Matteo Bocelli in front of Dnevnik: It’s normal to compare me to my father
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Ten years later, he realizes that music is his calling and follows in the footsteps of his famous father. It was in Deut with him that he recorded the song Fall on Me in 2028, and last year the two performed the Time to Say Goodbye on the stage of the 96th Oscar awards ceremony. In 2024, Mateo Bocelli released his debut album Matteo, which he worked with with a number of famous artists, including Ed Sheeron and Jesse Shatkin, who worked with Miley Cyrus and Sia. In music, he follows the style of his father, but gives him a more modern pop sound. For « Diary », the young Bocelli answered questions by email to tell about his musical path, which he has perhaps the best teacher – his father.
Was there any other time besides the music?
– Since I always knew that I wanted music to be my professional journey, there was nothing else that I had considered seriously. Even when I was at school, my father encouraged me to graduate from Business as a backup plan, something more practical. However, my heart always pulled me to the music and I moved to the Conservatory, where I immediately felt that it was my place and I gave all my energy to it.
Why did you focus more on pop music at the expense of the classic and how can they be combined as you do?
– Although classical music is deeply encoded in my upbringing and I have great love and respect for it, I was attracted to the more modern sound and the opportunities to tell stories in pop music. It allows for different types of emotional expression and wider range. However, classical training gave me a very good basis for my vocal technique.
So it is a matter of balance and creating music with which I can fully express my authenticity.
You have said that you poured all your feelings and emotions into your debut album Matteo. How long did you work on it and what was the most emotional part of the process?
– The whole experience of creating my debut album Matteo lasted for several years, developing and shaping over time. The most emotional part of the process was to display this vulnerability and to share many personal feelings and experiences through my music. It was both challenging and incredibly rewarding. Now I work on my second album and all these emotions are coming back, but I am excited to present my new music and can’t wait to hear it all.
Who Matteo Bocelli will hear the listeners in your album?
– In my album, listeners can hear the most authentic version of Mateo Bocelli I could offer. I hope they feel it in the next one.
Is there a song that is more special than the others?
– Every song on the album is special to me as it shows a different part of my trip. However, there are definitely songs that bring deeper emotional value because of the specific experiences or feelings they express. It is difficult to choose only one, as they are all as separate chapters in a book, each contributing to the overall story.
How would you describe your work with the people who help you with the first album such as Ed and Matthew Sheeron, Jesse Shatkin, Stewart Crichton and others?
– Working with such incredibly talented and experienced artists was an absolute privilege and incredible experience. Each of them contributed with their views and skills to the project, which complemented me creatively and helped me finish the songs in a way that I couldn’t handle it myself. It was inspiring to absorb from their dedication and talent and I feel extremely happy that I had the opportunity to create music with them.
Ed Sheeron, who made 60,000 people sing in the rain
Who are the artists who inspire you the most?
– My musical inspirations are quite diverse. I am inspired by a lot of Ed Sheeron. I value authenticity and artists who are true to their vision.
You have come out on many big scenes around the world, but which is the most special so far?
– Each scene has its own unique energy. It is really difficult to choose only one, but overall I would say that the last year and a half was incredibly special because I presented my own show on stage.
Do you remember your first upload on stage?
– Yes, I remember my first time on stage, I was with my father and David Foster. I felt both nervousness and excitement. This was the moment when my desire to follow this time was reinforced.
Since your father is Andrea Bocelli, people probably think your path to music is wide open, but isn’t it more difficult because you have to get out of his shadow and make your own path in music?
– This is a very deep question. On the one hand, my father has undoubtedly opened some doors and gave me incredible opportunities, but on the other it is a challenge to build my own identity as an artist. It is normal for people to compare me to him and it is important to make my own way, to create music that shows my authenticity. This requires additional dedication and a clear vision for my own development to get out of this shade and be recognized as an individual artist.
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Do you consult your father about music tips and who was the most valuable?
– Yes, I consult my father about advice and his guidance is invaluable. He has extensive experience and his knowledge – about vocal technology, about performance, about the road in the industry, are incredibly useful.
But the most valuable advice he gave me is always to be loyal to myself, to work a lot and to do what really makes me happy.
I recently talked to the son of actor Michele Placido – Breno, who said that they were talking about everything else in their family, but not about cinema. What are the most common topics for conversation in your family?
– That’s interesting! In our family, music is definitely a major topic of conversation, but it is not the only one. We are talking about everything from everyday life, which is important to the family, our trips, or just telling funny stories. Although music connects us very hard, there are many other experiences and interests that do it.
How would you describe your childhood and deprive you of something to play a piano at an early age?
– My childhood was filled with music and love. Growing up in a music family is a beautiful and enriching experience. Playing a piano from an early age was a natural part of my life and a way of expressing myself.
And how did you start singing? How did you know you can do it well and professionally?
– Singing has always been around me, but I started to take it more seriously when I grew up. It was a stroke process of discovering my voice and my own abilities. It was not a sudden discovery, but rather a gradual awareness of playing the piano after so many years.
You will have your first solo concert in Bulgaria. What can the audience expect in Plovdiv? Will there be special guests or musicians on stage?
– I am amazingly excited about my first solo concert in Bulgaria! The audience in Plovdiv can expect an evening filled with a mix of my songs from the album, some Italian classics and maybe a few surprises. I strive to create a warm and engaging atmosphere in which we can connect through music. Although I do not have specific special guests to announce at this point, I will bring my group of talented musicians to create a complete and dynamic sound on stage. I really look forward to sharing my music with the Bulgarian audience.
