Daniele Giovanni - Karmanoi
I had a lovely conversation with Daniele Gioovanni of Karmano this week, We talked about the new album Eternal Mistake, about their upcoming appearance at Prog For Peart, The rise and use of AI (Artifical Intelligence) and also the threme of the album.
Here's what he had to say,
JWS good Morning Daniele, Thank you for making time to talk with me today.
DV - My pleasure John, good to talk with you too.
Jws your new album Eternal Mistake is released on Friday, I've heard it but found it a little hard to fully grasp what its all about?
DV - ts basicalluy a very love story, Or the story of a relationship between a Man and a female Humanoid. How the feelings develop between them and the battles they face in that relationship.
Jws what was the inspiration behind that, I think the oconcept came about because of the massive growth and influence of AI in many areas of life now, We wanted to comment on the whole thing of Man Vs Machine. Whilst AI has its uses it aslso must have secure Parameters or limits on its actions, As in Asimovs 3 laws of robotics,
DV in the story the Humanoid begins to make demands that are unacceptable, to the man Which leads to a great deal of conflict as the man is unwilling to submit his mind to the Humanoid fully with this leading to the declaration in the final track No Fucking Way!
Jws You're playing in the UK in July aren't you?
DV Yes we're at Prog For Peart the show organised by Mark Cunningham in memory of Neil Peart, We are very excited to be coming back for this, We had previously played the Fusion Festival in 2018 (They were due to play in 2025 but we're unable to do so due to illness within the band). We are very much looking forward to it,
As long as we can get there with all the geopolitical unrest in the world and trusting the airline will have jet fuel available so that we can make the trip from Milan where we are based.
Jws What is your process for recording the album as you have some great guests on the album?
DV yes we we fortunate to have Adam Holzman and Randy Mcstine from Steven Wilson's band appearing, we've known Adam for a while, but Randy was new for us We saw him at the Steven Wilson show in Milan and he blew us away, So I asked cpAdam if we could contact Randy directly, he asked him and he consented, The only problem is that our guitarist, Alex Masssari will have to replicate Randy's solo when we play live, Although both Alex and Valerio Spargi can both play guitar so between the two of them we should find a way for it to work.
Another thing to note John is that although the albums is themed around AI we don't embrace Ai at all in this album everything was recorded by ourselves without using any AI apart from what the engineer uses otherwise its all by us alone.
I feel the reason for that is whilst Ai can assist, It can't create music that is unique enough, most Ai created music sounds the same and that loses its appeal quickly, For us its the imperfection that creates perfection and the Magic Ihf everything is perfect pitch and tuning etc where is the space for the imperfection to really allow the magic to emerge and surface?
I think we were also thinking back to thee album we made in 2021, Room 101 which was about George Orwell and how he saw the world and technology etc and the rise of control, its very telling with the rise of Ai.
Jws I've not heard that one?
DV I will send it to you.
Jws Excellent Thank You Daniele.
We feel very strongly about this really, that's why musicians seek the perfect take of a song looking for the eureka moment that captures the magic even if it is not quite perfect!
I think you can understand me?
Jws The last track of the album is interesting?
DV Yes its sums the album up succintly when he sings No Fucking Way, Brain Control, I got your soul, No Fucking Way.
It's where he realises that this isn't good for him, Wants she wants is too much to pay I think its a great conclusion to the album.
Jws well Daniele, my time has gone thank you for the insights and I've enjoyed talking with you today Thank You.
Q