Introducing: Francesco Mongatti

Where can we find you right now and what are you up to?

After releasing my first two singles Sinto Falta and Searching for the Mankind's Soul in 2021, I feel I have broadened my understanding of the whole music production process (from composition to release). This experience proved very valuable in creating my next singles, which are my main focus right now. While having mainly produced electronic/ambient tracks, I am looking forward to exploring new musical territories as well, closer to symphonic and orchestral music.

What is the process you follow when writing your songs?

I usually start playing some melodies or chord progressions on keyboard or piano. Depending on my mood and my emotional state, something interesting starts flowing at that time, it is all about “capturing” the inspiration and record everything. I think that the creation process, at least for me, is partially unconscious and is especially linked to the particular period of the life I am living; in fact, during some of my toughest moments I have been able to create more intense and valuable musical pieces.

In my mind, creating equals to express feelings, and the best songs are the ones that evoke memories, images and emotions to listeners.

When I am finished creating and recording, the process requires me to listen to every take and check how (and if) they fit together. For me, it is like making a puzzle: this section could move here, this other one could be the end…

I think that this way of composing is particularly linked to the many musical influences and genres (fusion rock, funky jazz, etc.) I grew up with, which gave me a wide variety of choices in terms of musical structure, styles and sounds to explore.

What are your influences?

Being since childhood a fusion/progressive rock fan, my favorites bands and influences are: Genesis, Pink Floyd, Alan Parsons Project, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Supertramp, Level 42 and Tears for Fears.

I think that having listened to different bands of the progressive rock scenario made me realize how much music is diversified, mystic and evocative form of art. Specifically, keyboardist and amazing composer such as Tony Banks, Eric Woolfson, Keith Emerson, Rick Davis and Mike Lindup, even with different styles and musical background, have all of them influenced me and taught me not to set limits and that in music everything is possible.

What instruments are used to produce your music?

I produce almost everything digitally using my MIDI keyboard, except for some bass guitar. Getting more comfortable with time using Ableton Live has really helped me a lot speeding up the process of creating, recording and editing my music. While playing and recording with my progressive rock band “Via Modesta Valenti”, as a keyboardist, I also recorded with a real piano, which is something more complex but exciting that I am looking forward to doing for my music production.

Who is responsible for your visuals?

Being an “old” Adobe Photoshop nerd, I realized both the artwork for Sinto Falta and Searching for the Mankind’s Soul all by myself. Especially for Searching for the Mankind’s Soul, it took me a lot of effort to reach the level of detail for the eye depicted in the single cover. The eye, in my mind, had to give a sense of history, and scientific research with a digital view to the future. For my next track, I am thinking about changing my visual styles a bit and finding some artist willing to collaborate with me.

What do you consider to be the most significant event that has happened so far in your career?

Well, as an amateur composer and musician, I can hardly say to have a career in music. Having said that, the process of composing, editing, mixing, mastering and publishing my first song Sinto Falta was definitely very meaningful for me. In fact, it represented the starting point of my process of becoming a better musician and composer, something which really gives me the motivation to produce new material and ultimately enriches many aspects of my life.

Your music would be perfect for a film, have you ever considered that? Would you write a film score?

I am glad about this question because I 100% agree with you. I think my music could fit to films and I feel an inner desire to express myself through music combined to images, people, and landscapes. Coherently, my next composition is an orchestral piece that I think could be an excellent fit for a nostalgic and, at the same time, epic movie. Well, if any director out there is interested…

Joking aside, I can’t deny the influence that the greatest film composer of all time Ennio Morricone has on me as a person and a musician. I owe him a lot, and probably, my instrumental tracks are somehow my tribute to thank him.

What do you think will be the future of music regarding live music and distribution?

That’s a very tough question to answer. I believe that in the future independent artists will still have to find a way to “survive” and find their audience, their niche, while “fighting” with major Labels for both live exhibition and distribution.

What do you feel sets you apart from other artists?

In a word, I would say diversity. Having been influenced by different musical styles, I really aim at creating different and original songs every time, while maintaining a personal and recognizable sound. My first two tracks Sinto Falta and Searching for the Mankind’s Soul are proof of this: while trying to preserve my melodic approach, I tried to move from the ambient and melancholic Sinto Falta to the more electronic and dynamic Searching for the Mankind’s Soul.

In my creative process, I am my first and hard critic: once I have finished composing, I spontaneously ask myself “Is this something original enough? Does it sound like something I have already written or am I just copying myself?”. If the answer is “no”, well, I am heading in the right direction, otherwise I have to go back and start over again. It is both mental and emotional work, as mentioned earlier.

In a nutshell, I consider the continuous search for variety what truly defines me as an artist.

What are your plans for the future?

For sure my future plans include: completing my next track, releasing it and investing in the right promotion. Because I strongly believe in the quality of my work, I would like to have the chance to deliver my music to the right people, to the niche of listeners who could truly appreciate it. Ultimately, building a solid “fan base” would definitely give me the fuel to keep creating and doing what I love most.