Jennifer Gentle Is An Italian Witch

I you don't know Jennifer Gentle, you should. As well as being a mystical Italian witch, she is also a magical Italian psyche-pop band. The group formed in 2000 and has since released six records, the most recent being Valende, on Sub Pop. I daresay, they are the only internationally recognized group out of Italy right now that is producing the special breed of fantasy pop we all love. My music consultant played me I Do Dream You a song from their most recent album, and I was in love, especially with the balloon solo in the middle of the song. I was fortunate enough to get an interview with one of the founding band members, Alessio, which you are about to read!

Who is Jennifer Gentle?

Alessio: A witch!

Why the name, Jennifer Gentle?

Alessio: We love esoteric atmosphere, we thought that a witch name would might work well, maybe she is guiding us from another world.

Where do you live?

Alessio: I live in Abano Terme, near Padova, a town in north-east of Italy. It is close to Venice. Marco lives in Padova.

When and how did Jennifer Gentle form?

Alessio: Marco broke with his previous band, Carcers. I was a Carcers fan since I booked a concert for them in my venue Plan 9. We started together, then we asked other guys to play with us but we have always been the core of the band. Now some people around us has changed and the last record was recorded just by me and Marco. On stage we are 5, I play drums, Marco guitar and voice, Isaacs or Paolo guitar, Liviano keyboards, Francesco bass.

What is your approach to creating music?

Alessio: Marco always experiments with his 4 track tape machine. His approach is very free, when he feels inspired he records a song which is developed together by trying different solution. We try to capture the right sound to create the best atmosphere for what we feel. Everything should sound natural and pure.

Do the lyrics or the instrumental music come first?

Alessio: Instrumental with the voice part, then Marco writes lyrics with attention of the sound of the words. Musicality of the lyrics it is our first aim.

I hear some 1960s British influence, (ie: the Kinks, Sid Barret), is that present in the music?

Alessio: Yes, sure, but we love also ‘50’s and ‘70’s music. Marco is more interested in ‘50’s than ‘60’s…

If you could live through any decade, what would that be?

Alessio: I choose ‘20’s-‘30’s, Marco ‘50’s. No Jennifer Gentle in this case

What records have you put out?

Alessio: Our first record is “I am you are” (2001). The second album is “Funny Creatures Lane” (2002). The same year we published a live album with Kawabata Makoto (Acid Mothers Temple) called “The Wrong Cage”. In 2003 a 2-cd reissue called “Ectoplasmic Garden Party” was published by the Australian label “Ectoplasmic Garden Party”. In 2005 “Valende” was out for Sub Pop Records.

Do you listen to Celine Dion?

Alessio: Should I?

What music do you listen to?

Alessio: Everything! Can, Amon Duul, Pink Floyd, Velvet Underground, Tom Waits, Miles Davis, Ramones, Sex Pistols, Cramps, violent Femmes, Television, Nico, Beatles, Rolling Stones……………………………………………………………

Are you involved in the music scene in your community on a local level?

Alessio: No.

Jennifer Gentle seems to be the new Italian Psyche poster child, along with international contemporaries like Acid Mother Temple, Six Organs of Admittance and Simon Finn. Is this label accurate?

Alessio: It could be for some side of Jennifer Gentle music but we are more interested in pop songs. We love both freak-out jam and stupid pop songs…

Are there other Psyche bands roaming the Italian forests?

Alessio: No.

Describe one of your recent performances:

Alessio: When we can play with our complete backline we have three different set. A total acoustic moment, a electro-acoustic moment and a total electric moment with a couple of freak-out jam. I think it is a good performance with different atmosphere.

How did you get involved with American Label, Sub Pop?

Alessio: As I told you before, we published a 2-cd anthology of our first 2 cd. Ectoplasmic Garden Party was well distributed in USA and a copy arrived in a Seattle music store and captured Dean attention. Dean is our A/R at Sub Pop. He wrote us to have more info about Jennifer Gentle and so we got in touch. After a bunch of e-mail, a meeting in Florence, some phone calling we signed for Sub Pop. We are very happy about that.

Do you plan on touring to the US anytime soon?

Alessio: Hey man! We toured since two weeks ago for one month and half in the USA…please, we need to stay with our family!!!

If you come here on tour, can my band Cosmic Star (Cosmic Star: http://www.cosmicstar.co.uk) play a show with you in San Francisco?

Alessio: We had a very good time there. We played at the Bottom of the Hill and by Amoeba Records. Usually the local band are chosen by the local promoter…however let’s keep in touch!

Do you have any magical words for your fans?

Alessio: Enjoy yourself!!!

Thanks!

Alessio: THANK YOU!!!


Listen to:I Do Dream You