Massimiliano Cranchi is a thirty-year-old Mantuan singer-songwriter from Serminde who together with his friend, Marco degli Esposti, gave life to the Cranchi Band project, which was born in 2010. We had the pleasure of interviewing him orienting our questions on the figure of the contemporary singer-songwriter and his song; and the experience lived in Chile during a tour that turned out to be an unforgettable journey.
The interview with Massimiliano Cranchi
Music is not always everything, especially when it comes to a songwriter like Massimiliano Cranchi. A harmonic structure, with melodic motifs with a strong perceptive grip, are born in the most casual situations. But what moves the songwriter from? From the need to want to communicate to the masses a thought that can move affections? Or simply the fact of a moment that needs a pen, a pick that communicate a fleeting thought?
Basically I write songs out of need. I am attracted to history and stories, I try to make them mine and pass them on to those who want to listen to me. We use music to tell and sometimes the story can be just the emotion of a moment. In the next album "I explain" with the first song how this process happens and how it happened. The new album will be called "improbable explanations", I think it is unlikely that the author gives "explanations" of his work and why he does it, the listener must be free to interpret as he wishes.
The King and the Universal Republic
But who is this King? And is the Universal Republic a Utopia of Law? Or just the afterlife of idealistic practices?
The "King" is a difficult concept to eradicate from our minds. It is a lack of culture, of participation; its opposite is the Universal Republic, a world where everyone feels involved and empowered even in small daily actions. Heads or Gods of any kind would no longer be needed, one could experience an orderly anarchy, "governed" by common sense. I understand that the discourse borders on utopia but the engine of life are not dreams?
The Tour in Chile
The link with Chile initially occurred purely by chance; slowly we literally fell in love with the culture and history of this country. We were lucky enough to meet a boy from Sermide who lives in Santiago. We weren't sure what we were going to do there.
We played, met great people with great stories; listened to music we didn't know existed (including “Los Jivas” and “Los Prisoneros” but I could mention many others). Eaten, drank (the wine of that country has no equal), saw the snow and the desert but above all, even here the case, I discovered that I have a "relative" (yet to be ascertained exactly, but who cares), grandson of miners who lives in Valparaiso. In short, a journey that we will carry inside forever.
The Conclusions
What is the advice that Massimiliano Cranchi feels he can give to those who would like to pursue a musical career that also explores transnational borders? Obviously taking into account the usability and market relationships that currently exist in the world of discography?
Too often we confuse freedom of opinion with being able to say every bullshit that goes through our heads, we have many examples of all-rounders on TV and on the internet; the bar has expanded a lot, it can be fun but tired in the long run. Sometimes we forget that before speaking (or singing) we must listen, listen and listen again. Before building you have to look trying to see; and before expressing opinions, study!
I end this very pleasant chat with you with a piece of advice that a journalist friend gave me some time ago.
They asked her: "In your opinion, a young man of today, to approach the world of journalism, what should he do?". She replied: "A vegetable garden!"
I subscribe.
