Claudia Buzzetti
The Italian singer from Bergamo might be the hook you need when attempting a teleport in the United States folklore. Despite being an Italian singer-songwriter, she has performed more on stages overseas than in her homeland.
When speaking of Claudia Buzzetti, it always feels odd to label her as Italian, given her artistic experiences and the sounds she brings to the stage while blending Americana music and country, genres that have little in common with the Italian tradition. However, believe it or not, Claudia is indeed Italian.
via IG @claudiabuzzetti / Photo shoot @marriva_studio_fotografico
As a child, she and her sisters often organized home shows and perhaps it was her parents' musical choices that inspired her to dream of performing in other countries from a very young age. As a teenager, she formed a jazz band called "Close Quarter", and around the age of 20, she joined the country/swing band Hillbilly Heroin in Bergamo. There, she began to embrace the country genre, realizing it had always been a part of her life; she just didn't know it was called that.
Country music came into play in 2017 through her meeting with Paolo Ercoli, a musician from Milan. He introduced Claudia to the country dimension, helping her take her first steps into the genre through various projects and collaborations. Claudia began playing guitar, inspired by country songs, and many of her early works were born that way, somewhat by chance - but do things ever really happen by chance? In 2019, after visiting New York and Michigan and immersing herself in a tradition that was not her own, she realized there was a place for her in this genre as well. This experience gave her the courage to put some pieces together and create her own project called Claudia Buzzetti & the Hootenanny.
The band began as a simple group of friends who would get together once a week to play music, though the initial lineup wasn’t your typical gathering. It featured Thomas Pagani on guitar and vocals, who often accompanies Claudia during shows, Luca Ferrari from Verdena on drums and synth, and Valentino Novelli from Spread and The Howling Orchestra on bass.
In 2021, 7 Years of Crying, the first EP recorded at TUP Studio in Brescia by Brown Barcella, was released on vinyl and digital by Edoné Dischi. 7 Years Crying is Claudia's first real musical project. It encapsulates her soul and characteristics in a surprisingly clear and compelling way. It's a journey into her own world, and even through the titles, it evokes darker feelings, suffering, restlessness. Despite this, the album also explores love and the many bars that are a staple of country music.
In 2022, Claudia brought her beloved project 7 Years Crying touring some of the most prestigious clubs in Italy, culminating in an opening act for the Italian rock band Verdena in November. In 2023, she embarked on a tour in support of Eileen Rose & Rich Gilbert, followed by performances with Okkervil River alongside Will Sheff, all set against the backdrop of typical American pastoral folk atmospheres.
2024 was another great year, for Claudia made a comeback with two standout singles: "Planet Labirinto" and "House on the Hill". We reached out to her to discuss her music, her experience in bringing a niche genre to Italy, and how odd it is to be confined to just one genre like 'country' when her music embodies so many different shades and influences.
In a recent interview, Claudia stated that at the beginning of her career, she showed some hesitation in embracing a genre like country music, which is distant from her cultural background. Over the years, she has had the opportunity to work with American musicians, and their support has played an important role in her journey. Claudia's determination to find her place in this world, transcending the distances of her origins, is also evident.
“I had this kind of thought, but it didn't last long. I received great feedback in the United States, and my music was well appreciated, but I don't specifically dedicate myself to country music; I lean more towards folk. I listen to a variety of music every day. Country and folk are the genres I learned to play guitar in, so when I write a song, it naturally takes on folk nuances. However, I relate to many genres, not just one. When I write, sing, play, and act in the world, I have multiple genres in my head. Perhaps the combination that best describes my personality is jazz-punk. I listen to hardcore punk, rock, pop, and 60s / 70s music. When writing a song in its classic form, it's about folk, but it also incorporates elements from other genres. The structure I'm attached to is the song, but it can take on funky nuances, leaning towards punk and so on - very similar to the approach taken by the much-loved Beatles”.
Claudia performs for both Italian and American audiences. Given their distinct cultural backgrounds, it’s natural for anxieties and insecurities to arise, prompting the artist to question herself. Nevertheless, this cultural nuance can also enrich her connection with listeners, allowing her to navigate these varied landscapes while remaining authentic to her artistic vision.
“The American audience tends to maintain a ‘religious’ silence during performances that require introspection and quiet. They seem able to fully immerse themselves in that moment and experience it with great dedication, almost spiritually. However, I still maintain my Italian roots and often engage with the audience, speaking a lot during live performances! (e.n. laughter) In the United States, there is a stronger culture of live performances. Nevertheless, it's important to fully enjoy a live show by trying to leave the rest of the world outside, whether I’m on stage or in the audience (of course, it also depends on the type of performance you are witnessing). I don't find it difficult to have my songs appreciated in Italy; for me, the important thing is not to stand out as an individual, but to evoke emotions in people, to move both myself and the audience, and to stir up ancient or future feelings”.
Country music in Italy is a niche genre, but in the United States, it certainly is not. Where do you feel at home the most?
“I always want to specify that I identify more with the song format than with country music. That’s why I lean towards folk, which is a genre and a way of writing that embraces all other genres, just as the Beatles did! As I mentioned before, I feel comfortable in the song format whether it's jazz, punk rock, or pop. I appreciate the poetic structure of verses and choruses because it effectively accommodates the message that you want to communicate and put out there. It’s a very effective form and also very challenging to achieve in my opinion, it certainly falls within the ranks of songwriting. In Italy, we’ve always listened to the Beatles, a band that drew a lot from folk and country, crafting their own songs that encompassed various genres (for instance, ‘Helter Skelter’ is often said to be one of the first punk songs). Bob Dylan also comes to mind as another popular artist in Italy. With these two artistic influences, we can understand the culture of the song so I don't see a huge distance from what I like to create. Maybe the only distance is the language, but I wouldn’t be so sure about that: we have been appreciating English and American music for quite some time now! The place where I feel at home is the world. I use English to reach as many people as possible on a communicative level”.
Claudia is an Italian singer-songwriter, but above all, she is from Bergamo - a city known in Italy for its vibrant underground music scene. This connection to Italy significantly influences her music, infusing it with local flavors and experiences. While she appreciates her roots, she also carves out her own path, embracing a style that transcends geographical boundaries.
“I am very fond of my hometown, Bergamo, which I see in a funny way and know intimately. Italy has the peculiarity of having different cultures just a few kilometers apart and Bergamo has its own typical folkloristic characteristics. I come from both Bergamo and Salento. I love this combination because it gives me the enigmatic nature of the somewhat closed, silent, and reflective Bergamasque - shy and perhaps even a little frightened - while also embodying the warmth and mystical magic of Salento. The spirit of Salento is not so boisterous; it’s profoundly elegant and austere. I like the mystical and poetic aspects of both places. Hopefully, these qualities will not be ruined by the mass fast-tourism that worries me so much, as it disfigures the authenticity of too many beautiful areas. I am also very cautious about sharing too much of myself and putting it all out there because I feel there’s a world outside filled with grasshoppers that consume what you reveal and leave nothing but barrenness. We need to return to listening to ourselves a bit more, getting more in touch with ourselves and being less influenced by social media. Less superficiality and more depth”.
Plans and dreams for the future.
“I'm considering recording my next album and want to take some of the tracks we already perform live, giving them a unique production that matches how I hear them in my head. My connection with music is very personal and I believe that the everyday relationship people have with music -whether at home, through headphones, or in the car- is crucial to me. I have several ideas in my mind, and I plan to pursue them gradually as long as I'm alive! (e.n. laughter)”.
