Niki Gravino
· · · the music of intensity ·
2000 · · after years of unmitigated dedication to music, composing and playing in bands with styles ranging from the darkest and heaviest metal genres to pop and choir music, having also acted as a backbone to multi-artistic events, it is time for Gravino to embark upon his solo project · it is an ambitious project aiming at utilising his multi-genre experience into a mature, uncompromising, yet marketable musical aesthetic.
2001· 2002 · · studies studio engineering and music production in London and builds a project studio (Foreface) in the basement of his own home · spends long hours (up to 20hrs at a go), working himself into a genuine multi-instrumentalist, writing songs, creating sounds… forging an aesthetic of intensity · plays live with top notch band SkyN, fine-tuning his electrifying stage presence.
2003 · · works as producer with various popular local acts · gets his own act together · records vitamins and eyecream · prepares himself physically and psychologically to withstand the hit of becoming a fully-fledged public figure · recruits excellent musicians and moulds them into a band that is ready for the big time.
2004 · · forty days of intense organisation coupled with fresh ideas and great music make the official launch of vitamins and eyecream and gravino’s first ever performance as a solo artist, a night to remember both for the paying audience and music journalists/critics · the short set is delivered strongly, actors from an alternative theatre company and footage compiled by high-end video production company blend into a thrilling multi-sensorial experience · intensity · performs at major venue the alley during a showcase for the president of indyhits and bandpromote, mike galaxy, and is offered a licensing deal for like feathers.
looking ahead · · writing new material with a view to a new release · upgrading studio and equipment · taking interviews · enjoying radio-play · taking a more band-oriented stance through jamming and integration of band dynamics into songwriting and production · construction of website · editing of vitamins and eyecream launch party performance is in the pipeline.
too many influences · · depeche mode · scissor sisters · zoot woman · nine inch nails · pj harvey · prince · peter murphy · tori amos · the cure · U2 · nick cave · vangelis · mike oldfield · bjork · radiohead · various literature from various eras.
but only some of the reviews · ·
“the show kicked off causing a hush to descend among the audience. Gravino
himself appeared on stage for the first track, Fingers, sending the
audience wild.
It looked as if he was launching his third album.”
Wayne Flask, ‘Little Earthquakes?’ (The Sunday Times, May 2nd 2004)
“When Niki himself came to
the stage it became clear that the next couple of minutes where going to be a
blast… in all
honesty, I
want to be in a show like that too!”
Lincoln Spiteri, ‘Pilled by Freaks, High on Sound’ (www.corkscrew.net, April
29th 2004)
"I assisted to the official
launch of Vitamins and Eyecream…truly impressive,
mind blowing and professional, over the top – Niki might be a new comer
but he has sure got a thing or two to teach most of the other veterans.”
Peter Grech, ‘Niki Gravino…Not
Another Artist’ (Tune-In, April 2004)
“…a musician of great talent…
Ruth Frendo, ‘Dark Music’ (Ix-Xarabank, December 15th, 2003)
Contact > [email protected] · +356 7906 5913