A B&A Interview with Neri, Up-coming Italian Trap Figure

As the sun set on the city of Milan, I had the pleasure of sitting down with the innovative collective known as Smoke Music. Comprised of talented individuals including Neri, Pardo, Soon, and Emanuele, these rising creatives have been making waves in the Bocconi music scene with their unique sound and powerful lyrics.

With a fresh perspective on the industry, they share their journey of self-discovery, creative collaborations, and their unwavering commitment to push the boundaries of what is considered mainstream. Through their unapologetic and raw approach, Smoke Music is bound to captivate the hearts of a new generation.

Join me as we delve into the mind of Neri, one of the creative minds behind this collective, and discover what drives his passion for music.

Interview by Leonardo Gambassi

Who inspired you to make music?
My introduction to music-making began when I was 16 and living in the United States. My friends were all into hip hop and making music, so I joined in, even though I wasn't initially a big fan. I started with GarageBand, and as I continued to make music, I was inspired by my own progress along with and the artists I admire. During the first quarantine, I began rapping with friends and writing my own lyrics, which further fueled my passion for music-making.

The three of us - the singer, the producer, and the mixer - were all making music for our own enjoyment. Our manager also played a role in his own way. This love for music eventually led to the creation of smoke music and Favole, with Pardo playing a crucial part. He was the inspiration behind the project, and our manager encouraged us to connect with him. Overall, my friends were a big source of inspiration for me, and I'm grateful for their influence in my musical journey.

Why do you create? What need does creating satisfy?
I draw inspiration from my personal experiences and the world around me. I have a strong passion for both writing and listening to music, which started as a hobby but has since become a major part of my life. It's been three years since I started composing and singing and it gives me a great sense of satisfaction.

Creativity has always been an important aspect of my life and music allows me to express that, especially in an environment like Bocconi where there's limited opportunities for artistic expression. My goal is not to emulate other artists, but rather to strike a balance and create a new sound. That is a fact.

How would you describe the music that you typically create?
The music in this project is a unique blend of bright and somber tones, creating a dynamic range of emotions. It is a fusion of an album and a mixtape, bound by a common theme of expressing the innermost aspects of ourselves and conveying emotions through each track. The tracks are connected by a shared narrative and draw influences from various hip-hop worlds. Together, they create an emotional atmosphere that takes listeners on a journey through time and the soul of the artist. The goal of the project is to capture and convey this immersive atmosphere.

Where are you guys from, and has that place impacted your art?
I had a multicultural upbringing, growing up in Italy until the age of 12 and then moving to the United States. The US had a significant impact on my music through the environment and events, as well as the music and fashion trends of the time. I was part of the trap wave in 2016 and was immersed in the competitive music scene in Milan.

Our cities played a big role in shaping our style and mindset, and motivated us to keep pushing ourselves even though we were making music independently and connecting with others in the music community online.

What is your creative process like? And what’s the step in the process you find most exciting?
I specialize in beat creation and have a vast collection of beats at my disposal. I collaborate with Pardo, who raps on top of my beats. We work together in the recording process, perfecting each part until we are both completely satisfied. Monte then takes over and handles the mixing and mastering of the track. Monte seeks our input during the process, making adjustments and changes until the final product meets our expectations.

My favorite aspect of the process is the creativity involved. I enjoy working independently to create beats, but also relish the experience of being in the studio with Pardo and Monte, both recording and mixing.

Mix and master sound clean, is it like a bedroom born project or more complex?
To start, I'll say this: our project can be considered a bedroom project, but in our minds, it's something much bigger. We see it as something more formal and technical than a simple project between friends. I make beats on an old laptop using a hacked version of FL Studio, and we recorded in the kitchen and bedroom using drum kits and other equipment that may not be the most professional.

However, we have a great sound engineer who knows what they're doing. Our whole process is done in the bedroom due to limited resources, but each person brings their own specialized skills to the table. Pardo is incredibly talented with beats, and Monte is highly educated in mixing and mastering. Our most professional recording was done at Bocconi Music, where we had access to better equipment and a more isolated recording environment. However, everything is still done on our own laptops. Nothing is done in a real studio... yet.

How do you feel the Internet has impacted your music?
The disruption of the music industry by the internet is a double-edged sword. On one hand, the presence of the internet makes everything easily accessible to everyone. For example, tha Supreme started from a bedroom and became viral on its own, but this also implies that there is a low barrier to entry in the music industry. This means that anyone can make music easily, but it also makes it harder to promote oneself because the competition is higher.

From an artistic point of view, the internet has been great for me. I have been able to listen to songs and watch videos of huge artists like ASAP Rocky, which has helped me in my own music creation. By listening to unfinished demos of artists like Kanye West and Playboy Carti, I have seen the different versions and how much work goes into their music before it's released on Spotify.

Are your lyrics some sort of poetry or a collection of good, catchy lines?
My music is unique because of my lyrics. I used to write collections of deep and meaningful lyrics, but I have evolved and now my songs have more purposeful lyrics that aren't as repetitive. The lyrics are not just a collection of bars that I have written, but rather they are written specifically for the song. I listen to the beat and then come up with a concept that I develop in my lyrics. The lyrics are all connected and tell different stories that contribute to the overall concept I want to convey through my music. I have received feedback that the concept behind my songs can be difficult to identify, but that is intentional. I am telling stories, not just conveying a message.

If you could change anything about the industry, what would it be?
I'm not sure if anyone here is knowledgeable enough about the music industry to truly know how to change it. It's tough that often fame is achieved because someone promotes themselves better, even if their music isn't as great. It's just the way life is. If I could change anything about the music industry, there would always be another problem that would arise. What I would change is to seek out music with more identity: we need now is originality and identity, as well as good technique and music.

Have you moved through different mediums? And if not, What caused you to understand that music was your way?
I wouldn't say that music is the only way to express myself. I have also had experience in theater and dabbled in photography and directing in high school. I find music to be easily consumable and accessible, as all you need is a computer to create it.

However, theater requires a lot more resources, like a large cast and a script. To me, music is a field in which I excel. I've invested a lot of time into studying various musical genres, including rap, and have honed my skills in songwriting over time. Although my early work may not have been up to par, with practice and experience, I've improved and I'm confident that I will continue to create better music in the future.

What’s next for you, personally and for the collective?
We have a lot of exciting projects in the works. We have several singles lined up that are going to be fun and very interesting. We're pushing our sound in a new direction, away from the typical 2-note melody and trap beats.

Instead, we're exploring different structures and combining elements of Italian rap, club music, and modern 2016 trap with hooks. We're also experimenting with different instruments, such as guitars, and incorporating elements inspired by artists like Travis Scott. We've already completed most of the work, we just need to demo it.