An Interview With The Italian Alternative/Electro Rock Duo, SOAWARE!

Get to know the Italian alt/electro-rock duo Soaware! Their debut single, “We Shall Be One,” has been released ahead of their debut self-titled album. Combining eclectic rock and electronic elements, Soaware have created an immersive piece that echoes the intense emotions of its writers.

“We Shall Be One” is about struggling with feeling separated and lonely while being aware one is not truly alone in the world. The emotional ethos of the lyrics are truly captured in brooding vocals which loom over an ethereal combination of guitars, bass, drums, and synths. The haunting tones of “We Shall Be One” leave the listener to ponder their own relationship with the world.

Soaware’s founders and central songwriters, Damiano Bessi and Emanuele Grazioli, bring groundbreaking alternative rock from Italy to the rest of the world. They first met in 1999 while playing in the band Mad Cobol, later splitting to perform with separate groups. In 2015, the two reunited to form Soaware, retreating to a basement studio to write new music. The fruits of Soaware’s three-year (2015-2018) labor have culminated in their forthcoming self-titled album. Soaware will include 11 tracks which feature the pair on songwriting, instrumentals, and production. Focusing on sheer emotions rather than life experiences, Soaware draw upon the spirits of 90s grunge and 80s synth pop to create dark atmospheres with electronic rock/metal edges.

For more information about Soaware visit:

Facebook // Instagram // Soundcloud

Learn more about Soaware in the following All Access interview:

Thanks for your time! What is on tap for the rest of your day for you both?

Our time is completely stolen by music and our jobs, I travel a lot for business, Ema is an educator and all the time that remains is invested for friends and family, the most important things in life.

Now that we are well into the 5th month of the year, how would you say that 2019 is treating the band so far? What are some goals that you have for this year? How close are you to reaching them?

Let’s say that being here answering to your questions and appearing on several magazines, discussing about SOAWARE is already a goal for us, considering that we started this project just for fun.

Now we are closed to the launch of our last single and then the album in July, so everything is quite exciting. The most funny thing is that the album is even not out yet but we are already working on new material, because we can’t stay too long without making music, it is really stronger than us.

Can you recall the moment when you thought you could be in this band together? Has anything surprised you about this musical journey so far?

Sure we can recall it, it was after the umpteenth band experience, we watched each other and we said “ hey” now it’s our turn, but only the two of us!

We had several bands before SOAWARE, and everybody who had a band in his life knows how tough it is to put together all the ideas, to agree with each other.

We were tired about that situation and thinking about our past and our long friendship we realized we could do something together and probably just having fun without any problem, because we always get on well and we were sure it could work. Now we are here, after the first album and we simply want to continue our journey.

How do you think your hometown has influenced the sound and how you both carry yourselves in this band?

Surely not because we wanted that, because we are not so close to the Italian melodic style, but for sure when you live and were born in a place whether you want it or not it will be part of you, no doubt.

That being said, I grew up listening to the Grunge from Seattle, Ema was more punk, then we found together listening to the 80’s synth pop and more, so let’s say that both of us brought inside the music his personal experience, taste and need to create something new even if in the 2019 sounds like a mission impossible.

Why would you say that you two work so well together? Where is one of you weak where the other is strong and vice-versa?

It is not a matter of weakness or strength, we really know each other and we are absolutely confident in each other, so if one of us when we are writing music will say “ hey, something is wrong”, or “ I don’t like it” we simply stop and try to find what doesn’t work. We never had an ego battle typical of the bands and that we already experienced in our past, we know that feeling, and for SOAWARE doesn’t exist.

Let’s talk about your newest single “We Shall Be One.” What was the inspiration for this track? How would you say that it prepares listeners for more music from you and your upcoming debut album?

We Shall Be One is probably one of the most extreme songs that we made because considering our past that was really inside Rock, Punk and Alternative metal where really loud guitars and crazy drummers was the normality, to create such a smooth ambient was extreme and it has been the first experiment that brought us to a new level trying to mix our past and our future. It has been an incredible experience for us and starting from this point;  from this atmosphere in different ways we built up our studio album.

What was it like making your debut album? Were there any expected challenges or surprises along the way? How will you celebrate the release of it?

We will celebrate drinking (haha), we are not so original alternative in that sense I know but that’s it..

The challenge is to see how many people will like it, how much success we can have in a world where everything has been already written. Honestly, that is quite exciting but the result won’t stop us making music but probably will affect our production because I think it is normal to be always influenced by an experience like this, simply because we are human and we care about what people think about us, who says the contrary is a hypocrite and a liar.

Any plans to make music videos for songs on this album?

Sure! We have one video-clip for each single and after the Album launch we are thinking about something but still work progress..

Where do you think you are both happiest- in the studio recording new music, on stage performing or elsewhere?

That is a tough question, the stage is the adrenaline place, the studio for us is the comfort zone, the relaxing time, the creativity place, so is like you are asking me “ do you prefer running your motorbike 200km hr or having green tea in a SPA…so my reply is it depends.

What has been a favorite show of yours to date? What do you think makes an ideal performance for this band? Where are you excited to play at next?

Probably In a big stadium? Why not, we need big amplification and power to give our deep sound the right shape.

If the Stadium is empty, it would  probably be cool anyway for us.

How do you think being musicians and in this band gives you all the most joy in life today?

Joy comes from different aspects of the life and several time during every day, the music and our band for sure is one of those but not the most important. Life trained us to catch joy from simple things, our band is not so simple.

We are currently living through a very trying and politically charged time right now so I am curious to know how your own music is reflecting this time period? If you don’t think it is, why is that? Would you say that other musicians are making music that has been influenced by this climate? 

Musicians often talk about politics and try to change the world with their music, but we are not part of that.

I mean, nothing against them, but I think that if you want to change the world you have to be active, you don’t have to make music, you don’t have to talk, you don’t have to write book, just do something. We don’t think we are able to change world, for that reason we play music and music for us is fun, relaxation, deep feelings but nothing to do with politics.

Who would you love to work with in the future? Who are some of your favorite artists right now? What do you think would be a dream collaboration for this duo?

So, here we are in the dream space, so I could say, Trent Reznor, Maynard James Keenan, Mike Patton and why not David Bowie?

Where would you love to hear your music being played? A TV show, a movie, in your favorite store, etc…?

A movie probably could be really cool, but to be honest I prefer to tell you where I would never want to hear my music- in a grocery store!

What do you hope is the message of your music? What do you hope people continue to take away from your songs?

Actually SOAWARE doesn’t need to leave messages, our music is a need, it makes us feel good, with music we tell environments, situations and sensations, but that’s what every musician does … create something that takes you there  moment and in that space … the real ones manage to do it and they describe everything so well that they can thrill you …

Is there anything else that you would like to share with our readers about your music?

We think we just said enough; Now all that’s left is listen to the music!

Thanks for your time!