RVTC´s Blend Series

RVTC's Blend Series

We are dedicating the first mix of our Blend Series, naturally, to Italo Pop. To give expression through music to all the feelings and longings we have for this espresso, we invited Ferry Mohr to record a mix, and pressed it to vinyl. Ferry, who is at home between Düsseldorf, Milan and Bologna, sends us exactly there with his selection of Italian music. 45 minutes of music that makes one melancholic for long, warm spring days in Italy, but which also illuminate the different facets of rich Italian music. The interview with Mohr is all about just that: melancholy, wanderlust, and a few tips on how to counteract them.

RVTC Radio · RVTC´s Blend Series - Italo Pop w/ Ferry Mohr (Radio Tedesco)

What were you thinking when you put together this mix? What criteria did you use for your selection?

Ferry: I spent a longer period in Italy again in mid-April. Part of the mix reflects my anticipation of warmer temperatures and the brighter, longer days in Bologna. Since spring weather here in Germany was still a long time coming at the time of my selection, there are also a few more melancholic tracks included. I usually select intuitively and don't pay much attention to genres, rhythm, etc.

Where does your enthusiasm for Italian music come from?

Ferry: I grew up very Italo-phile. My aunt moved to Bologna in the 80s for her doctorate and ultimately stayed there. Since then, she has always been the first point of contact for family vacations, road trips, etc. So I had an Italo-connection from a young age. During my studies, I did a semester abroad in Milan. During the Corona period, I moved to Italy and have since lived between Düsseldorf, Milan and Bologna. Italians are very emotional and master the art of articulating these feelings. Accordingly, the lyrics of many songs are very profound and definitely have a poetic touch. Added to that is the phonetics of the language - Italian is the most beautiful language in the world for me. That, in combination with the musical pioneering work in Italy in the 70s and 80s, has created outstanding and touching tracks.

How do you look for music? What kind of music do you look for?

Ferry: YouTube is an inexhaustible source for me to discover Italian music. Online radios like NTS or Callshop accompany my daily office work. I often come across interesting pieces in the shows played there. I search across many genres, often let myself be carried away, and then perhaps find a niche that I find particularly interesting. For example, I have recently discovered my love for Italo Prog Rock from the 70s to the 90s.

What does Italian music evoke in you?

 

Ferry: Italian music is a refuge from everyday life for me and takes me back to situations I've already experienced in Italy in the shortest possible time. If I listen to "Il Mio Canto Libero" by Lucio Battisti, for example, I'm instantly sitting in a small boat in the bay of Castiglioncello. Next to me are my friends from Empoli, Cosimo, Federica and Lorenzo. It's golden hour, it's 28 degrees. We're all singing along, eating focaccia, Insalata Caprese and drinking cool white wine.

 

Is there a specific period that particularly interests you musically?

Ferry: I am particularly interested in music from the 60s, 70s, and 80s, a time in Italy characterized by economic upturn, emancipation, and freedom.

Which region in Italy are you most interested in?

Ferry: Bologna is like a second home to me. It's a young, vibrant yet dreamy city that harbors a great subculture in terms of music, fashion, and art. I don't know any other city with such a magical appeal. In general, however, I'm interested in all of Italy, whether Rome, Naples, or Milan.

What's the deal with Radio Tedesco?

 

Ferry: The radio show Radio Tedesco contains all my answers to the questions. It reflects my Italian past, my love for, and my interest in Italy. I only play Italian music.

Finally, how do you prefer your coffee on your trips to Italy?

Ferry: Café Americano, black :-))

Tracklist:

  1. Mauro Pagani - La fata
  2. Edda Dell’Orso, Ennio Morricone - Coiffeur pour dames
  3. Piero Umiliani - Oltre l’acqua del fiume
  4. Nada - Confiteor
  5. Silvana Simone - Spontaneamente
  6. Lapera - Tentativo d’evasione
  7. Gruppo 2001 - Era bello insieme a te
  8. Lucio Battisti - Due mondi
  9. Umberto Rosario Balsamo - Crepuscolo
  10. Lapera - Catarsi
  11. CCCP - L’andazzo Generale
  12. Alan Sorrenti - Incrociando Il Sole
  13. Don Bernini - Ikebana
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