Fabbro di Chiavi, pseudonym Marco Pellizzari, is a guitarist, songwriter and aerospace engineer born in Asolo (TV) on December 19, 1983. Early on, while helping to the implementation of earth observation and solar system exploration missions, he developed a passion for music, beginning with classical guitar studies and progressing to electric guitar. International artists (Steve Vai, Al Di Meola, Paco de Lucia, Joe Pass, Steve Morse, Symphony X) and Italian artists are sources of inspiration and study (Banco del mutual Aid, New Trolls, PFM).
He has played rock, progressive, and metal in tribute bands (Genesis, TOTO, Malmsteen, and Van Halen) in Italy and Germany, where he presently resides, since 2000. During the pandemic, he organized the material recorded over the years and decided to give life to the symphonic metal solo project Fabbro di Chiavi, with which he experienced the entire creative process, from the conception of the idea to its sponsorship; releasing the debut single “Light and Heavy” in March 2022.
Light and Heavy is the first six-strings-focused single by Italian guitarist Marco Pellizzari, nicknamed Fabbro di Chiavi, and is available on all major streaming platforms and YouTube with the original music video as of March 20. The instrumental work, which stands out for the variety of guitar nuances and the great symphonic impact, symbolizes in music the tenderness and harshness of human life, with strong dynamics and a varying intensity of the melodic line highlighting the changes. During the covid time, the single Light and Heavy was totally made in a home studio. “I decided to compose music, produce it and promote it, not because it is easy, but because it is the starting point for all the new musicians of today and because the goal of communicating through it serves to field and organize the best of my energies and skills. I believe that this challenge is what every musician who wants to make a statement is willing to accept, and it is the challenge that for me could no longer be postponed.” Light and Heavy was composed and arranged by Fabbro di Chiavi with the assistance of his buddy and keyboardist Leonardo Barilaro from Malta and drummer Andrea Giovannoli from Pescara. Collaborative artworks with the Greek artist Falconist. The song was mixed and mastered by ACSY.studio and is released by Distrokid; as of 20 March, it is available on all digital streaming platforms, along with an official video clip on the YouTube channel for Fabbro di Chiavi. Check out the song and the exclusive interview below:
1. Did you have any formal training or are you self-taught?
FABBRO DI CHIAVI: I started studying classical guitar at the age of eight within an academy. I grew up with the classical guitar and once acquired the method I have applied it whenever I found something intriguing and of interest to me. Still today I study, never ending process…
2. Who were your first and strongest musical influences and why the name ‘FABBRO DI CHIAVI’?
FABBRO DI CHIAVI: As I had the opportunity to dive into classical music, rock and progressive music, I have to admit that they are many. I would surely list Albeniz, Vivaldi, Paco de Lucia, Steve Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen, Queen, Deep Purple, Jethro Tull, Genesis, Yes and many others.
The name for my solo project looks to the Italian progressive rock scene from which I learnt a lot. It plays on the ambivalence of the word “chiavi”: in Italian it stands for keys but also for music clefs. So “Fabbro di Chiavi” is indeed the blacksmith forging the clef.
3. What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?
FABBRO DI CHIAVI:
The key elements are electrical and acoustic/classical guitar fully deployed with big melodies and symphonic landscape. The coexistence of the classical and electrical guitar worlds at once is the key. This themes will be developed more and more in the next future.
4. For most artists, originality is first preceded by a phase of learning and, often, emulating others. What was this like for you? How would you describe your own development as an artist and music maker, and the transition towards your own style, which is known as METAL?
FABBRO DI CHIAVI:
Well, I have studied and still I do, but the definition of an own style, at least for me, is still in evolution and will keep going. In a world where guitar technical possibilities have been already pushed to the extreme a new voice can be lost.
I guess that being aware of it helps to make music that can still offer something to whom listen, but also keeps you engaged with a difficult challenge.
5. What’s your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles – and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative, and entertainment?
FABBRO DI CHIAVI:
Music is all about mankind, said so, it cannot be disentangled from the person who creates it. Instrumental music gives me the possibility to convey all what I perceive as human being into impressions; so it is not only the personal narrative, but a more holistic view without fixed boundaries. The wonderful thing about it is the room left for the listener interpretation that makes it personal and hopefully meaningful.
6. Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it or are you expecting something more, or different in the future?
FABBRO DI CHIAVI:
Light and Heavy has been an experiment, a sort of “Hello World”; It has been hard work to go through the production process for the first time and as of today is the only release available. In other words, making a judgment on a unique release is premature; however the audience reactions are positive and contribute keeping the momentum to proceed with the release in the course of this year of an EP.
7. Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song? Do you usually start with a tune, a beat, or a narrative in your head? And do you collaborate with others in this process?
FABBRO DI CHIAVI:
It strongly depends from the purpose. Light and Heavy is melody driven. I had the melody in mind, I took paper and pencil and I wrote it down. I developed the structure and the orchestration afterwards. For the forthcoming EP the process is top down: I started form the concept and developed the structure, I chose the tunes, derived the melodies and the orchestration based on the mood required.
About collaborations indeed I am eager to increase the number; so far I had just one that got published and I hope there will be more opportunities in the future.
8. What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
FABBRO DI CHIAVI: Once the decision to produce and publish was made then the effort to make it real has been significant. It is normal nowadays, however normal does not mean easy.
9. On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
FABBRO DI CHIAVI: Definitely the decision to start a soloist project without excuses and compromises. I am really doing what I like with full commitment.
13. Do you think is it important for fans of your music to understand the real story and message driving each of your songs, or do you think everyone should be free to interpret your songs in their own personal way?
FABBRO DI CHIAVI: Well, for light and heavy as well for the forthcoming EP I work on the whole story, from music to artwork that I use to sketch on pencil and paper. I try to expose the whole idea to the audience with all the means available, but the music (in particular the instrumental one) is in the ears of the listener, so she/he has the full freedom to perceive it and interpret it.
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