Sir Joe is the solo project of Italian musician Sergio Bersanetti, who currently resides in Cracow, Poland. He uses only a laptop, a Midi keyboard and loads of plug-ins and samples to create his songs. Upon hearing Sir Joe's debut radio single, one immediately gains an appreciation for the songwriting and melodic sensibilities of this new aritst. While his ideas drift in from the ether, he has an obvious knack for taking those ideas and shaping them into memorable songs in a range of styles. ‘End of the Line’ is the opening track of his second album, ‘Universal Laws, released by Scent Air Records in October 2013. Reporter Lily Clark recently caught up with Sir Joe to learn more about this intriguing new artist, his artistic motivations and plans for the future.

LILY: When did you first discover your love of music?
SIR JOE: As a child I was raised in the bar of a small Italian village, where my mum used to work. I always wanted to sit next to the jukebox, and I spent most of the time begging any customer passing by to insert a coin in the machine so I could listen to some music. Anything would do, as I really loved most of the sounds coming out from that fascinating appliance. I bet it was good business for the bar too, as it is quite difficult to say no to a three year old toddler.

LILY: Your song 'End of the Line' has been a big hit on radio. What was your initial reaction when you first heard your song playing on radio?
SIR JOE:Obviously I was thrilled. I always thought that ‘End of the Line’ was a special song, but because of the way it develops I was not sure of what kind of reaction it would receive.

LILY: What was the inspiration behind your debut radio single 'End of the Line'?
SIR JOE: As it happens with most of my songs, I suddenly woke up one night and the melody of the whole song was there, in my mind, just waiting to be translated into something that other people could hear too. I wrote the lyrics later and I did my best to make them match the mood of the music.

LILY: Would you say that the mood of your other songs is in the same vein as your debut radio single?
SIR JOE: Not really and that’s because, as mentioned, I don’t write a song but it’s the song that comes to me. On the album ‘Universal Laws’ in fact you will find different moods, although all tracks share an electronic feel.

LILY: How would you characterize yourselves as a musician? (ex. Down-to-earth, serious, fun-loving…)
SIR JOE: Whatever I do in my life, I like to be professional but at the same time I avoid taking myself too seriously. This attitude helps me to deal with the inevitable disappointments that such a profession bring with a light heart.

LILY: Did you come from a musical background? Are there other musicians in your family?
SIR JOE: Although I record all the songs by myself, I never learned to play any instrument properly. A distant relative of mine is a great drummer, and also one of the biggest producers of percussive instruments in the world. His name is Remo and several years ago I had the pleasure to work for him in Los Angeles.

LILY: What do you find most rewarding about being a musician? What do you find most challenging?
SIR JOE: The most rewarding thing is when a complete stranger contacts me to let me know how much my songs speak to him. In those moments I feel blessed because the main reason why I release music is to reach other people by sharing my feelings. The biggest challenge is … survival! In a world where most people think it is stupid to buy a song when you can easily get it for free, it is very difficult for an artist to find the financial resources to produce an album.

LILY: Who are your role models in music?
SIR JOE: Hmm, I guess I’m too old to have a role model lol. But seriously, there are of course some artists who influence the way I turn the melodies in my mind into music. Depeche Mode is the first name that pops up, but I’m also a big fan of artists like Kate Bush, Joe Jackson and Air.

LILY: Do you have a music video for your hit single? If so, what can you tell us about it?
SIR JOE: You can find the video of “End of the Line” on YouTube and other platforms, along with my previous single and other stuff I released. It was shot in a theatre in Northern Germany and directed by Asmodi Caligari for www.delightfilm.de. The shooting was a lot of fun, as you can see in the ‘making of’ video also available on YouTube. A couple of scenes required the actors to drink some wine and apparently the task was performed with much pleasure by everybody.

LILY: What advice would you give to young, aspiring musicians out there who are unsure and need guidance?
SIR JOE: First, make sure you are doing this for the love of music and not just for money. Second, connect with musicians, producers and any other people related to the music business. Third, never give up and trust your intuition more than anything else. There are lots of sharks out there but eventually it’s up to you to get hurt or not.

LILY: What's next for Sir Joe? Is there a new single in the works? If so, what can you tell us about it?
SIR JOE: Currently I am hosting a radio show on www.wfbs981.com. It is called ‘Electric Delights’ and it promotes electronic music from all over the world. I suggest you check also the other programs on that channel, as they play very cool music. I am also working on new material but I’m not sure when it will be released. The best way to keep in touch with me and my music is to visit regularly my website www.sir-joe.com.

LILY: Excellent. I will be sure to do that! Thank you for sharing your story with me. I wish you continued success!


© 2014 Greycastle News Corporation