1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the musical project?
Pavor Nocturnus originates from the will to express myself through music, without boundaries or genre's limitations, letting flow and channeling suggestions coming from different kind of arts but also from spirituality and emotional experience.Through musical experimentation i try to develop a language that can deliver my personal perception of all this elements, like a vision from a dream where rational and emotional are inseparable.
2.Recently you have released a new album, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?
“Bosch” is the most experimental of my albums, i have collected a lot of sounds and field recordings, playing with all sorts of instruments and musical material. Taking inspiration from paintings led me to avoid a musical structure and focus on the elements or feelings i wanted to recreate, giving me freedom but, at the same time, forcing me to find a proper sound for what i was looking at or what the pictures raised in me.
As i said before i have made large use of field recordings and played a lot with voices and effects, quite the opposite percussions and rhythmical sounds are used only in a couple of tracks.
3.The main concept of the new album deals with the paintings of Hieronymus Bosch, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in his works?
I have seen the “triptych of delights” and other paintings of the artist in the Prado museum in Madrid, those pictures left me astonished. I started some research on H. Bosch, his life and his work, making a selection of eight paintings and thinking about how they could sound in music.
One of the most fascinating thing about Bosch's opus, in my opinion, is the complex symbolism and the eschatological aura that fills all his paintings, expecially the one representing the otherworld or divine elements; many conjectures have been made but there are very small certainty about the meanings behind his works.
4.On one of your earlier releases you explored the occult and witchcraft, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in the dark arts?
Having a (mostly Black) Metal background i am fascinated by occult, rituals and mysticism and i like to take inspiration from these themes. I like the connection between music and magic, rituals, alchemy, musical repetition and catharsis through sound and dance. Sometimes these elements can also be a pretext to talk about what surround us, giving a different perspective, to catch the attention of the listeners and push them to think about something they usually wont consider. For example the concept of my first album “Streghe” is based on witches and sorcery, but it can also be interpreted as a praise to women, considered as strong, independent beings that stand against constraints and men's rules.
5.What are some of the other themes you have explored over the years with your music?
In “Sognomeccanico”, the album made in collaboration with the australian artist Versuscode, we searched the subconscious and explored our emotions trying to establish a link across two opposite poles of the world, expressing ourselves through a surrealistic musical language, enveloped by an oneiric filter.
I have always been focused on the “dark side” of things, finding more inspiration in ache than in edifying thoughts; i am also intrigued by religions and by divine elements in general: being not a religious person but being receptive to spiritual behaviour and feelings allows me to approach some themes in unusual (even romantic) ways.
6.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Pavor Nocturnus'?
Pavor Nocturnus (latin for night terror) is a sleep desease which manifests itself during childhood. As a kid i experienced some form of pavor nocturnus, having panic while sleeping and not being able to discern reality from dream.
When i started this project i thought that Pavor Nocturnus could be the manifestation of what lies underneath the surface, what crawls under my skin and can not emerge during the day, but that materialises in all his horrific essence when i play music: this concept has evolved with the add of a mask for live performances, enriching the visual impact and giving a face to the terror.
7.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?
The symbol you see on the front cover is a detail taken from one of the paintings (it's not hard to spot). The meaning of the symbol is not certain, there's a theory about some sort of signature of the painter but it's just an hypothesis. I liked this undefined sense so i choosed to put it on the front, changing the colour to gold, like a light glowing in the dark. Inside the digisleeve edition you can find a portion of the painting “Musical Hell” where, among some musical instruments, the damned are tortured by demons and Satan, sitting on a bottomless throne, devour their body.
8.Over the years you also have done some collaborations, can you tell us a little bit more about the artists that you have worked with so far?
I have worked with Tim McGee/Versuscode on Sognomeccanico; with the Berlin based musician and 3D artist Vince Gagliardi (The Nent, Vu) we worked on some tracks and on an audio/video project about cultural roots and traditions of the south of Italy; with Gabriele Panci/New Risen Throne we have released a track paired with a video made by Gabriele from a 3D concept art called “The Void”; of course there's the collaboration with visual artist H3ml0ck, that has created the videos for “Bosch”. Currently i am working on some tracks with Enrico Cerrato/Petrolio, i am always open to collaborations, there are many artists i admire with which i would like to work.
9.Have you done any live shows or open to the idea?
I have played shows in Italy, Spain and Canada, before the pandemic i was supposed to start a mini-tour in UK and some dates in Berlin which i hope to recover very soon.
10.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of drone and other underground genres of music?
I have recieved positive feedback by friends, musicians and fans of the genre, reviews from (mostly) Italian websites and webzines, but also some from Russia and Europe.
11.Where do you see yourself heading into as a musician during the future?
I hope i will be able to perform live as much as i can. I would like to meet new artists and collaborate on different projects, also making some soundtracks maybe.
12.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
As i said before my musical background has roots in extreme metal, mostly black and death, but also in classical music. Some essential band names for me are Mayhem, Nile, Ulver, Burzum, Meshuggah, SunnO))), Bologna Violenta. On the other side i like Amon Tobin, Venetian Snares, Igorrr, The Haxan Cloak, Scorn, and many soundtracks composers like Angelo Badalamenti, Wojciech Kilar, Cliff Martinez... too many.
Currently i am listening to some ritual music like Phurpa and Arktau Eos, the new Lingua Ignota's album and some underground stuff coming from firends/musicians.
13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
I wish to thank you and all the people that have shown interest in my work for your support.
