Lorenzo Feliciati

Lorenzo Feliciati: a world-renowned eclectic bass player, producer, arranger and recording artist.

Feliciati is a frequently-flying well-travelled artist that has been exploring and mixing many different genres throughout all his long career, to the extent of creating his very own unique style that makes his music always recognizable. Feliciati’s work is split between his evolving career as one of the most important bass players in the contemporary international scene, and his role as one of Italy’s greatest studio and live professional musicians. And even more so, he’s especially renowned for his outstanding talents as composer, arranger and producer. He collaborated with many great artists, like Pat Mastolloto, Marco Minnemann, Steve Jansen (Japan) and Colin Edwin (Porcupine Tree) with whom he formed Twinscapes. To name just a few.
I reviewed his latest solo album 'Groove First'  for my website, a sublime album he recorded with a lot of different drummers!

So time to talk!

Arne: Congratulations on your fantastic new album If you had to describe the album yourself in a few words, what would they be and why?

Lorenzo: An homage to the rhythm partner of every bassist: drums and drummers!

I always loved drums and the initial idea was to learn to play drums but my brother and his friend needed a bass player so I took away two strings from the acoustic guitar…

Arne: Drums and drummers are your great inspiration for this album: why? And how did you organize the whole thing, I mean 9 drummers! And all the other great musicians…

Lorenzo: I am always recording more or less finalized music, having protools at home of course is a key element in being able to do so.

When every song was still at the first steps of composing/arranging, I start to think “which one of all the great drummers you’ve worked with should play on this song?”

So I sent each one of them the song with a “fake” drum part” without giving them any kind of instructions/direction, letting them be free to be creative and inspired.

It seems this approach worked cause the results were even better than my dreams!

Being a pro musicians since many years ago helped me in having a lot of great musicians that are also friends.

Friendship and mutual respect always helps!

 Arne: You wrote (nearly) everything yourself .How does the writing process usually go for you . Does a song originate from a jam session, or does it start at home with a snippet of text on a phone? Do you have a home studio?

Lorenzo: Yes, I always had an home studio since late 90s.

I always start with a real drum loop or an electronic beat. I am not able to start in a different way.After I have a nice groove happening I start with searching for a sound on keys or guitar. Strangely enough, bass is the last one to enter the picture.

I try to stay away as much as possible from composing a “bass driven” song, something created to do a solo. The music must work without the bass ha ha ha !

Some projects I had during the years like Naked Truth (three albums and some gigs, with Pat Mastelotto, Roy Powell and Graham Haynes) or Antikithera (duo project with Michele Rabbia) were all-together in the studio sessions that later I post produced, editing, moving or changing stuff 

Arne: Lorenzo, you do a lot. Not only solo but you also work with different musicians all the time. How does that work for you?

Lorenzo: I think that, growing up musically in the 80s, I was listening to radio all the time and listening to all kind/styles of music. So I guess that attitude, that wide approach to all music genres drove me to always try to collaborate with as many musicians as possible, playing a lot of different music styles trying to learn how to play all the different styles with the bass.

Arne: What equipment and instruments do you use? And what is your absolute favorite instrument to play? Is there a special story behind it?

Lorenzo: I play Markbass gear, their amps live and their Vintage pre/DI for recording.

Recently I added their GOG bass and I love it, very modern version of a traditional Jazz bass. My strings of choice are the Markbass Balanced nickel strings.

Plus I have had the pleasure and honor to have several brands giving me their gear, so I often use Cort, Camarota, Becos and Earthquaker.

Always grateful to these companies for their endless help and support.

Arne: Going back to the very beginning: what or who made you pick up the bass guitar. Did you have a musical education?

Lorenzo: Lots of music in the house, mostly jazz. I guess that helped…

My brother sings and plays the guitar, we started together.

Now he is a very respected University Professor but always a music lover.

Arne: You’re a professional musician. What does your daily life look like when you are NOT working on music?

Lorenzo: Breakfast with my wife Désirée, then taking care of our beloved dog Siria.

To be 100% honest I think about music, new projects, new ideas all the times!

We love to travel and spend time around. A very normal life, I guess…

 The happier I am, the more I am with my family, the more I’ll feel ready for new music to learn, new traveling for gigs etc etc

Arne: What are your future plans? Can we expect more albums or a tour?

Lorenzo: I am working on two new projects right now, writing new music and making plans and organizing all the aspects that come together with a new album in the oven.

One is the second album with Pat Mastelotto as a duo named Portal.

Arne: Where do you hope you and your music will be in five years? Are there specific venues, festivals, or countries where you dream of playing?

Lorenzo: Wherever my music will take me I’ll be super happy to perform and visit new and usual places.

Arne: Which artist would you love to have a cup of tea with or dive into the studio with?

Lorenzo: Mmmmm…too many to mention…Terry Bozzio is a drummer I love and admire, could be a dream play and record with him.

But I am sure there are a lot of interesting and stimulating Artists I still haven’t discovered that maybe will be happy to collaborate..the sky is the limit!

What is the strangest or funniest thing you have ever experienced during a performance or in the studio? 

Lorenzo: I try to be in a good, relaxed and happy mood when I am close to walk on stage.

Sometimes strange funny things happen and you find yourself in a comic moment!

Too many to mention, but music lovers are unpredictable and they are able to surprise you before, during and after the concert.

It’s part of the business being open to funny things suddenly happening, you must look at the bright side of things. As we say in Italy, you must always look at a half full glass of wine, not as a half empty glass one..

But discover one minute before showtime at the most important music fair in the world that you took with you the wrong bass…..not the one from the brand that you are performing for at the fair…that was a “dramatically funny” moment !

Arne: Which hidden gem (a relatively unknown artist band, film, or book) do you think my readers really need to discover?

Lorenzo: There’s still stuff from Frank Zappa that is there waiting to be discovered!

Same for Weather Report or Tony Williams’ Lifetime.

And just listen to EVERYTHING is coming from Africa and African artists, you’ll be amazed how much great music and art is waiting to be discovered.

Same for movies, books and places.

Travel as much as you can, don’t be afraid to be the “stranger”, it can be a very refreshing and stimulating moment.