Tuesday August 30, 2022
Aria (aka Mariano Schiavolini) has released The Next Life, a rousing contemporary pop-rock track with a timely and thought-provoking lyric, focusing on the tragic disappearance of our planet’s wildlife.
The Next Life is sponsored by earthday.org, part of the UN, in support of their initiatives in 2022 for animals and their habitat. The Next Life is a lush-sounding record featuring organic musical elements, irresistible melodies, and galvanising performances. Aria has effortlessly merged genres—hip-hop, classic pop, and rock—to create an enthralling musical experience. An introductory electric piano part previews the chord progression that forms the foundation of the verses.
These verses are intercut by a rap section, expanding the form of the track, and imbuing it with a series of unexpected textures. The chorus hook becomes the central focus, enhanced by strings, brass, backing vocals, and featuring a soulful lead vocal performance. The song builds, intensifying through instrumentation, a transposed vocal range, and a surprise arrangement until it reaches a peak with an outro rap section that summarizes the core sentiment of the track. A key figure in the Italian progressive rock scene, Aria is the founding member of renowned Italian prog-rock band Celeste (dubbed ‘the Italian King Crimson’) and has a long and rich history across various musical cultures.
A staple of the Sanremo Music Festival, the artist was a bridge between the Italian and British music worlds. Passionate about bringing the world together through music, Aria has since gone on to orchestrate projects across LA, Prague, Johannesburg, and more. Recent collaborations include recordings with the late Makeba’s band members, Thuthukani Cele (of Lucky Dube fame), and the famous Soweto Gospel Choir.
With a musical history spanning the creation of leading Italian rock record label Dischi Noi (RCA Distribution), collaborating with the likes of Kit Woolven (David Bowie, Thin Lizzy), Nick Griffiths (Pink Floyd, Roger Waters), and Daniel Boone (The Who, Kraftwerk), and concert production on Rock at Midnight for Italia 1 TV, Aria’s legacy is self-evident.
