Getting to Know… Early Ettringite Formation | Interview 🎤

In the 414^th Q&A in our Getting to Know… series, we get the inside scoop from the Italian band, Early Ettringite Formation.

When asked what makes them unique, Umberto Ferretti of Early Ettringite Formation (intriguing name) responds, “What makes us unique is our blend of rock with various influences like funk, jazz, and soul.” He expounds, “We rock the audience’s socks off with our dynamic live performances and immersive soundscapes that draw from our diverse musical backgrounds.” We get the inside scoop on the Italian band’s genesis, goals, musical influences, and current, and future musical endeavors. So, without further ado, let’s jump into Getting to Know… Early Ettringite Formation: Interview No. 414!

For those who may not be familiar with you, what would you say makes Early Ettringite Formation distinct or unique? How do you rock the audience’s socks off?

We’re EEF, Early Ettringite Formation, and what makes us unique is our blend of rock with various influences like funk, jazz, and soul. We rock the audience’s socks off with our dynamic live performances and immersive soundscapes that draw from our diverse musical backgrounds.

Okay, let’s explore some juicy backstories. How did Early Ettringite Formation form, and what were some of your goals or visions early on?

It all started almost ten years ago when I (Umberto, guitar) met Mattia Leoni (drums) at a jam session in Senigallia, a little city in the Marche region. We hit it off and decided to create original music together. Soon after, Giovanni (bass) joined, and the three of us started writing and practicing. Leo (sax) from Ancona joined later, and about three years ago, Edoardo (vocals) completed our lineup. Our early goal was to develop a unique sound and push musical boundaries.

Let’s talk more about goals.  Have your goals or your perspectives changed since first starting? What do your aspirations or goals look like now?

Our main goal now is to spread our music across Europe and eventually the world, focusing on live performances. We aim to connect with audiences through our shows and use social media as a tool to support this dream. We are interested in real life, real emotions.

Everybody is influenced by somebody else. Whom would you consider some of your biggest musical influences and how are they influential?

Each of us has our influences, and you can trust me when I say they are completely different and cover many musical genres. I grew up with Led Zeppelin, Leo (sax) with John Coltrane, and Edo (vocals) with Opeth (yes, despite his soulful vocals, he’s a metal guy!). Generally speaking, we are great listeners of the Italian progressive rock scene from the ‘70s, like Area, PFM, Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, and Arti e Mestieri. We’re looking for creativity, the cohesion of the band, and the genuine expression of what we have inside; these artists, and many others, reflect exactly our perspective.

Ah, the fun stuff.  What’s your craziest tour story or the wackiest thing that’s happened during a performance?  Feel free to be creative.

As a band and good friends, we’ve shared many enjoyable times. One story that we often like to tell is the broken finger story. We were attending the finals of an important international contest in San Marino (just to give you an idea, the winner goes to the Eurovision Song Contest). A few minutes before our performance, Leo jumped, out of nowhere, with all his weight onto Giovanni’s little toe. Naturally, Giovanni immediately screamed and swore for a while. Still, he managed to play, and the next day, he realized that his toe was actually broken.

To this point in your career, what would you describe as your favorite song you’ve recorded or performed live? What makes that song special?

Our favorite song to perform live is “Downtown.” This song is special because it marks a new beginning for us after several lineup changes. It’s the first song we wrote with Edoardo, and it resonates with our journey and the energy of our live shows. Plus, it’s a fan favorite that always gets the crowd going.

Is there anything else awesome, cool, or left-of-center we should know about Early Ettringite Formation? Secret talents or surprising tidbits?

We have many special talents. For instance, we can play a significant number of gigs without doing any rehearsals. More than a gift, it’s laziness—or rather, indiscipline. Plus, Leo can make fart sounds with his armpits.

What is Early Ettringite Formation currently working on or promoting that you can share? We love secrets, but there’s no pressure. 

Right now, we are focused on promoting our second album, What eef? released June 7^th, 2024. We are spreading our music through social media and, of course, through live concerts all over Italy. Plus, we’re working on our next album, which will feature a blend of some heavy rock sound with some new experimental elements. Stay tuned for more details!

Thank you so much for sharing and taking the time to answer these questions, and best of luck moving forward. 

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Getting to Know… Early Ettringite Formation: Interview No. 414 [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Early Ettringite Formation; Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Królestwo Nauki, OpenClipart-Vectors, Pete Linforth, Tumisu from Pixabay]