The Step Q&A
Indie-pop band The Step are set to release their debut EP, Gravity, on December 8th and I've had the chance to ask them a few questions so we could get to know them a bit more. I adore their new single, Something More,
and can't wait to listen to the full EP. Check out the Q&A below!
1. First of all can you tell us where are you from and how did you get together?
We are from Rome, Italy, but we met here in London. We didn’t know each other before and I was taking a walk down the legendary Abbey Road and we just started talking because we realised we were from the same region of Italy. Then we talked about music and everything started! We always say “The Masterplan” is taking care of us.
2. What made you want to follow music? Was it always the #1 thing you wanted to do for a living?
Oliviero Played the guitar from when he was very young, always changing guitar teacher to learn new thing. I wrote my first song at 7, and since then I’ve done a lot of things. I wanted to become a CGI artist, a director or a cinematographer but music has always been the first passion. During the last two years I have invested all my time and efforts on doing what I love the most.
3. I am head over heels in love with your single ‘Something More’. What can we expect from your ‘Gravity’ EP?
I’m glad you like it. We tried to demonstrate all our different styles of songwriting on the EP. We’d like people to listen to it and be undecided about which is their favourite track.
4. What song - out of the ones you already released/written - means the most to you? Why?
It used to be “Let It Go Friends” but now “Black Magic” is the one. I wrote it like a fantasy story but then something similar happened to me. That’s why I believe in our music, because I’m also living it as a listener and a fan, and I like it because I feel it’s true.
5. What are your musical inspirations? And what made you choose this specific type of music?
I listen to The Beatles from when I was maybe six, it’s my brother’s fault, we had a lot of tape cassettes full of songs! Then Oasis , Travis, Coldplay, Placebo, Keane so it was a natural choice to sing in English and express myself this way. For Oliviero is different, he listens to lots of different bands and he’s got it in his blood because his mother is British, so even more natural for him to sing in English.
6. What kind of message you want to convey with your music?
I can totally relate feeling insecure about life and I helped deal with this myself through music. I actually healed and gave myself the strength to go on and that’s something I’d like to inspire in others. It would be great if only one person listens to a song of ours and feel just a little bit more positive or just feels less alone. That would make it all worth it.
7. You’re now touring across the UK, correct? Any plans to tour across Europe?
We’d like to, but we’re taking things step by step as we’d like to play more around the UK first. Having said that we’ve already got people from Europe loving what we do, so it’s definitely something we’d like to do in the future.
8. Are you planning any special collaborations? Is there an artist/act that you would absolutely love to work with and why?
Not yet, but I won’t be happy until I get to collaborate with Katy Perry! She’s the real new “Madonna” for me, I want to work with her!
9. What has been the defining moment of your musical career so far?
Definitely making our ‘Gravity’ EP. We love being in the studio and we have worked very hard on this EP and we’re very proud of what we’ve done.
10. If you were given the chance to pick one artist/band to tour with which one would it be and why?
If I could choose I’d like to tour with George Ezra, I like his songs and his voice, or Kasabian.
11. What artist are you listening to on your iPods/MP3 players?
The 1975 / Kasabian
12. If you could only listen to one artist/band the rest of your life, who would it be?
The Beatles. I can never have enough of them. Each time I listen to one of their songs it teaches me something new.
13. Name five things you can’t live without.
Nutella / Pasta / the sea / good movies / any instrument (I tried to not put musical things but… I had to!)
14. What’s your favourite song of 2014 so far?
Its not from 2014 but last year and it’s Holy Grail” by Jay Z featuring Justin Timberlake. Timberlake’s singing is amazing, the melody and the music are just perfect and I think I find in his fragility something in common with what we’re doing.
15. When will you come to Madeira island for a show? Hehe
This is something we’d love to do of course!
We are from Rome, Italy, but we met here in London. We didn’t know each other before and I was taking a walk down the legendary Abbey Road and we just started talking because we realised we were from the same region of Italy. Then we talked about music and everything started! We always say “The Masterplan” is taking care of us.
2. What made you want to follow music? Was it always the #1 thing you wanted to do for a living?
Oliviero Played the guitar from when he was very young, always changing guitar teacher to learn new thing. I wrote my first song at 7, and since then I’ve done a lot of things. I wanted to become a CGI artist, a director or a cinematographer but music has always been the first passion. During the last two years I have invested all my time and efforts on doing what I love the most.
3. I am head over heels in love with your single ‘Something More’. What can we expect from your ‘Gravity’ EP?
I’m glad you like it. We tried to demonstrate all our different styles of songwriting on the EP. We’d like people to listen to it and be undecided about which is their favourite track.
4. What song - out of the ones you already released/written - means the most to you? Why?
It used to be “Let It Go Friends” but now “Black Magic” is the one. I wrote it like a fantasy story but then something similar happened to me. That’s why I believe in our music, because I’m also living it as a listener and a fan, and I like it because I feel it’s true.
5. What are your musical inspirations? And what made you choose this specific type of music?
I listen to The Beatles from when I was maybe six, it’s my brother’s fault, we had a lot of tape cassettes full of songs! Then Oasis , Travis, Coldplay, Placebo, Keane so it was a natural choice to sing in English and express myself this way. For Oliviero is different, he listens to lots of different bands and he’s got it in his blood because his mother is British, so even more natural for him to sing in English.
6. What kind of message you want to convey with your music?
I can totally relate feeling insecure about life and I helped deal with this myself through music. I actually healed and gave myself the strength to go on and that’s something I’d like to inspire in others. It would be great if only one person listens to a song of ours and feel just a little bit more positive or just feels less alone. That would make it all worth it.
7. You’re now touring across the UK, correct? Any plans to tour across Europe?
We’d like to, but we’re taking things step by step as we’d like to play more around the UK first. Having said that we’ve already got people from Europe loving what we do, so it’s definitely something we’d like to do in the future.
8. Are you planning any special collaborations? Is there an artist/act that you would absolutely love to work with and why?
Not yet, but I won’t be happy until I get to collaborate with Katy Perry! She’s the real new “Madonna” for me, I want to work with her!
9. What has been the defining moment of your musical career so far?
Definitely making our ‘Gravity’ EP. We love being in the studio and we have worked very hard on this EP and we’re very proud of what we’ve done.
10. If you were given the chance to pick one artist/band to tour with which one would it be and why?
If I could choose I’d like to tour with George Ezra, I like his songs and his voice, or Kasabian.
11. What artist are you listening to on your iPods/MP3 players?
The 1975 / Kasabian
12. If you could only listen to one artist/band the rest of your life, who would it be?
The Beatles. I can never have enough of them. Each time I listen to one of their songs it teaches me something new.
13. Name five things you can’t live without.
Nutella / Pasta / the sea / good movies / any instrument (I tried to not put musical things but… I had to!)
14. What’s your favourite song of 2014 so far?
Its not from 2014 but last year and it’s Holy Grail” by Jay Z featuring Justin Timberlake. Timberlake’s singing is amazing, the melody and the music are just perfect and I think I find in his fragility something in common with what we’re doing.
15. When will you come to Madeira island for a show? Hehe
This is something we’d love to do of course!