Singer Raiz, historic frontman of Almamegretta and popular performer in the television series “Mare Fuori”, talks about himself in view of an important musical performance.
Article Key Points
On January 20th he will be the protagonist at the Auditorium Parco della Musica in Rome with a special performance, accompanied by the best students of the conservatories of Frosinone, L'Aquila, Latina, Perugia, Benevento and Terni, together with the musicians of the Parco della Musica Ensemble directed by Tonino Battista. At the center of the concert, a tribute to the British composer Gavin Bryars and his famous opera “Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet”.
A wish: the great cinema
“I have done a lot as an actor and I am satisfied, but I would like an important role, maybe as a co-star, to test myself and prove to myself that I can do it”, explains Root. "An actor must be ready for anything, but I would be fascinated by a film with a social background, also because of my history as a singer. More than the project itself, I am excited by the idea of gaining confidence and spending more time on set."
With a thirty-year musical career, 11 albums with Almamegretta, four solo works and a recent tribute to Sergio Bruni in 2023, Raiz feels ready for new challenges. “Every time I meet Paolo Sorrentino I tell him, even jokingly, that I would like to participate in one of his films. Who knows, maybe one day it will happen”.
The Gavin Bryars Project and the Power of Music
In the Roman concert, Raiz will perform the orchestral version of “Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet”, a song born in the Seventies from the recording of the voice of a homeless man who incessantly repeated a verse of faith. “It is a mantra that creates a dreamlike and ecstatic effect”, explains the singer, “inspired by the music of John Cage. It’s a challenging task, especially today, in an era where the average attention span is just 30 seconds.”
The work draws attention to the figure of the marginal, often recurring in Kabbalistic traditions and Jewish folklore. “The outcast can turn out to be a prophet. They say: 'If a homeless person asks you for a favor, do it, he could be the Messiah.' This theme has always fascinated me and I also find it in a song from our first album, Animamigrante, which told the story of a homeless person.”
Between music and faith
“You don't have to be a believer to sing a song like this”, says Raiz, who defines himself as Jewish and a believer. “I believe that the world moves according to a logic, that everything is connected.”
Looking at the future
With a rich past of experiences in music, theatre and television, Raiz reflects on his journey: “I’m happy. I did what I wanted, I said no to what didn’t interest me, and I had the privilege of working in both music and cinema.” And about the future? "I will try to carry on both things. I hope that the world of cinema and theater will involve me in new projects. In the meantime, I will continue to try."
Article published on 18 January 2025 - 15:45
The article about Raiz is very interesting, he talks about his career and desires. I like that he wants to do a social film, I think he can do well. I hope he gets this role in the future.