They are called Medium Under Groove or MUG
for short – they prefer that you pronounce it more like “moog” (which
would be the Italian way of pronouncing it) than “mug”. They are four musicians from Rome,
but more than that they are four good friends: Ilenia Volpe, Fab Mele, Gabriele
Cofannelli and Gabriele Trodella.
So what’s with the pronunciation? Is this
an attempt to stamp an Italian identity on the group I ask: “No, it’s so nobody
thinks that we’re big cups of milk” says Fab, laughing “it’s certainly not for
patriotic reasons, we don’t want to be identified as Italians – at least not
musically – we don’t feel very Italian. We like the name Medium Under Groove –
but others will always call us “Mug” “Moog” “Mag” “Meg” “M. U. G.” etc. etc.”
So what kind of music do MUG play? If I was
to put a label on it, it would probably have to be something like “experimental-electronic-post
rock” – but what do I know – and besides, I hate labelling stuff – it doesn’t help
me to decide whether I like the music or not! “We don’t really like to be
classified” says Fab “but this often happens because people almost always want
to listen to a specific genre forgetting that music is created to inspire
emotions within us which have no need for labels. We do not think of ourselves
as post rock nor electronic even if there is undoubtedly something in our music
which resembles those classifications. We choose not to classify out music
leaving it to others if they need to do so."
So not feeling particularly Italian musically,
what market is there for MUG in Italy? Fab laughs and then says “There probably
isn’t a market for us in Italy but we hope to reach out to a certain type of
audience, a niche, and through them let our music spread to as many others as
possible.” So outside of Italy? “We recognise that the music we play is
undoubtedly appreciated more outside of Italy” continues Fab “And fortunately,
as a result of social networking, we are trying to make our music known as much
as possible – also with your help!” He smiles again.
There have been a number of line-up changes
in the history of MUG so I ask Fab (he is the only original member) how the
band has developed with these changes and how their sound has changed. “The
music of MUG has changed several times in five years” he explains “we went from
being a power trio to a band with a viola and synth to what we are today. Each
change in formation had a significant influence on the genre, the sound and how
we write our songs. Today, I would say that each of us brings our own
character, talent and sensibility – a mix of emotions – which creates a balance
that is perceived when we play together. In that precise moment, I feel magic
inside me.”
Gabriele Trodella plays the guitar with the
group and in many tracks uses a violin bow. I have always found this technique
fascinating so I ask him to explain it a little. “It was always a dream of mine
to play the guitar using a bow” he says “and with MUG I have been able to
achieve that dream. It’s something really special, a surreal sound, flowing and
intense which goes very well with our sound. It’s a matter of ‘vibrations’:
when the bow makes the guitar strings vibrate I feel instantly that something
magical happens. And for this I can only thank MUG!”
Ilenia Volpe is the group’s other guitarist
and its newest member. I ask her what joining MUG has meant to her and her style:
“With MUG I have discovered a completely new ‘compositional approach’” she says
“It’s exciting: a new horizon.”
I’m also interested in when and how the
electronic sounds that the group uses are added. Gabriele Cofanelli is the
drummer with the group but is also responsible for this element. “I’ve been
trying to combine the sound of drums with electronics for many years” he says “I
started about seven years ago with the band I was with at that time using an
Akai sampler and some self-built pads. With MUG, in this last year or so, I
have been able to get close to what I want to achieve. The fact that I am now
going beyond that using a Theremin and cubes is a symptom, however, of the fact
that I’m still looking for new sounds and new sensations. The work of arranging
the electronic rhythms I do alone. I usually do it when the structure of a
track is almost consolidated. I usually find myself at home in my study aiming
to create a completely different key to that which was acoustically conceived.”
The bands first video, Memorie, was
released recently and has received a lot of praise for its originality as well
as much praise for the track itself. One commentator on youtube says “Extraordinary
is the word! Incredible, unforgettable, evocative, beautiful are others. This is a wonderful piece of work.”
And another “It's a beautiful piece of music, moody and
enchanting, and the
clip is very stylish too. Really well done.” I ask Fab
what the experience of working on the video was like and how it feels to see
comments such as these: “Emotional. To see that what you are doing is appreciated
is pure emotion. It is little satisfactions that do your heart good… Making the
video was exhausting, fun and fantastic. It was a day to be together, let our imaginations
run wild, because as soon as you’ve finished the shoot you already want to
be watching it over and over. It was definitely a new experience for me, absolutely
new. I was really tired and by the end I was exhausted, but I really enjoyed
it.”
I ask Luna Gualano, the video director,
what the experience was like for her and how the idea for the video came about:
“The idea for the MUG video evolved gradually” she says “with the creative
input of the group themselves and the actors and, above all, the collaboration
with Ilaria Vescovo – a young and talented artist. It was a very exciting
experience for me to give life to the images and ideas created in such a
collaborative way. I’m really pleased that the video is being appreciated because
I believe it is one of the videos I have directed that best represents my
style. Working on a video with an instrumental group also gave me the opportunity
to explore a type of language which is unconventional for Italian videos and
for this opportunity I’m very grateful to the group who left me very much to my
own interpretive freedom. But my greatest joy was, to be truthful, seeing their
first reaction to the video: I was pleased to have been able to move them with
my images as much as their music moves me.”
The band’s debut album “Lost Transmission”
is released on the 7th May with a release party scheduled for the 15th
May at Le Mura, Roma. I ask Emiliano Ra-B, the album producer, about working on
the album: “Working with MUG was fantastic” he says “I liked them from the first
time I heard them and I wanted to help them release an album. The work in the
studio was really challenging: all the stringed instruments were recorded in
stereo to make the most of the spatial effects the band uses. At the beginning
it was a little difficult to conceptualise everything (how to record each part,
what approach to use in the mix etc.) but once in the studio everything went
smoothly and the band were amazing, as if they were the most expert band ever
(he smiles). I am very satisfied with the result and to have produced this
album.”
The last word goes to Gabriele Cofanelli “The
album is the result of about a year’s hard work and we like it!” he concludes “but
the desire to start experimenting again is huge. Now we are trying to have as
much fun as possible and play as much as possible. However, in the meantime we
are working on new tracks and are searching for sounds we are missing...”
MUG are: Fab Mele, Ilenia Volpe, Gabriele
Cofanelli and Gabriele Trodella.
“Lost Transmission” is released on 7th May
in the meantime; here is the video for Memorie...
