INTERVIEW: Andrea Strappelli
Swedish-based Italian singer/songwriter Andrea Strappelli recently released his deeply personal new single "There's a Time." Produced by the talented Mustrow, the song reflects Strappelli's life experiences and artistic evolution. The inspiration for the song came from his move to New York, where he completed the lyrics amidst the city's vibrant arts scene and personal challenges. Final touches were added in Italy with friends, and the track was finalized by Swedish sound engineer Gustav Brunn.
A music video, directed by Tim Strecker and Paul Raphael d’Indy, captures the song's themes of rebirth and personal growth. Shot in Malmo, the video is a visual representation of Strappelli's journey. "There's a Time" is a story of new beginnings and resilience, with lyrics that reflect the highs and lows of life. We spoke to Strappelli about the song and its message.
Hi Andrea, lovely to speak with you! Can you tell us a bit about the message behind “There's a Time?”
Hi! "There's A Time" was born as a simple and direct song, it's an awareness towards the different phases of life and people's moods. It's a confession to the listener to say that not everything always goes smoothly as we would like to believe, but it's a confession that obstacles like periods of discouragement can happen to everyone during their personal journey. Similarly, we must also be ready for the beautiful things that surely cannot be missing in each of our lives.
What was the writing process like for the song?
I started writing the first stanza of the song more than 5 years ago in Rome. It came naturally to me from the very beginning, but I had the impression that something was missing to finish it. After completing my studies, I felt a strong need for change, so I decided to leave for New York. This city was a strong inspiration, and whenever I could, I stopped, observed, and wrote down phrases on my phone. When I returned home to Italy, I wrote the melody for the final part of the song. The lyrics were then revisited with a dear friend of mine. We often sat together on the couch and, almost magically, we finished writing "There's a Time."
Do you have any favorite lyrics from the song? If so, what are they and why are they your favorite?
My favorite part of the song is "There's a time to be golden / There are single days for you / There's a time you'll be denied," as a metaphor for life as a roller coaster characterized by ups and downs.
Do you have any advice for aspiring artists and songwriters?
I would say to start following your passion without thinking too much. Often, it's from spontaneity that the things we enjoy the most and that stay with us are born. You don't need great expectations to write a song, sometimes all you need is a guitar, a few ideas, and good company.
Are there any upcoming shows or projects fans can look forward to in 2024?
Currently, I'm working hard to finish some songs that I've written in recent years. "There's a Time" represents the beginning of a new journey for me. I hope to be able to present my future works by the end of 2024. When I create a song, I'm very self-critical and perfectionist. It's also my intention to diversify my songs as much as possible and present different possible scenarios. I also hope to entertain and get people dancing with some of my future songs. Once the songs are finished, we'll see what to do next.
What was your favorite part about creating the accompanying music video?
Watching two professionals like Paul and Tim was an incredible experience. I truly consider them to be two geniuses at work. After letting them listen to the song in a café, they invited me to dinner to discuss the story of the video. They had already prepared the project and presented it to me in front of the computer screen. Seeing the video take shape was an incredible experience that enriched me a lot.
WHERE TO FIND ANDREA STRAPPELLI
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