Photo Credit Erica Valle
R.Y.F. shares the music video for “Don’t Panic,” a song off her new record Everything Burns out now via Bronson Recordings. With “Don’t Panic,” R.Y.F. continues her celebration of the marginalized—an encouraging tribute to the strength and difficulty of coming out as trans. The line “YOU HAVE NOT BEEN TAKEN BY ALIENS” —repeated to the effect of a strobe-lit hypnosis—alludes to Morello’s experiences growing up non-binary
‘Don’t Panic’ describes what you feel when coming out seems impossible, when you feel trapped and powerless, says R.Y.F., the solo project of Italian artist Francesa Morello. “Hey!!! You’ve not been taken by aliens!!! It is all fine!!! That’s my message to support my big queer family out there.”
Everything Burns is R.Y.F.’s first foray into electronic music, and an homage to a period of explosive creativity and inspiration. With the pandemic forcing musicians off the road, Morello found herself at home working less with a guitar and more with synthesizers and drum machines, instruments she had long admired in avant-garde bands like Special Interest as well as Moor Mother, who R.Y.F. recently announced a show opening for in Francesca’s hometown of Ravenna, Italy. See details HERE.
What’s your story as an artist?
I started to sing my songs when I was a teenager because I wasn’t able to express my feelings, to share them with people. My first concert was in1997, it was at school in front of all the students. It was very scary but also it was the first time I felt completely free. I haven’t stopped singing and playing since then.
I started a solo project with my guitar then it felt like it wasn’t enough so I started singing and playing in some bands till the 2012 when I decided I wanted to do something by myself again. That’s when R.Y.F. started. I recorded an EP and a couple of albums only with my guitar and few tracks of other acoustic instruments.
With “Everything Burns”, my new album, I’ve tried to give space to my creativity and my growing passion for drum machines and synths.
A lot happened from that first concert but I still feel the same freedom and passion.
What do you want your music to communicate?
The music and my voice are the media I prefer to communicate with people. When I write and compose, they reflect the thoughts and feelings of a certain time in my life, so records are like sound diaries for me. Usually I share things I see, I feel, I don’t like or I like a lot in a simple way through music, so people who feels the same, maybe, doesn’t feel alone.
What are some sources of inspiration for your storytelling?
Everything can be a source: images, sounds, a travel, a walk, driving, dreams, but mostly feelings.
Who is an artist that you look up to more than others today?
I can’t really answer this question, because in these days every artist who still work with passion and try to live with their music and art are heroes for me. It is a dark time for culture in our country, but I presume it is not an exception.
Of course I get inspiration from artists and sounds I like but the power to be brave and go on comes from this kind of artists, whether they are famous or not.
What’s the record or artist that made you realize you wanted to be an artist?
Nirvana – In Utero
Tell us about your latest release and how it came about
“Everything Burns” is the result of a work done in a very short time but with an extremely intense and inspired energy.
Last winter I applied to a call by Motus, a famous Italian contemporary theatre company. At the beginning of November I discovered I had been selected for the audition and, while I was working for it, I received a proposal from Bronson Recordings to do an artistic residency that would end up with the recording of an album. Of course I accepted the offer. I was very excited about both the great things that were happening to me and I wanted to give the best I could.
While I was working on the album I tried to follow the advice that Chris Angiolini from Bronson Recordings gave to me: “come out from your comfort zone, from that little corner of songwriter you dug for yourself”
It was my first time working seriously with electro sounds and I let everything come out without thinking too much, just letting it flow.
What inspires your sound?
The tons of music I’ve listened to from the teenage years till now, movies, noises, heartbeats, memories of my childhood and the tv I was watching in that time, books and nature.
What’s your favorite tune of yours?
In this moment every tunes of “Everything Burns”, I’m very happy about the album and I think it will be some times before take them out of my mind.
Where are some things you really want to accomplish as an artist?
I would like to feel free to follow my instinct forever, to never let myself down or not believing in myself.
Favorite lyric you ever wrote?
I’m not good in this things… I will pass to the next question 🙂
Was there ever a moment when you felt like giving up?
Yes, a couple of times, but it lasted just 10 minutes.
What is the best advice you’ve ever gotten?
“If you wanna do something, do it! Life is shit and we can die tomorrow, so you better do what you love!” It comes from my love, my partner Stefania Pedretti (OvO, Alos)
Where do you think the next game changer will be in the music industry and entertainment scene?
I don’t have that kind of super powers… 🙂
