What is the best thing that I love about my work?
Most of the time I’m free to express my creativity, to experiment, to work on a musical idea and develop it till it is exactly what I feel it should be its final shape.
But, most of all, to have the chance to give emotions to the audience, that’s the greatest thing about my work.
What is my idea of perfect happiness?
Having good time with my son, playing with him and seeing him laugh and being happy, having the woman I love at my side, and being satisfied about the music I create.
What is my greatest fear?
Well, as a father, my greatest fear is that something bad may happen to my son.
What is the trait that I most deplore in myself?
Sometimes I’m inconstant in my work and in my mood, and lacking in organization.
Which living persons in my profession do i most admire?
A lot! But I’ll choose the most influential for my work: Mike Oldfield (his first albums, especially Ommadawn, had a huge influence also on the way I work in my recording studio), Steve Reich, Arvo Part, Michael Nyman, Olafur Arnalds, Yann Tiersen, the world music period by Peter Gabriel and by Mauro Pagani, Jocelyn Pook, Paolo Fresu…
What is my greatest extravagance?
I like toys, especially Lego Minifigures which I collect with my son.
On what occasion would I lie?
To avoid a pain to someone I love.
What is the thing that I dislike the most in my work?
Financial insecurity, and the difficulty to find other musicians who love to collaborate just for the pleasure to experiment together.
When and where was I the happiest, in my work?
Luckily I had many happy moments in my work, and still have. I felt very happy during tours collaborating with dance companies in Spain, Portugal, France, but also in small situations in tiny villages in Corsica, or in Tuscany. It’s also a nice moment when I hear some of my music on tv, on some commercial, documentary, trailer or movie. Also, I love when I meet and collaborate with talented artists.
If I could, what would I change about myself?
I’d like to be more costant and organized, and a little less moody.
What is my greatest achievement in work?
Well, I’ve made some relevant works for big names commercials and won some international prize for my studio and live work, but the greatest achievement is to have the freedom to make the music I like and how I like.
What is my most treasured possession?
My ability to put emotions in music.
What is my most marked characteristic?
Well, as a musician, I play many different instruments. I’m a violinist by education, but I also play viola, cello, piano and keyboards, guitars, flute, percussion, and some ethnic instruments such as Greek bouzouki and Syrian oud. As a composer, I like to move from World Music to Classical, from Acoustic to Electronic, from Eastern and
Mid Eastern to Celtic, from African to North European…I love contamination in music and in culture, it’s a source of expressive richness.
What is my most inspirational location, in my city?
The Old Town, with its Catalan-Gothic architectures, the old houses of the fishermen, the port, the seaside, we have a magnificent gulf, closed by a cape named “Capo Caccia”, that looks like a sleeping giant…
What is my favourite place to eat and drink, in my city?
I couldn’t choose one, we have lots of fine restaurants and pubs, and I’m not such an “outgoing”
What books influenced my life and how?
Different books and for different reasons. I read a lot, there’s not a day I’m not reading a book. Some of them have been important because I made shows from them, like the books by Sergio Atzeni, a writer from Sardinia, other because just inspired my work in that moment. But all the books I read contribute in feeding my mind and my soul. I love Italian classical and modern literature, historical, philosophical or psychological essays, ancient myths from all over the world and especially the Greek ones, Japanese literature, classical english literature, and so on…
Who are my favorite writers?
At the moment, Haruki Murakami, Antonio Tabucchi, Fernando Pessoa, Angela Carter, Rafael Alberti, Rainer Maria Rilke, Yukio Mishima…and many more
You Only Die Once. What music would I listen on my last day?
Possibly the sounds of nature, the sea…but also Vivaldi, Bach’s Matthaus Passion, Bartok’s Violin Duets, Mike Oldfield’s Ommadawn.
Who is my hero or heroine in fiction?
Here also different ones: Chihiro from Spirited Away by Miyazaki, James Bond, the Bride in Kill Bill
Who are my heroes and heroines in real life?
All the people who make a hard work in difficult circumstances to earn a living to them and their children.
Which movie would i recommend to see once in a lifetime?
Oh…Spirited Away by Miyazaki, Lisbon Story by Wenders, Everything is Illuminated by Schreiber, Kikujiro’s Summer by Kitano, Giulietta degli Spiriti by Fellini, Departures by Takita, almost everything by Woody Allen and many more…
What role plays art in my life and work?
If you mean other than music, which is my work and life, art is my inspiration, especially photography and video art. I also love to draw now and then, but that’s just a hobby whe I have some free time, and that doesn’t happen too often.
Who is my greatest fan, sponsor, partner in crime?
My kid Flavio, he always encourages me and is the first to start applauding in the audience at my shows.
Whom would I like to work with in 2018?
I hope to meet some new talented artist to collaborate with, and I’ll do my best to keep working with my long time friends musicians.
Which people in my profession would i love to meet in 2018?
Maybe some movie producer or director with fresh ideas.
What project, in 2018, am I looking forward to work on?
I’m promoting my new show “Visioni di Segundo”, where we play a live soundtrack to silent movies from around 1910. You can see a live demo of it here

Where can you see me or my work in 2018? You can listen to my work on many tv commercials and documentaries, and soon in theaters with the show “Visioni di Segundo”.

What do the words “Passion Never Retires” mean to me? Well, passion for your work is the force that keep you working also in hard times.

Which creative heroes should Peter invite to tell their story? Bruno D’Elia, a great visual artist

How can you contact me? At marcovalentinomusic@gmail.com or on my website marcovalentinomusic.com