By Nicholas Jason Lopez
Earlier this year, Italian dark grunge outfit Hot Sunday Blood released the lyric video for “Kein Licht,” the title track of their third album out since December 2019 via Snooky Records, which features Moses on additional vocals.
According to the band, the song itself focuses on emotion losses and “the struggle between heart and brain facing daily life.” Upon a bigger picture, the six-track album explores a young woman’s perspective in regards to psychological human condition.
With each band member involved in genres that differ from black metal to prog and new wave, it creates opportunities for something sonically different with each album.
Hot Sunday Blood is currently singer Andrea Amerini, guitarist Marco Piozzi, guitarist/chorus musician Andrea Zanellato, drummer Carlo Borra and bassist/chorus musician Paolo Lulita.
The Music Bugle had the chance to chat with Lulita about recent happenings and more.
Music Bugle – How would you describe your hometown – Turin, Italy – to someone who has never been there before?
Paolo Lulita – It’s a city with two distinctive sides, like a coin. One is the industry-related business, which fueled the whole city in the past decades. On the other hand, there are also a surprising number of cultural and artistic movements. Given that the city has less than a million people, it’s not so big and this leads us to be very environmentally friendly.
Music Bugle – What was it like making your album ‘Kein Licht’?
Paolo Lulita – It was the summing experience of our past years. We can describe it as a release valve of our feelings and experiences. We are very happy with the obtained result.
Music Bugle – Does social media make it easier or harder to stand out as a band?
Paolo Lulita – It makes it easier when you start from zero and aim to play in local venues, because it gives you a very affordable way to publish and promote your content. Leaping to the next stage is harder. There are many competitors, which are tremendously good bands and standing out is very complicated. You must have something to say, but also treat yourself as an artistic product rather than “simply” a band.
Music Bugle – If you had the chance to chat one-on-one with one of your musical influences, who would you choose?
Paolo Lulita – Every HSB member would give a different answer. Trying to choose without making someone unhappy? We’d say Katatonia or Pyogenesis.
Music Bugle – How have you been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic?
Paolo Lulita – As many other bands, we were deeply affected. We canceled all of our gigs to promote ‘Kein Licht’ and we couldn’t rehearse for months, but given the delicate situation and the immense loss – vastly superior to what we experienced – the whole world is experiencing. We are not here to complain.
Music Bugle – What did you miss the most about live performances?
Paolo Lulita – Sweating and screaming under lights, feeling the kick and bass running through your body, liberating yourself from all, even if only for a short while!
Music Bugle – Where are some of your favorite places to travel?
Paolo Lulita – Everywhere there is someone who likes to hear us!
Music Bugle – How did you guys get your name?
Paolo Lulita – It’s a mood. On Sunday, you should relax yourself, but your inner troubles hold you back and you keep having bad thoughts. Having “hot blood” is the literal translation of an Italian expression, which means feeling angry, out of place and in a general bad mood.
Music Bugle – What do you hope to still accomplish as far as music goes?
Paolo Lulita – Obviously, we’d like to answer with “Play on stage with (insert hyper-famous band name here),” but the truth is that we would like to go as far as our commitment permits. As long as we strive with the maximum, we can make sure there are no regrets. Even playing in small clubs with your friends is a gift we appreciate a lot.
Music Bugle – What would people be surprised to know about you?
Paolo Lulita – We all listen – also – to music that is very – very – far from metal!
