Interview: Gianni Brezzo on New Album Soundscapes Vol. 2, Cultural Crossovers, and Finding Freedom in Music

Even though the album is out for 2 days and I just got the physical copy of the record, I know I will cherish Gianni Brezzo's Soundscapes Vol. 2 forever. It already gave me a wonderful evening of bonding with my wife while listening to the album under a dimmed light with no distractions. Just us talking about life and his music.

With a title as evocative as Music For Balkan Unicorns, we instantly felt a spark of connection — there’s something deeply special about hearing our Balkan roots reimagined through someone else’s creative lens. I’ve always found it fascinating when artists from different corners of the world explore our sounds and culture, translating them through their own perspective. Naturally, I was excited to dive into a conversation with Gianni. I hope this interview offers a glimpse into his world - his inspirations, creative impulses, and the magic behind his music. Hes truly an artist worth discovering.

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Hi Gianni, how would you describe Soundscapes Vol.2 with a single word?

Pink-ish, I guess.

Vol. 2 is for Balkan unicorns, do these mythical creatures play well with Harlequins?

Absolutely! You can see it as a sonic continuation of what I wanted to start with these series - to combine sonics, mystic worlds and environments you typically see along together.

As a Bulgarian myself, I felt an instant draw to the album and an honour to have an artist like you pay homage to my motherland and the culture. What’s your connection to the country? 

My partner is from Bulgaria and we almost annually go visit friends and families like  in Silistra, Varna and Sofia. In my daily life I feel almost more attached to Bulgarian than Italian cause I hear it every day, we eat Bulgarian and I immersed myself to cultural codes of Bulgarian people. 

It’s really multicultural space our home, I'd say :) 

I love track 3, еднорог (unicorn) - is this a pivotal track on the record, given the relation to the album name? 

Not exactly! But of course  being a father of a girl, I'm hearing words like this everyday and they stuck in my head for a while now. At first it was just a fun title and when I proposed it to my label they didn’t question it for a second and then we just went with it cause in this context it made totally sense for the record.

One moment is particularly responsible for this record look and feeling. I remember being in Fuerteventura at my sister in law’s house. I just played at the terrace the songs of the album and went to the kitchen for dinner  with family and neighbours children. We had some Ayran and Banitza and we talked Spanish, German , English and Bulgarian all at once. It was so overwhelming but so nice at the same time  which shaped the idea of this soundscapes series. 

Can you share a bit more about the writing process and how Soundscapes Vol. 2 came to be? 

Well, I had been working on some of the songs for a few years, but they never felt complete or cohesive enough to become an album. I often focused on the more complex pieces during family visits, using an acoustic guitar, which is more convenient while traveling.

But I remember being at Jakarta's writing camp and played one of the songs in front of fellow artists. Charif Megarbane was the one who encouraged me to record it, so I went for it. This initalized the motivation to finish this project. 

If there were perfect settings (place/situation) for listeners to experience this for the very first time, where/what would they be?

I would love if people hear the record on a Sunday afternoon with their loved ones, or at the beach with some nice headphones eating fruitbread or other candy stuff. 

I love the cross-pollination of cultures, ranging from Brazil and its Bossa Nova to the Mediterranean area (Spain, Italy) and all the way to Bulgaria (Eastern Europe). Is experimentation the truest form of creative freedom and what does it mean to you? 

With this in particular I felt very free and I think also that’s what my sound series are about. I’d play these songs for so many years and I still do it because they mean something to me. But of course I’m glad I’ve found an occasion to put them together and play some of them live with fellow musicians. 

I love that you make music that does not abide by algorithmic formulas. Do you think this is what we need the most in day and age where everything feels dictated by a black box of code?

Tough question! I don’t know what everybody else needs and yes obviously as artists we live in this uncertainty of the progress of all these new technologies. But I know for sure I need my music the way I do it with the people and environment that makes me happy. I do it for myself and would also do it if nobody cares and I think most artists Resonate with this approach of being creative in life. 

Which are your favourite places in Bulgaria / Spain, and Italy?

I love Florence, Milano, Varna, the Rhodope Mountains, and Fuerteventura.

Any under-the-radar artists that we should be checking out?

You probably know more stuff than I do, but I always love to recommend people of my home town Cologne such as Opek, Faira or Salomea 

If you could collaborate with anyone, alive or deceased, who would it be?

There are so many fellow producers, musicians , artist right now that are incredible and inspire me! I hope I get another chance to cook with Charif, союз, or the current father Sven Wunder! 

What keeps you inspired? 

Many things! Life in general I'd say but when it comes to art I like reading interviews, hearing full albums and viewing live sessions.

What’s next for Gianni Brezzo?

I’m always cooking something. Just finished producing an album from a dear friend! But after my Italy tour and for the rest of this year I think I should chill a bit.