| From Italy to Rock Stardom |
| Written by May Young | |||
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GET_THE_PLAYER TO_SEE_THIS_PLAYER
modwheelmood is Pelle Hillstrom (L) and Alessandro Cortini
Cortini performing with Nine Inch Nails
Sound too good to be true? NIN's frontman Reznor stated in a Keyboard Magazine interview (September 2005), "The new band started with [drummer] Jerome Dillon, bassist Jeordie White [a.k.a. Twiggy of Marilyn Manson fame], and I holding open auditions in L.A. My first thought when Alessandro walked in was that he didn't look like what I had in mind. His presence was intense but gentle, not the 'I'm gonna attack you' energy fans might associate with NIN. Then he started, and within 30 seconds I was like, 'That's the guy!' I've never once regretted it." According to latest news, Reznor loved Cortini's playing so much, he invited the 30 year-old to join the band once again for their Spring 2007 European tour, to support NIN's forthcoming release, "Year Zero," due to be released in April of this year. Cortini had immigrated from Italy to Los Angeles to study music. Since his major at The Musician's Institute was Guitar Studies, when he landed his first gig with the band The Mayfield Four, upon graduation, it was as a stringman. The band called it a day and he went on to join Everclear; he then began to lose interest with the guitar as an instrument so he went on to learn keyboards and synthesizers. Cortini's track record and reputation solidified when joined Nine Inch Nails on their 2005-2006 world tour. When he's not touring with Nine Inch Nails, Cortini and his former classmate, Swedish guitarist Pelle Hillstrom, went on to form the duo modwheelmood. The duo's music pays homage to minimalist style. In 2006, they released their second EP, "Enemies and Immigrants," where you can't help but hear faint traces of Radiohead and Thom Yorke throughout their songs. The music consists mainly of guitar, keyboards and synthesizers. Cortini's angelic vocals stands out throughout their tunes. modwheelmood performed at the 2006 CMJ Music Marathon as a part of the Buddyhead Records [see related story] Showcase Party (Buddyhead Records was founded by Travis Keller and Aaron North--the current guitarist of Nine Inch Nails). Pelle Hillstrom was in doing recording sessions in London at the time, which left Cortini to perform modwheelmood's songs live by himself. I was told Cortini was very nervous about pulling it off all by himself live on stage. But he need not be; he pulled it off with flying colors. Luckily, I've had the pleasure to see Cortini perform in Nine Inch Nails as well as modwheelmood. It's amazing to see him taking command of Nine Inch Nails' brutal industrial sounds and abuse the fuck out of the keyboards. Then we have a nervous yet delicate performance of Cortini in a one-man show as modwheelmood. I'm very fortunate to have seen both sides of Alessandro Cortini. A very busy fellow indeed. Besides playing music, producing, writing and performing, he also taught at the Musician's Institute. During fall 2006, Cortini became a Project Advisor for the Musician's Institute Recording Program. Alessandro Cortini sat down with us to talk about what he's been up to. Be it the guitar or keyboards--it doesn't matter which instrument he chooses--Cortini's first priority is writing great songs.
http://www.modwheelmood.com
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