Singer Raiz, longtime frontman of Almamegretta and a popular performer on the television series "Mare Fuori," opens up about his upcoming musical performance.
On January 20th, he will be at the Auditorium Parco della Musica in Rome with a special performance, joined by top students from the conservatories of Frosinone, L'Aquila, Latina, Perugia, Benevento, and Terni, along with musicians from the Parco della Musica Ensemble conducted by Tonino Battista. The concert will focus on a tribute to British composer Gavin Bryars and his famous opera "Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet . "
A wish: the great cinema
"I've done a lot as an actor and I'm satisfied, but I'd like a significant role, perhaps as a co-lead, to test myself and prove to myself that I can do it," explains Raiz . "An actor has to be ready for anything, but a film with a social commentary would fascinate me, especially given my history as a singer. More than the project itself, I'm excited about 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'd like to be in one of his films. Who knows, maybe one day it will happen."
The Gavin Bryars Project and the Power of Music
In the Rome concert, Raiz will perform the orchestral version of "Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet ," a song born in the 1970s from the recording of a homeless man incessantly repeating a verse of faith. "It's a mantra that creates a dreamlike, ecstatic effect ," the singer explains, "inspired by the music of John Cage. It's a demanding challenge, especially today, in an era where the average attention span is barely 30 seconds."
The work draws attention to the figure of the marginalized, a recurring theme in Kabbalistic traditions and Jewish folklore. "The marginalized can turn out to be a prophet. It's said, '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 man."
Between music and faith
“You don't have to be a believer to sing a song like this ,” says Raiz, who identifies as Jewish and religious. “I believe the world moves according to a logic, that everything is interconnected.”
Looking at the future
With a rich past spanning music, theater, and television, Raiz reflects on his career path: "I'm happy. I did what I wanted, I said no to things that didn't interest me, and I had the privilege of working in both music and film." And what about the future? "I'll try to pursue both. I hope the worlds of film and theater will involve me in new projects. In the meantime, I'll keep trying."
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.