Exclusive Interview with PETER COLUMN

Prolific producer Peter Column’s latest single, “Charade,” is an enchanting track boasting infectious melodies and an incessant groove – lyrically, it delves into the emotional frustration of being with someone who’s been hiding behind a facade. Blending such raw emotion with a funky groove, the track is inspired by both the deceptive nature of relationships and the aesthetic of the 1963 film Charade, starring Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant. The song’s vibe mirrors the stylish tension of the film, with its influence extending into the music video. “Charade” sets the stage for Peter’s upcoming EP “The Memories We Can’t Leave Behind,” offering listeners a taste of what’s to come. Check out the exclusive Interview below:

1. Your roots can often shape your journey. Can you share a story or moment from your early life that had a significant impact on your path into music?

PETER COLUMN: I remember growing up listening to whatever my parents put on, especially in the car. Like during travels we used to go from Genoa, which is the city where I was born and where I live, to Taurianova, which is a small town in Calabria, South Italy where my parents where born and we still have relatives. It’s a 12 hour trip, so we had plenty of music to listen to. I got to know and like a lot of artists from the 70’s and the 80’s so as a teenager it was strange for the other kids at school when they where listening to all the new artists like Aqua and Eifell 65, and I was listening to Kool & the gang and KC & the sunshine band!

2. Did your musical journey begin with formal training, or was it more of a personal exploration? How has that shaped your unique approach to your craft?

PETER COLUMN: I never had any training, actually my first passion used to be drawing comics and making videos! I loved sitting at my computer and editing the daily shots. I used to love making video edits and choosing the music that would go with it! My friends always told me I had a very good taste in choosing the right music. At some point when we were making this film and we wanted to have an original soundtrack, this was about when the music making softwares started to grow, so I sat there and started to try, and that’s how it all began!

3. Who were some of the most influential figures in your early musical life, and how did they inspire your sound? Also, what’s the story behind choosing the name ‘PETER COLUMN’?

PETER COLUMN: During the making of that film soundtrack a friend asked about the software I was using, he started to use it also and began his project. Years later he asked me to be a part of it, and that led me to grow and met people, so i guess THAT friend would be an influential figure!

Also thanks to him I met this band called “i Gini Paoli” which I became a member of! They’re also are an important figure in my journey up to this point! The name “Peter Column” came up to me when I had to choose a name for that soundtrack I talked about before, my real name was already credited as director so I wanted to have a different name for the music credit, I decided to take both my grandpa’s name which is “Pietro”, Peter in english and my mother’s surname which is “Colonna” translated in latin which is Column!

4. What do you believe sets your music apart? How would you describe your sound to someone discovering you for the first time, and what emotions or experiences do you hope to evoke in your listeners?

PETER COLUMN: I like to have different “shades” of music. Of course it’s electronic, but I can have relaxing tracks, energetic tracks and dance tracks. I don’t want to be bound by only one style. I like for the listeners to experience my tracks with their own emotions and feelings.

5. Creative work in a studio or home environment, or interaction with a live audience? Which of these two options excites you most, and why?

PETER COLUMN: I like a good balance between the two, right now we are working on new stuff with the band (i Gini Paoli), and it’s been very exciting! Also when I get to meet with my friend and we work on our project “nonèimportante”, it’s also very stimulating. Sometimes though I like to be on my own and gather ideas. It’s the same with live shows, I’ve only had the chance to do a few of them, besides performing with the band, I love to play with an audience, but after a while I feel like I need to stop and gather some energy to be able to perform at my best next time.

6. Music often transcends entertainment. 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?

PETER COLUMN: Yes, for me as “Peter Column” it’s about the expression, narrative and entertainment, but I also like when there is a powerful message behind it, like what we do with “nonèimportante”.

7. Do you feel the rewards of your musical career match the energy and passion you invest in it, or are there different kinds of fulfillment you’re still seeking?

PETER COLUMN: I am just at the beginning, so I still have to see most of the results of my work! But I can tell you that it has been very emotional and cool seeing people dancing with my own tracks at live sets, and that’s a pretty cool reward!

8. Can you walk us through your creative process? From the first spark of an idea to the finished track, what’s the most essential part of your process, and how do collaboration or external influences shape your work?

PETER COLUMN:

I usually follow my mood and sometimes look back at past experiences or memories, which was the first topic I wanted to use for my first work. I open a blank project and start to create according to the mood or concept that I want, sometimes, inside that there is something interesting, so I start from there to shape what it will be, eventually, the finished track. I have of course learned a lot collaborating with the people I’ve talked about before, they have a longer history of music making than me, so the time I spend with them is always precious to me.

9. What’s been the most challenging hurdle in either your personal life or music career, and how has it shaped you as an artist?

PETER COLUMN: I’ve always had this feeling, as a person who hasn’t had any music lessons, like impostor syndrome in the presence of other artists that I’ve met. So I felt insecure and shy when I had to talk about my work or share ideas, but thanks to my closest friends, I’m kinda getting better and more sure about myself!

I also think it’s not easy in my town/country to reach people with my style of music. I feel like people here are more into the Techno genre, that’s why I’m leaning more to the international audience.

10. On the flip side, what moment or achievement in your career so far has made you feel the proudest, and why? And let’s talk about your latest release and future plans.

PETER COLUMN: Like I was saying before, seeing people dance to my own tracks has been the nicest feeling up to now. I hope I can soon achieve more of that!

The single I’m promoting now, “Charade” is part of an EP called “The memories we can’t leave behind”, I am a very nostalgic person, so this is the topic I wanted to use for my first full EP, memories. Each track I’ve made is connected to a memory or a situation from my past, they are not necessary “in your face”, but they’re in it, I like for people to experience it in their own way.