GioAria's musical mosaic

Italian songstress reinterprets the popular music of Vangelis

Now here is a cross-cultural situation: an Italian singer based in Montreal visits Toronto to launch an album comprising songs by a Greek composer. Adding to the mix, she chooses a sushi joint for her lunchtime interview with Tandem, and reveals that she leaves the following day for India!
We're talking about GioAria, a new artist making a real international impact, and her story is a fascinating one. Born in the medieval Tuscany village of Fivizzano, she grew up in Aulla, and now divides her time between Montreal and Monterossa al Mare, in Cinque Terre.
She studied voice and classical piano at the Conservatory in Parma and was in the award-winning choir Il Convitto Armonico, but music then took a back seat. "I studied law [her degree is nearly complete] because my parents wanted me to have a more sure job than as a singer. I tried to have music as a hobby only, but it was not easy. Music was my first love and I want to do this!"
Fate intervened in the form of Montreal artist manager, Maurice Velenosi. "In 1999, he heard my voice, and we met two years later. He said 'I'd like to work with you, but I live in Montreal.'"
After some deliberation, GioAria agreed to move. "I love Montreal, it is very beautiful. The only thing is the weather!" The city suits her creative and cultural sensibilities. "I like the mixture you can find here. In Europe that may be possible in 20 years but not now. Here, ethnic, language and populations are all together, and my music is like this. My desire with my music is to put together different things from different cultures."
That ambition is reflected in GioAria's first album, Like A Dream. Her soaring soprano voice tackles 13 Vangelis compositions. "I met the music of Vangelis when I was a teacher of yoga. I used his music to relax myself and the people. It is a music that can give the possibility to match your inside world. When I arrived in Canada, I decided to think about this kind of music. I don't have enough material to do an album of all my compositions."
The result is an atmospheric album that has elicited comparisons to such artists as Sarah Brightman and Enya. She covers the theme of Chariots Of Fire, the Jon Anderson/Vangelis radio hit "The Friends Of Mr. Cairo," and two tunes Vangelis co-wrote with Montserrat Caballe, "Like A Dream" and "March With Me."
"They are all famous songs, but my arrangements are very different from the original," she explains. "I have the percussionist and flautist from Cirque de Soleil, and they give a more ethnic and magic atmosphere."
Vangelis was not directly involved, but has heard the album. "Of the 13 songs he loves 11. That is good, because as the composer it is normal that he would think some of his ideas are better," says GioAria.
Like A Dream is lavishly produced, even featuring the English Chamber Choir, recorded at historic Abbey Road. The album has just been released on Montreal-based label Isba Music, but it definitely has international potential. Releases in India, Japan and Korea have been secured, and plenty of global touring lies ahead for GioAria.
At the industry launch in Toronto, she sang to backing tapes and visual projections at Top O' The Senator. Not the best format, but it did showcase the strength of her voice. At the end, the petite dark-haired beauty gave a heartfelt speech to the audience, one that showed her true commitment to music.
There's no sense of the diva personality in GioAria, who confesses to being shy. "Choosing to be a singer is strange because my personality is also timid. Sometimes I would like to stay in my corner, but I know I need to sing for the people. I never sing just for me. One part of personality is more inside, but the other part is with this voice. I worked a lot on me in the past with yoga and other ways to contact my real centre, to try to have the strength to do this job."
There is definitely a new age component to both GioAria's personality and her music. She is a certified Reiki Master, and she has something of a spiritual goal in her career. "I want my voice to communicate deep emotions to a large audience all over the world, to all races, all religions, and all nations."
In some ways, she has had to unlearn her classical vocal training. "I wanted my natural voice, not the operatic interpretation, so I needed to clean my mind. It is important to be free to sing how you want. I found a good teacher in Montreal, the same one used by Lara Fabian and Richard Seguin. She gives me the technique to have a stronger instrument." u
Like A Dream is now out on Isba/BMG. GioAria is expected to perform in Toronto this summer.

Publication Date: 2004-05-23
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=4000