and you thought you knew.. Zindu
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"After years of playing rock n roll, I became more interested in other musical forms that expressed greater rhythmic diversity.
I've been involved with jazz groups, improvisational drumming ensembles, marimba, West-African drumming, samba, creating my own rhythms and forming the band Zindu out of that desire to have a dynamically, rhythmically influenced original music group." |
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Salvatore Folisi has alot of responsibilties these days.. he seems to effortlessly provide a rather unique, yet electrifyingly enthralling approach to drums, vocals, percussions, djembe, and lyrics to much of what the undeniably talented band Zindu needs. Y'see jazz/rock/latin/world fusion bridged and meandered genres is one thing but when it's an omnipresent force on a CD entitled 'Shapeshifter' that's opening up to some widespread critical acclaim, you have to wonder about the knd of things that lie behind all that!
In grabbing Salvatore Folisi and in making sure he's in a fit enough state to answer the inevitable questions, we get one of the guys responsible for Zindu (and) we hold him completely accountable for the other band members sins... let there be light...
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The Interview - October 25 2006 |
| Welcome to IOM Salvatore... can we begin with you telling us a bit about your background? |
Sure. I have played drums and been enchanted by music since about 10 years old. My dad promoted major label artists such as Elton John and The Who, so he was always bringing home incredible music and he was a musician himself!
After years of playing rock n roll, I became more interested in other musical forms that expressed greater rhythmic diversity. I've been involved with jazz groups, improvisational drumming ensembles, marimba, West-African drumming, samba, creating my own rhythms and forming the band Zindu out of that desire to have a dynamically, rhythmically influenced original music group.
I've also studied a lot of psychology, spirituality, philosophy, immersed myself in nature, poetry, dreams, and what most people would consider the underside of the modern world. I love to walk around alone late at night and wonder why there aren't more people drawn to this mysteriously freeing, intriguing and refreshing kind of atmosphere. Maybe I've just been living in San Diego too long! |
| What would you say have been your main musical influences? |
They would begin with the classic rock n roll bands of the sixties and seventies, which are really too many to list, i.e The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Santana, etc, ad infinitum! (John Lennon was my childhood hero and my heart broke when he was shot!) Luckily, I've been blessed by being surrounded with music lovers my whole life, and so exposed early on to lesser known bands like Michel Jean Jarre, XTC & Tangerine Dream.
Later in life, I discovered Dead Can Dance and fell in love with Lisa Gerrard. I saw them on their reunion tour recently at The Hollywood Bowl. They played with the local symphony and the show was both magnificent and incredible! I tend to gravitate towards music that sparkles darkly from some pool of soul that exudes itself out of the chaos and mayhem that our modern world has become, bands like Mogwai and Lanterna.
I've also been influenced by drummers like Neil Pert, Billy Cobham, Mickey Hart, and the rhythms of samba, marimba and West African Djembe & Dun Dun. |
| What could you tell us about “high points” in your musical career? |
When I was 18 years old I played my first Jazz concert with a college band, and a music instructor I'd never met came to me after the show and complimented me on my playing. That was a big boost. Playing with the marimba, samba and West African ensembles have all been very uplifting experiences.
Most recently, completing our first Zindu CD was definitely a "high point," and currently those moments come after a good show, or even a good jam, with my band Zindu. I also really enjoy playing djembe with the world beat band Damaru as well. |
| How about low points and how you managed to get over them? |
Low points for me are really about the frustrations of wanting Zindu to really take off, and to get our show on the road while we're still all working day jobs!
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| If you could turn the clocks back, is there anything you would have done differently? |
No! |
| Who did you work with on your most recent projects? |
Zindu is a collective of fabulous, committed members, especially bassist Chris Hale and guitarist Billy Carnese. Our saxophonist Jeffrey Sooey is also incredible to play with and has put much time into the project.
Our current keyboardist is Bill Cornish who rips that thang apart like a sumo-mechanic. Our latest member is a bold new singer by the name of Gregory Kemper. He's actually my oldest friend from high school. |
| If you could pick a favourite track from your recent work what would it be? |
I think it would be Berzerker, (not because of the borderline adolescent title), but due to the way each member of the band created another dimension to it. |
| What musical instruments/equipment do you normally use? |
A 5 piece Tama Star Classic Performer set, with a Yamaha snare, with Ziljian cymbals. I also enjoy playing the West African djembe, bongos and other hand drums. Chris and Billy are very much into the craftmanship of their instruments as well, i.e Carvin, Heritage ... |
| Do you have a favourite instrument either as a player or appreciator? |
As an appreciator, I'd say guitar and synthesizer. As a player, of course it's the drums. It's cool to move from the drum set, where there are so many options to explore, onto the djembe, wherein the singularity breeds a freedom of expression that is very liberating. |
| Can you remember your first stage and/or studio experience? |
Playing a party in a cavernous barn in the woods when I was in high school, doing things parents usually don't want their kids to do, and just having a good time.
We recorded the Zindu Shapeshifter album in our friend Tim's home studio on ProTools. It was so much more difficult than I thought it would be to lay my tracks with both passion and precision. It made me realize how much work goes into recording all the music I've been listening to all these years! |
| What five albums would you want to find if you were stranded on a desert island with enough food, water, a copy of IOM, a fantastic audio system, and any one musical instrument of your choice? |
Oh come on, you gotta give me a chic to dance with too! This is an almost impossible question to answer, really. Well, probably, to start with, something by The Beatles, like Sergeant Pepper. I recently discovered a Jimi Hendrix album his family put together called Voodoo Soup. Let's throw this one in. Also, Daniel Lanois: For The Beauty Of Wynona. Then definitely a Dead Can Dance album.
Lastly, the only album by Moussa Traori, a West African drummer, title unknown. But if I could have a 6th and 7th, I'd take Santana 's Caravanserai, and David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust. God, only 7 albums, what a terrible fate!!! What about The Doors, Steve Kimock, Mozart, Miles, Leonard Cohen, Cat Stevens, Zappa, etc ....!
Okay, the instrument would be a very large keyboard/synthesizer with tons of patches and a boomin' amp! |
| Do you have a favourite album cover of all time? |
| King Crimson, 20th Century Schizoid Man. This would be a good one to have on that island as well! |
| and what, may we ask, are the five albums you listened to most recently? |
| I'm on I Tunes so it's really a mix these days. But I've been into John Frusciante's solo work (guitarist for Red Hot Chile Peppers). Also Lisa Gerrard's soundtrack stuff -- makes driving around the hectic city streets like floating through a dream ... |
| What five movies did you watch most recently? |
Indies mostly: "Milwaukee Minnesota," "Mysterious Skin" (very deep and disturbing), Junebug (kinda boring), Pieces Of April (comedic drama that hurts joyfully), and a straight ahead: Scary Movie 4 (with my 12 year old son Jade). |
| Which artist would you most like to meet or borrow a bag of sugar from as a next door neighbour? |
| Jim Morrison! |
| If you could have been responsible for writing the best song or piece of music ever written, what would it be? |
| This is just a shot in the dark, but how about Genesis "Firth Of Fifth" from Selling England By The Pound? |
| If you could have three wishes, what would they be? |
A good woman, a log home in the forest, and a limitless supply of money so I could quite my job and focus on living the music! |
| On to the more intimate side of Mr Folisi.. what did you dream about last night AND you can't say 'I do not remember'... |
So, going without a date these past few months has finally begun to get to my unconscious ... I dreamed I was laying with this woman I know who is both a beautiful dancer and a beautiful woman. Only thing is, I never felt very comfortable with her. But in the dream we are enjoying the sensuality of one another's bodies, we are relaxed and gentle and joyful together. I recall she has a long yellow line drawn down the side of her which I think is a tattoo! |
| And, if we were to “shadow” you on a typical day, what might we see you doing? |
Well, most days I'm working as a psychotherapist, that's right I said ‘psycho’. Then at nights I'm either playing music, writing poetry, or contributing to the greater glory of the internet. |
| What did you do, the day before yesterday? |
| I awoke at 10am on a Sunday to watch the Chargers lose to the Chiefs, (football season in America grabs me like a reckless addiction). Later in the day I drove with Chris, our bass player, to the Wild Animal Park and played djembe with the world beat band Damaru for all the birds and the people. Driving home I got the call from Colin that our Zindu review was finally up on the R Cat site, and was wonderfully extolled by his kind and appreciative remarks! |
| If you had to move to another country for a year to record an album, but you only had a few suitcases and an hour to pack… what would you take? |
| My PC with I Tunes, favorite clothes, a few good books, talismans, leather boots, my stick bag, and a few love letters from an old soul mate! |
| What bugs you most? |
| Stupid, myopic and uncaring people. Uh, the US government. And living in the concrete jungle! |
| What makes your day really shine? |
| Freedom. Smiles from strangers. Good music. An adventure involving someone I love. |
| I hate to end it all like this Salvatore, but.. finally, what are your plans for 2007? |
Along with the rest of Zindu, I'm planning on relocating in the Pacific Northwest, Oregon and/or Washington. We also plan to record our second album hopefully sometime towards the end of the year. And we plan to get good management that will set us up to tour more extensively! |
| Salvatori Folisi.. thanks for dropping by... the delightful Sandra will see you to the car and don't forget to send our best regards to the rest of the guys in Zindu! |
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Salvatore Folisi of 'Zindu' was interviewed by Colin Lynch - October 25 2006
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