Of Shadows And Lights
ARTIST NAME: Of Shadows And Lights
SONG TITLE: Under Control
ALBUM TITLE: Under Control
RELEASE DATE: May 6, 2021
GENRE: Alternative Rock/Indie Rock
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Of Shadows And Lights was born in 2018 and it’s the moniker used by the Italian singer-songwriter/producer Angelo Pitone. He’s graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Commercial Music with distinction award at the UWS.
The triplet music-lyrics-photography is the poetry that tells the story of good and evil and of who we are as human beings.
“Life is rarely peaches and cream. There’s always something that is hidden from your eyes. It influences your decisions, and you can’t control them. I think it’s the daughter of modern society and the surreal days we’re living” Angelo says. “You have to keep fighting head-on, and it doesn’t matter if you go down because someday, you’ll have a story to tell. I like to create something beautiful from the darkness. It’s a part of my creative process. Songs are like clay: I can decide how to shape them without ever losing control, and Almost Prophetic Visions And Thoughts (out on January 21, 2021) is no exception. My motto is: Listen to the darkness to find out your light”. The latest single Under Control is the perfect follow-up to his debut album and it’s out on May 6, 2021.
His music was inspired by Queen, Freddie Mercury, Led Zeppelin, Muse, Nothing But Thieves, Foo Fighters, to name a few, and it was supported by major indie radio across the globe such as Radio Wigwam, Lonely Oak Radio, TIORR (Awakening #2 in the Top 10), TSFC Radio (Crossfire #7 in the Top 24 and Universal Thing #4 in the Top 5!). It also gets great exposure on several music blogs such as AB Records, The Static Dive, The Other Side, Rockit, Fruit Sonic, and Spotify on the editorial playlist All New Rock.
Tom Hilton from The Aldora Britain Records and E-zine claimed: “Angelo Pitone delivers a blistering example of explosive contemporary indie-pop. He clearly has the knack and the talent to write gargantuan songs”.
Bob Smith from The Static Dive music blog wrote: “Musically the album is a wild ride through the popular Rock and Pop idioms of the past three decades. From the cool experimental modern Indie Rock of tracks like Unaware Passenger to the 90’s Alternative groove of songs like Awakening, OSAL mixes and matches sounds to suit each track. Cold Shivers is as 2021 as music gets, while songs like A Mending Silence have a timeless cinematic quality. The performances are impeccable throughout. From beginning to end, this is just a great record”.
Colm Slattery from Fruit Sonic music blog said: “Of Shadows and Lights goes for a timeless sense of grace on the gargantuan grooves of Universal Thing. Sung with passion, the way his lyrics inspire feels undeniable. A clever mixture of new wave and indie pop the song shines with a tremendous degree of lightness”.
Angela De Gregorio from the Italian music blog Musyance said: “Of Shadows And Lights showcases a mix of grit, passion, energy and desire to dare. His debut album is attention to detail, explosive, elegant, and modern”.
Nicole Mendes from The Other Side music blog has claimed this talking about Universal Thing: “While the melody’s design can have you transfixed, it is Pitone’s vocals and lyricism that truly captivate me. Along with the fancy footwork of his overwhelming instrumentation, he showcases versatility in vocal execution as well. Incorporating a gruffness in the “rock part” with a falsetto that would make Roger Taylor proud, Pitone elegantly traverses the emotive melody. In fact, it is the outstanding vocals that add a lingering poignancy to this reflective and poetic track”.
Natalia De Mitri from ROCKNBOLD Magazine wrote: “[…] the opening track Awakening has the power and the similarities to Muse frontman Matt Bellamy’s falsetto […] His debut album Almost Prophetic Visions And Thoughts is an extremely cohesive and intense work that shows all the talent and versatility of the artist, as well as the path that new classic rock must follow”.
He’s currently in his personal studio working on new music as a follow-up to his debut record.
LYRICS:
We were stuck at home for days
After the nth crushing defeat
Today is not the same,
Because we’ve lost our precious game
We’re more scared than yesterday,
We need to chase our demons away
We can’t move
We can’t breathe,
We can’t choose
And we can’t live
Pre-chorus
We want our social status back.
Chorus
We run like rats
To storm the stores
And screw all those stupid fucking cats
This thing’s a scam
They sell like jam
Don’t you get bored of hearing that it’s all under control?
Don’t you? Come on, man!
We’re standing at the edge of resistance,
We need a bit of confidence,
We can’t move
We can’t breathe,
We can’t choose
But we can still believe!
Pre-chorus
We want our social status back.
Chorus
We run like rats
To storm the stores
And screw all those stupid fucking cats
This thing’s a scam
They sell like jam
Don’t you get bored of being alone?
Special
Turn it on
Turn it off
My brain is gone!
Turn in on
Turn it off
Turn it on
Hey man, what the fuck do you want from me?
Bridge
I got enough of my own
Please, don’t rub it in
Can you hear this desperate crying?
Please, don’t rub it in.
Chorus
We run like rats
To storm the stores
And screw all those stupid fucking cats
This thing’s a scam
They sell like jam
Don’t you get bored of being alone?
But we run like rats
To storm the stores
And screw all those stupid fucking cats
This thing’s a scam
They sell like jam
Don’t you get bored of hearing that it’s all under control?
Under control
Under control
Discuss the concept of mixing genres together.
The artists mixing their musical influences with the musical horizons not congenial to them have always fascinated me… Having started as a child listening to British and American music, I think that, unknowingly, I managed to get hold of that musical baggage. Please, be careful, I’m not saying I’m one of those great musicians. I’m just saying I’ve learned from them and I’m still doing it. The wonderful thing about music is that you never stop learning.
Of Shadows And Lights is my indie-rock solo recording project born for academic purposes at the University of the West of Scotland where I graduated. The funny thing is that I am a solo artist with a band name. I like to blend music genres because music evolves continuously and my main purpose is to find new music ways to communicate. My writing approach has always based on a four or five-piece band in my mind. That’s a sort of a fixed starting point, and every time I have an idea I’m working on, I enjoy the moment. There’s no magic formula. “There is you, your worldview, your background. You do all of this to share it with the world out there”.
Elaborate on your childhood background.
As I said before, I started listening to British and American rock music in my childhood thanks to my father who transferred to me the passion for Led Zeppelin’s music. At the age of one, my parents gave me a miniature piano, which turned into a first electronic keyboard at six. I remember that there was an instrumental demo of Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go by Wham that drove me crazy. I started learning by ear Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in Dmin, thanks to the Disney movie Fantasia, which pushed me towards my first approach to classical music. I rediscovered classical music many years later when I started my piano studies at the Conservatory.
Discuss your music life.
During my adolescence, at about 12 years old, I even started writing my first melodies on the piano. It has been a long process of growth made of errors, experimentations, fails, attempts left undone, tears, desperation, and even the will to abandon everything. This latter has left a deep sign inside of me because it happened more than one time. That situation brought me to reinforce my resilience. You know, it happened to everyone, and it doesn’t matter how many times you fall. The most important thing is how fast you rise, always keeping in mind that humbleness pays off because it’s the only thing that counts and you need.
I’ve played in many local bands as a singer. I’ve studied singing following the voice craft method by Elisa Turlà with my Italian singing teachers Cinzia Eramo and Beppe Delre. The last years have been troubled by the fact that I couldn’t find the right people to build up a band for my music and fill the gap. Yes, because where I live, there is no attention to the original music but cover bands only. In addition, I’ve always written my songs in English, so I received the final blow. No gigs, no chances. Nothing. Who knows, maybe I’ll have to move to England to get a chance… Once I realized that I’d keep wasting my time, almost two years ago, I take a decision: to design and start a brand new project under the name of Of Shadows And Lights. I started all of this without revealing my identity. When I dropped my single Cold Shivers in 2019 I put my face on the screen! As you can see, it doesn’t matter what happens to you. You got to do something.
Elaborate on your recording experience in the studio.
I love recording studios and everything in between! That kind of life gives me the possibility to push my limits beyond my imagination. I’m a huge fan of music production tips and tricks, advanced micing, mixing, and mastering techniques. And again, how to sculpt a sound or building one from scratch… But life in the studio is not only about technical aspects. There’s a thin line, almost invisible, that makes me happy. I’m unable to explain. There is you, a microphone and a pair of headphones. You, your heart, and your feelings… That is the perfect moment you can be yourself. It’s the moment you’re leaving an indelible mark on history. There is you, your voice, and your story that makes magic real.
Discuss the songwriting process of this song.
I wrote Under Control during the first lockdown while I was working on my debut record Almost Prophetic Visions and Thoughts. The only thing I know is that it is the perfect picture of a weird social condition we’re still living caused by a pandemic. I’ve experienced a sort of apocalypse seeing people storming grocery stores for no reason and that day, I couldn’t do the shopping I needed. I was shocked. It could seem a silly thing, but I can assure you it was not a pleasant feeling. Once I was back home empty-handed; I turned on my workstation and I started to write some lyrics line. At the same time, the melody started flowing flawlessly. That strange episode pushed me to use several tempo changes and make everything funny and out-of-standard.
Generally speaking, I like to start from rhythm parts such as drum grooves or bass riffs. When the basis is strong and solid, I work with guitars, synth, strings, and piano parts. I let myself be guided by sensations. I hate any forcing during my creative process. If the idea is good, I model it like clay; if not, I throw it in the bin. I learned not to get attached to ideas that don’t work. By doing so, I am free to think of something different and save time and energy. This is a process that requires days or weeks. On that occasion, the song itself told me who, when, where, how, and what I had to do. It’s awe-inspiring because you can’t decide anything at all. You have to let the river flows.
Tell us what is special about the song that can hook a listener.
I write a song, I do it to communicate a sensation or a message, positive or negative it could be. I have the tendency to write open lyrics that allow listeners to discover my music world or my vision. Those persons can share it or not, they’re totally free to choose. I don’t know if there is something special in the song, but I like to believe there is something special for you. That is “THE” special thing. Did you ever get the feeling that you like anything but can’t explain why? Do we need an explanation for everything, am I right? Maybe sometimes we do because it is necessary, but sometimes it would be better to enjoy something without going spasmodically looking for an explanation. We are not automatons. We must not forget that. Just enjoy.
Discuss what you consider in a hit song.
I never considered it a hit song. What does hit song mean today? There are tons of great songs out there that almost nobody knows. I think this is unfair. Under Control got four thousand streams to date… I don’t want to write a song thinking of it as a hit song. I want to write a great song, focusing on quality more than quantity. I don’t decide if the song I wrote is a hit. That’s what people decide. If it happens in the future, I would definitely be happy.
Tell us your opinion on melody.
Under Control’s melody communicates a sort of urgency. There is a feeling of frustration and discontent I tried to emphasize with my way of singing. You could love that contrast in the bridge section after the second chorus. I always liked dynamic songs and arrangements, as well as I always liked to surprise listeners with something they don’t expect. I hope you can appreciate this.
Elaborate on what you are doing to develop your music career.
Developing a music career has something mysterious. Of course, I’m working hard to make thing happens, but I can’t decide when, where and with who. This is the kind of thing you can’t control. The most important thing is to keep coherence, trust in what you’re doing, and thinking that your hard work supported by the right dose of humbleness and luck can give you results in the long term. Sooner or later, the right person(s) will come. Beautiful things need care and patience. This is the approach I decided to take.
List your greatest supporters.
I cannot forget all the music bloggers and playlist curators who have supported me always with kind words and excellent reviews. I’m grateful to all of them, to all the people who’ve listened to my music, followed me on social networks, on Spotify, and liked my songs. Without forgetting all the artists with whom I came in contact and with whom we constantly exchange opinions and mutual support. In short, it is an active and loyal community that puts the good and the future of music first. Because music is not a competition, it unites people.
State your future goals.
I want to continue to release more music and improve my songwriting process. I’m working on a couple of new singles (maybe three) that will be out respectively the next summer, autumn, and winter. Then I’ll rest a bit and I’ll be back working on some ideas for my second full-length album.
Discuss what has changed in the music business.
The music business has radically changed. Living in a digital world, things happen at the speed of light, of worst, you have no time to think about an idea, that somebody out there has already realized instead of you!
Tell us the most important tools for an artist.
Passion. Dedication. Believe yourself. Work hard. Rest.
Elaborate on the song.
Under Control is an energetic, experimental, indie rock track that will capture you at first listening. With a mixture of time changes in 4, 5, and 7, focused hook, vocal melodies, and harmonies, Thematically, the song captures the realities of the current social situation all around the world. There is a feeling of frustration and discontent, a longing for some sort of peaceful normalcy. “It is like we are experiencing a cheap B-movie about the end of the world where the craziest things happen for real” Angelo says.
For fans of:
Nothing But Thieves, Muse, Royal Blood, Foo Fighters, Des Rocs, Inhaler, Palaye Royale, Dorothy, Twin Atlantic, Death From Above 1979.
For music lover of genres:
Indie Rock, Alternative Rock, Math Rock…
Elaborate on your artist’s name and the title of the album.
Of Shadows And Lights (shortened OSAL) is a project born in 2018 and it represents the moniker as a solo artist with a band name. It is based on a triplet made of music and lyrics that tell the story of good and evil and who we are as human beings, supported by photography that emphasizes the content. On January 21, 2021, I released my debut full-length album called Almost Prophetic Visions And Thoughts that fully represent that triplet…