Photograph by Rachel Bevis
“Banjo or Freak Out was born after spending a night waiting for my girlfriend in a flat in Hackney, London. She was working and I was in this place with other people I didn’t want to talk to so i turned on my girlfriend’s computer and started to mess around with a music program. The first song I ‘wrote’ was called ‘Freak Out’, the second ‘Jim O’Rourke’ but it’s probably better if you don’t hear them. From here I started to see making music with computer was something really different. You can dick around with a stupid sound for ages. It’s great!”
The above quote is from Alessio Natalizia (aka Banjo or Freakout) back in 2006 when his bedroom project first took shape. Since then, he’s released several singles to mass aclaim, including the most recent Upside Down EP, which is a masterclass in claustrophobic shoe-gaze joy. It’s on the live stage that Banjo or Freakout really take sail though. Allowing the layered sounds to break free of their laptop based shackles – Alessio carves out massive curve balls of noise, helped only by an additional drummer and countless effects pedals and synths. Banjo Or Freakout really are one of the few essential live acts on the UK circuit at the moment.
For people out there that have never heard of you. Give us three reasons why they should…
1: Boredom
2: Intolerance
3: Desperation
Can you recall the moment when you first decided you wanted to become a musician?
I must have been really young. I remember I was air guitaring with a ruler and scalf that was the guitar strap to some old Sting records. God that makes me feel stupid now but it felt so cool back then!
Where do your songs come from? What’s your inspiration?
I guess they come from boredom and the desire to make something that feels really personal.
Name your Top 5 records.
Top 5 ever? Man that’s difficult!! I think I have five records for every period of my life… In general I would probably say: Arthur Russell ‘World Of Echo’, Can ‘Tago Mago’, Ramones ‘Ramones’, The Beach Boys ‘Smile’, J Dilla ‘Donuts’, Sonic Youth ‘Bad Moon Rising’… Top 6 records!
What was the first gig you ever played and was it a success?
It was in my hometown in Italy at one of these festivals where you actually have to pay to play… It was a disaster!
What one piece of criticism has stuck in your mind and was it justified?
‘Keep it simple’. It was totally justified.
What one thing has caused you to waste your free time in the past 6 months?
I hate wasting time going back and forth arguing on emails but I often do that.
If you weren’t making music, what do you think you’d be doing?
Fireman, diver, postman, something like that. To be honest I’d love to work in a record label!
What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?
I was doing the set-up for trade fairs at 5 o’clock in the morning in November with the snow and no heating on.
We’d like you to make us a mix-tape. Pick five tracks with a theme of your choice.
LOVE!!!!
Alicia Keys – Teenage Love Affair
Antony and The Johnsons – Fistful Of Love
Gun Club – Fire Of Love
The Velvet Underground – Some Kinda Love
Neil Young – Only Love Can Break Your Heart
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YEAH Alessio is great. He was fantastic on the Bella stage this weekend. He and I have the same amazing taste in trainers.
I’ve gotten myspazzed by a thousand bands with the tremendous offer of being their “friend.” Maybe two or three I’ve accepted. Banjo or Freakout was the first one.