GINO FOTI
[Band Page]

The Name?
According to old stories and tradition, my first name was given to me by my mother, and my last name came directly from my father. It's not very imaginative, but it's better than "Dweezil" -- with all due apologies to Mr. Zappa.

What are your songs written about?
I compose and arrange all-instrumental music, so they don't have a central theme behind them. I allude to subject matter through the song titles, which are usually based on quotes from my favorite philosophers, authors, and lyricists.

What makes a good song?
To me, it should have a mix of intellectual and emotional components to it, and be as unique as possible - either in its form, its instrumentation, or the interplay of rhythm, melody, and harmony within it.

What is your favourite song of all time?
Don't have one. It would be impossible for me to choose just one, even by genre. It's like asking me: "What is your favorite atom?"

Who would be in your ultimate musical supergroup?
I would put together a genre-bending blend of power, passion, and precision. Sticking to musicians who are alive: Dennis Chambers on the drum kit, Hossam Ramzy on percussion, Jonas Hellborg on bass guitar, Chick Corea on keyboards, Al Di Meola and John McLaughlin on guitars, and maybe a string section, so: Jean-Luc Ponty and
Itzhak Perlman on violins, Yo-Yo Ma on cello, and Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen on double bass.

What is your claim to fame (musical or non musical)?
I once got thrown out of a band where all the members had previously been thrown out of other bands. The guitarist didn't like the fact that I could play his solos in unison on my bass guitar. It was the musical equivalent of being thrown out of a leper colony for having too many fingers.

What are your musical dreams and goals?
I would just like to become a better all-around artist by honing my strengths while eliminating my weaknesses. Not just in all aspects of musicianship, but also in audio engineering, production, and indie label operations.

Where is your favourite place in the world and why?
Messina, Sicily. It's my birthplace, and I still retain myriad wonderful memories from my childhood there to this day.

Finish the sentence: "I'll never forget the first time I...."
....made love to a woman. Judging by how hard she was laughing, I don't think she forgot either. [Rimshot] Thank you, I'm here all week -- try the veal!

Why did you sign up to Sound Aid?
I was already familiar with Heifer International's approaches and initiatives on helping to cure world hunger, so using my music towards that end was an easy decision to make.

What other Sound Aid artists do you listen to?
Artists with similar influences to mine, like: Anubis Spire, Marleo, etc. Also, I enjoy instrumental rock, so I have discovered new talent here like DC Slater.

What do you think are the best ways to cure world hunger?
A combination of various approaches are probably needed, from water-based projects: irrigation, sewer construction, personal sanitation, etc.; to assisting indigenous farmers with inventive ways to use their land while supplying them with seeds and animals - much like Heifer is already doing; and encouraging them to have fewer children while providing medical support for the ones they already have.