio Gonnellini.

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

Alessio Secondini Morelli: No weird requests that we remember.

13. What do you think of your fans?

Alessio Secondini Morelli: That they are as good at showing a great passion for the '70s Hard / Prog tradition as we do

14. What do you think of our site?

Gianluca Livi: I really like the division into genres and the subsequent division into sub-genres (on the right of your home page). I find it very useful for all the readers who want to find their way around a site full of reviews and interviews like you...

15. Something add?

Alessio Secondini Morelli: We hope that asap only good music will remain around. STAY HARD!

Gianluca Livi: First of all, thank you for this interview. In addition, We would like to thank the community for the amazing feedback that we’ve been receiving on the album so far.