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 an important role, maybe as a co-star, to test myself and prove to myself that I can do it," explains Root. "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 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.
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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's 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 age 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 man."
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 interconnected."
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 film." And about the future? "I'll try to pursue both. I hope the world of cinema and theater will involve me in new projects. In the meantime, I'll keep trying."
Comments (1)
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.