The latest album from the Italian gothic metal band False Memories is The Last Night Of Fall. Vocalist Rossella Moscatello gives us the scoop on the album.
Chad Bowar: How did your newest member, drummer Emanuele Cossu, come to join the band?
Rossella Moscatello: Emanuele was not the last entry in the band, but was our second guitarist Moreno Palmisano. However, they were both summoned by us during our castings. It is curious that with Emanuele I had already played in the past in another band (now it no longer exists), and therefore I proposed to him to apply to enter. I also knew Moreno, we had been pen pals for many years but I never imagined we would end up playing together! No recommendations, of course: they both deserved to join the band and I think you can see their value on our new record The Last Night Of Fall.
Describe the songwriting process for The Last Night Of Fall.
I admit that the composition process of The Last Night Of Fall was not easy at all. We had behind us our debut album Chimerical, written by Francesco (founder and guitarist of the band) and by the first singer. As I have a different voice and personality from the first singer/songwriter, I have adapted the old songs on myself. Anyway, Francesco and I felt that we had to evolve, find a new balance and, after a few tries, it finally materialized! The music almost always came before the lyrics, but this in my opinion is very advantageous because you can find the inspiration for those by the music.
What will be your strongest memory of the recording of the album?
French fries and lots of rain! I usually eat in a very healthy way, but when you travel you don’t have time to cook a meal, so when I went to Ivory Tears’ Studios to record all the vocals for the whole album, I thought about buying some fries but only because I was a bit hoarse and I knew that the starch and salt would come in handy! As always, it worked. Of course it rained heavily throughout the lunch break.
Did the pandemic affect the recording process?
I believe there were no particular problems during the recordings. Having a work permission, respecting all the Italian health and hygiene regulations for Covid-19, we were able to organize the recording sessions and complete it very quietly. With the right precautions, it can be done!
What inspired the album title?
We love autumn and all the mystery that surrounds this season. For me and Francesco, autumn represents the soul decadence, the last earthly breath towards the afterlife, so The Last Night Of Fall is the transitory moment between decadence/death and peace, represented by the whiteness of winter – that cold – covers every trace, leaving breathless with the whiteness of the snow.
How has the band’s sound evolved from Chimerical?
We made our sound a lot darker and more twisted than the previous album. Here we use darker tunings, more decadent sounds and more complex harmonies than the previous Chimerical. We decided to integrate a second guitarist, which is why (but not only) we have chosen Moreno. Last but not least, the composition of the lyrics is pretty different.
What lyrical topics do you cover on this one?
The topics covered are mostly of a psychological nature, topics that we False Memories feel a lot and that we will always deal with to raise awareness on something so delicate and important.
How did you come to sign with Frontiers?
Exactly like when you knock on a person’s door and that person decides to invite you in for a coffee. We simply submitted our material in the submissions section of their site, we were heard and then approved for a multi-album contract.
How does that affect your goals and expectations for the album?
Absolutely in a positive way! Frontiers is a large family made up of great humanly wonderful people and also a great workforce. We found the label we were looking for, they found a new band that has a great desire to work and grow!
How were the video shoots for “Rain Of Souls” and “Voices”?
It was very funny! Not was easy due to the pandemic, but certainly a wonderful experience with a troupe of artists such as Violex Video.
How important are videos in the promotion process these days?
I think that is very important to promote music with the help of the music videos, of course.
When do you anticipate you’ll be able to play live shows?
We are working hard on some dates in Italy to restart this summer and soon we will announce the date of our release party, then hopefully soon we can also go on tour in other countries. We are working a lot on this too!
How did the pandemic affect you personally?
As you know, I am the lead singer of False Memories, but I am also a vocal trainer/coach. With all the restrictions, I have lost many students on my course for some different problems. Actually, my earnings are falling to the bottom, which unfortunately happens to anyone who works with music. I am confident to see better times, I have faith in our new album and I know that many people have already pre-ordered it. By doing so, they are helping us a lot to cope with this pandemic and we thank them every day for this.
What are some of your non-musical interests and hobbies?
I am a sporty person! I do two training sessions every week with or without weights. Often, these days, I enjoy long and relaxing walks in nature, and I go for a run one day a week.
What’s currently in your heavy musical rotation?
I have been very obsessed with the entire Blackwater Park album by Opeth (which has just turned 20 a month ago) and Katatonia’s Dead End Kings. I love the decadence and the melancholy of these two bands!
Anything else you’d like to mention or promote?
I invite your readers to follow False Memories on social channels (Facebook and Instagram), on our website and to visit our online shop. We’re waiting and hoping for being able to return to the stage as soon as possible. Thank you so much!
(interview published May 7, 2021)
