Recently I had the pleasure of interviewing Italian musician Gazebo. Gazebo is a living legend among fans of “Italo-disco” and he has a following in many places throughout the world. Americans are beginning to discover what
Europeans have known for over two decades. Gazebo is a multi-talented musician and a force to be reckoned with.
Gazebo’s new CD “The Syndrone” is available here. Gazebo music is available on i-tunes and amazon as well.
KB: Paul, your song, “I Like Chopin” sold more than 10 million copies in the ’80s and it is still going strong. Many people are familiar with and love your work. For those who aren’t yet aware of you, I’m going to ask you to introduce yourself in your own words. Who is Gazebo?
PM: Well, my real name is Paul Mazzolini, I’m Italian (from father) and have had the luck of being raised in many different countries in American and French schools, I speak and think in 5 different languages.  I was into music since I learned my first Beatles and Bob Dylan songs at around 8 or 9 .. But got into taking it seriously in France at around 13 when I started studying classical guitar … After playing in differentbands throughout genres of music and after my two years of living in London from 79 to 81 I started doing some recordings and ended up with my first single “Masterpiece” in 1982.
KB: “Masterpiece” is one of my favorite Gazebo songs.Gazebo is an interesting stage name. Tell everyone how you came to be known as Gazebo and where you got the name. It’s an interesting story.
PM: Well, the studio where we recorded “Masterpiece” was in a basement of a theatre where they were playing an adaptation of the movie “Gazebo” – the one with Glenn Ford and Debbie Reynolds … I used the word in the lyrics (a rap part in the extended version) and decided to use it as a stage name first because I couldn’t use my name, the Italian DJs (my first target) where quite provincial at the time and anything that was produced in Italy would have sounded less appealing and second because it sounds great !
KB: “I Like Chopin” was such a huge hit. You have sung it countless times over the years. Do you ever tire of singing it?
PM: Not really, the melody is so simple and complex at the same time you can¹t sing it if you¹re not concentrated … But if I do get tired I let the audience sing it for (with) me (laughs)
KB: Your new CD, “The Syndrone” is beautiful on so many levels.It includes some of the classics as a lot of new material. Could you tell us the meaning of “The Syndrone”?
PM : It¹s a new word I made up using, Sydrome, Syndone, Synthesizer and Drone . Basically a new expression for “blues” or Baudelaire’s  ”spleen” … A 21st century human condition of melancholy, uncertainty for the future struggling between worries for the environment and for the recession
KB: That’s very creative, Paul. I’m sure you’ve had many musical influences. Who do you like to listen to when you’re in the mood for music?
PM: According to the moods .. That would be : Debussy, Peter Gabriel, The Beatles, Ultravox and some good rock-n-roll from the seventies .. I also like the progressive scene and the new wave stuff. Many ideas come from ethnic music though .. There is so much to discover from tradition.
KB: Yes, there certainly is. Your mother was an American singer, What type of music did she sing and did she have any impact on your love of music and decision to pursue a career in music?
PM: LOL my mother was into the 50s stuff like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin etc… She didn¹t influence my musical taste which started from where she stopped (the Beatles) but she encouraged me a lot and gave me the tools to improve .. We did have a meeting point though at a certain period .. That was Miles Davis’ “Bitches Brew” !
KB: Â Great song! I know that your dad who was an Italian Diplomat passed away but your mother is still living. Â How did your parents react to your initial success as a musician?
PM: My dad passed away in 1995 … He was not very convinced in the beginning because he wanted me to be a diplomat like him but when he realized the achievements he got very very proud. I remember a party in Athens where I was the surprise guest in the embassy, he didn¹t know it either and when he saw all his colleagues asking me an autograph he couldn’t believe it ! LOL
KB: LOL..I’m sure that must have been a very proud moment for your dad! You lived in many places when you were growing up. Where are some ofthe places you’ve lived and how did your experiences of living in various cultures affect you as a person and an artist?
PM: From Jordan to Denmark, France, Ex Yugoslavia, Lebanon, Italy …. It was quite an experience to move form Amman to Copenhagen .. We had to leave because of the war between Israel and the neighbour Arab countries, I clearly remember the bombs falling on Amman airport that wasn’t far from where we lived … I remember the days after, distruction and despair .. And then all of a sudden the snowy joyful Christmas in Denmark, a totally different civilization, the American school with kids from everywhere, my best friend was half Danish and half Shrilankan (Ceylon at the time) … These contrasts and these differences are part of my cultural background and are the basics to my sensibility both as an artist and a human being.
KB: What an  incongruency for the mind to go from that traumatic experience to a living situation which was the the polar opposite! What was your life like as a child and a teenager? Were you happy, sad,lonely, rebellious? What was it like to be you? What was it like to be the child of your parents?
PM: I¹ve always been a reactive kid, ready for new adventures, rebellious but with moderation LOL
KB: Â Tell me, Paul…how did you get your first recording contract, and how did that feel?
PM: The DJ Paolo Micioni decided to produce “Masterpiece” and after being turned down by nearly all the labels in Italy it felt like a relief … I was so happy of just getting the song out  !
KB:  I bet! You were quite young when you ³made it.² How did your life change after your first big hit?
PM: I¹ve been quite lucky to make it “that big” that it kept me busy for 3 or 4 years, travelling around for either promotion or concerts, it didn¹t give me the time to spend the money and change my lifestyle. I stopped because I had to go to the army, and there I got time to think on how to spend my money. I was lucky enough to decide to buy a house and invest in a recording studio .. Wise decision.
KB: Â It certainly was. Have you had the opportunity of performing in America yet? If so, tell us about it, please. Is it a goal of yours? We would love to have you here.
PM: I was very close to make an agreement with a major at the time but unfortunately my label dropped the offer so basically I’ve never been officially released in the States ! Although I won the “Top European Chart Act” award by Music Week for 1983 and sold multi platinum in Japan and S.E Asian territories! I came to Los Angeles for a show in a club in the mid nineties and the place was sold out … Amazingly, but unfortunately that was the only opportunity … Useless to say I’d love to come again with my band this time and check it out.
KB: There is a very beautiful song on your new CD, “The Syndrone” called “Man at the Window”. There is an interesting story behind how you came to write this song. Would you share that with everyone?
PM: Pope John Paul II was in his final days, and I was really surprised to see him appear on his usual window on St. Peter’s Square in that state. He could hardly move, the pain was evident. He couldn’t even speak yet he wanted to communicate something to the world .. His body didn’t help him so he slapped the transparent lectern with a punch. This really touched me, the man wanted to say something to all of us, he knew the cameras from all over the world were focusing on him. Â His power was infinite at that precise moment. Â Definitely one of the biggest media men from the last century. His unsuccessful moving attempt is what I call syndrone.
KB: Â You are a very sensitive man, Paul. You’ve written so many wonderful songs. Which one are you most proud of and why?
PM: “The Man On The Window” is so intense with vibrating live, real instruments, it’s the “soul” song.  ”Masterpiece” on the other hand was so synthetic, yet so typical in the description of a human state .. It¹s the “mind” song.
KB: Â Describe your process of songwriting. How did you learn your craft? Do you write music or lyrics first? What advice would you give to struggling songwriters?
PM: Normally the idea, the concept of the song  comes out as the first notes start to make sense … The development of the lyrics comes after. I can’t give other advice than to listen, listen and listen
KB: If you hadn’t become a musician, what would you likely be doing professionally today, Paul?
PM: No idea LOL !! Maybe a literature teacher (although I¹m really bad at teaching, my patience threshold is very low LOL)
KB: Describe a typical day in the life of Paul Mazzolini. What type of work are you doing when you aren’t working with your own music?
PM: I prepare breakfast for my family, once they’re out I’ll normally check out my mail and then head to my studio where I work till lunch. Then it’s either gym in the afternoon or more studio .. On weekends I try to keep away from work and when I don’t have gigs I like to go out in Tuscany for a nice walk unless there are Formula 1 races .. Which is my only little sin!
KB: 
Thank you for allowing everyone to peep inside your fascinating mind and life, Paul. It’s been a pleasure.
Thank you for allowing everyone to peep inside your fascinating mind and life, Paul. It’s been a pleasure.PM: I enjoyed it. Thanks to everyone for buying my CD’s and supporting me.
Recently I had the pleasure of interviewing Italian musician Gazebo. Gazebo is a living legend among fans of “Italo-disco” and he has a following in many places throughout the world. Americans are beginning to discover what
Europeans have known for over two decades. Gazebo is a multi-talented musician and a force to be reckoned with.
Gazebo’s new CD “The Syndrone” is available at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/pages/Gazebo-Promo/170887490830?ref=nf Gazebo music is available on i-tunes and amazon as well.
KB: Paul, your song, ³I Like Chopin² sold more than 10 million copies in the ’80s and it is still going strong. Many people are familiar with and love your work. For those who aren’t yet aware of you, I’m going to ask you to introduce yourself in your own words. Who is Gazebo?
PM: Well, my real name is Paul Mazzolini, I¹m Italian (from father) and have had the luck of being raised in many different countries in American and French schools, I speak and think in 5 different languages . LOL I was into music since I learned my first Beatles and Bob Dylan songs at around 8 or 9 .. But got into taking it seriously in France at around 13 when I started studying classical guitar … After playing in differentbands throughout genres of music and after my two years of living in London
from 79 to 81 I started doing some recordings and ended up with my first single ³Masterpiece² in 1982.
KB: “Masterpiece” is one of my favorite Gazebo songs.Gazebo is an interesting stage name. Tell everyone how you came to be known as Gazebo and where you got the name. It’s an interesting story.
PM: Well, the studio where we recorded ³Masterpiece² was in a basement of a theatre where they were playing an adaptation of the movie ³Gazebo² the one with Glenn Ford and Debbie Reynolds … I used the word in the lyrics (a rap part in the extended version) and decided to use it as a stage name first because I couldn¹t use my name, the Italian DJs (my first target) where quite provincial at the time and anything that was produced in Italy would have sounded less appealing and second because it sounds great !
KB: ³I Like Chopin² was such a huge hit. You have sung it countless times over the years. Do you ever tire of singing it?
PM: Not really, the melody is so simple and complex at the same time you can¹t sing it if you¹re not concentrated … But if I do get tired I let the audience sing it for (with) me ))
))KB: Your new CD, “The Syndrone” is beautiful on so many levels.It includes some of the classics as a lot of new material. Could you tell us the meaning of “The Synd
