06: Lemmings (Roma)

My first meeting with the Lemmings was on MySpace long before I got the opportunity to see them perform live. I “discovered” them via Ilenia Volpe: at that time she was also playing guitar in an all female group, The Thelmas, with Annalisa “babysan” Laterza, who was then the bassist for the Lemmings. I’ve now seen them live three times: once in 2009 and twice in 2011, and never been disappointed.

The group started in 2007 but the current formation is fairly recent, just over a year of playing together, with two changes of bassist and one change of guitarist in their five year history. Famously, as their song “Non suono indie” [I don’t play indie] declares, they are not an “indie” band, so I ask Emiliano what they do play: “Certainly not indie!” he confirms “I think categorising music is always a bit ‘forced’ – it makes life easier for journalists and critics, perhaps, but most bands are not reflected fully in these definitions. Currently we play something that fits between singer/songwriter and garage punk! I don’t think that a real category exists for us, fortunately – it would probably be something horrid.”

The band have released two albums so far: “Lemmings” (December 2009) and “Teoria Del Piano Zero” [Ground Zero Theory]( November 2011).  The singles from the first album “Pret à Porter” [Ready to Wear], “Mai” [Never] and “Non Suono Indie“ were played on many of the Italian network and independent radio stations. “Mai” went on to win the award for best independent music video at the Rome Independent Video Awards 2009 and was subsequently played in rotation on the major music channels in Italy. 

" Teoria Del Piano Zero " is, on the other hand, a concept album that revolves around the concepts of destruction and rebirth: “We’ve tried to summarise in music our idea of what needs to be reconsidered and reconstructed in our current society” explains Emiliano “In our opinion, society is destined to an inevitable implosion! We need only prepare ourselves for what is to follow.” The album has been received well by both critics and public alike, but it is more difficult to listen to and much darker than “Lemmings” Emiliano tells me. He’s sure that there are those who will continue to prefer the old Lemmings’ style – “more danceable and fun” – but he says that’s quite inevitable.

Luna, is the other vocalist in the group and has directed several of the band’s videos. I ask her how she got into this role. “I started making videos in 2007,” she says “One day, after listening to a song by a group of my friends, I felt the need to express myself through images and create a video. It wasn’t a logical thing to do: I had never done it before, but since then I’ve never stopped making it my job. In the future I’d like to direct a feature film – who wouldn’t – because even though I love making music videos, the crisis in the world music industry has greatly reduced investment. Music videos have ever decreasing budgets, and even though this limitation creates an incentive to find innovative solutions, it’s quite possible that in the future music will find an even cheaper way to promote itself.”

And is Luna any different behind the camera than in front of a microphone? “I’m always happy to work with Luna,” says Emiliano smiling “she’s my favourite video director. She doesn’t change that much behind the lens, actually, just maybe she smokes a little more…”

Emiliano has also been responsible for producing the last two Piotta albums – the latest of which will be released in April. “We first worked together – even though we didn’t realise it until later – on a song for Sanremo [an Italian music festival] “Ladro di te” [Your thief] in 2004 and then again on other occasions. But we then decided to work together full time on the album “S(u)ono Diverso” [I am/play different(ly)].”

Emiliano believes that the music scene in Rome and in Italy in general is pretty strong at the moment but that it’s not easy for groups to get the visibility they deserve. “This is due to a number of factors,” he explains “the most important of these is the bad habit of putting their own interests and those of their friends before the validity of the music they are offering. It probably wouldn’t be abnormal if it was just the musicians, but it’s a different story when it’s also the few independent media channels, journalists, promoters and producers. It has become a difficult situation to manage.” Although Lemmings are not part of the Heroes project here in Rome Emiliano believes it to be an interesting project and says it is one of many such initiatives here.

The second single from the new album “Hiroshima” has recently been released and the band are waiting to see how it is received – so far the indications are good. “We have also begun working with a booking agency in Bologna” says Emiliano “and we really hope that works out for us. In the longer term I really don’t know what the future holds, but my hope is that our music reaches as many people as possible.” I have to confess that I hope that too, and perhaps in my own small way - writing articles in English about interesting Italian bands and musicians - I’m helping to achieve just that.

Lemmings are: Emiliano Ra-B (Vocals), Luna Gualano (Vocals), Giuseppe "Foga" Coglitore (drums), Marco La Fratta (guitar), Francesco Fioravanti (guitar), and Luca Amendola (bass).

Contacts details and links for the Lemmings:

facebook page:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lemmings/118828245561
facebook profile: http://www.facebook.com/LemmingsPage
myspace (yes, it still exists): http://www.myspace.com/thelemmings
soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/officiallemmings
website (under construction): www.lemmingsofficial.com

 The Lemmings recommended these videos:

Francesco: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PECk9A-07Pw
When I was twelve I watched this video hundreds of times on an old video cassette... one of the first groups I loved.

Marco: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJTfMOzuH28
I don't think that there is a video that has moved me more than this. I cried from the first second... to see them all after almost 25 years, with wrinkles and grey hair, playing on stage - even if a little "rusty" and "awkward" - with millions of people singing with them in every corner of the world was a well deserved tribute for a band that changed music history as well as changing my life! And seeing them still today with Richard Wright alive is a continual heart thumper...

Giuseppe: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pj_qwnM8LNA
... because I still don't believe it...

Luca: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YCGtT_FRYg
... because it's an experience ...

Luna: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3D-_upwJxp8
... because in life we must be lucid ...

Ra.B: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFIbUZaAyLM
... because I would like just one tenth of his genius...