Written by Jacqui James
FROM TIME TO TIME I will feature an unknown artist or band as Gigs ‘n Interviews Undiscovered Find.
The first artist I would like to introduce to you is Gioia. Gio
ia is an American act whose music is inspired from hope. Gloria tributes this to a near death experience (he had a car accident and was on life support for three days afterwards and during this time he heard a female voice reassuring him that everything was going to be alright) and now sees all the hope and joy in the world.
Gloria’s music is charged with positive attitude. His song Real has a good club beat with meaningful lyrics, something what lacks in most dance music. Gloria is most proud of his song Angel On Your Shoulder which is about the female voice he heard after his accident; he thinks we can get through difficult times because we have help from our personal angels.
I would like to thank Gloria contacting me on Gigs ‘n Interviews MySpace. We did an interview together and here it is:
Can you tell my readers about your accident? It’s an amazing story!
Several years ago, around 2am after work, I rolled my car over 7 times. As I laid in the car all alone, broken and bruised, struggling to survive, I felt a presence and heard a female voice say to me, “Everything’s going to be alright. Help is on the way”. Five minutes later, an ambulance drove by me by chance and rescued me. I spent the next 3 days on life support with a 106 degree fever but everything turned out ok, just like “she” had said….
When did the lyrics come to you for Angel On Your Shoulder?
A month into my recovery, I was caring for my seven year-old cat who was suffering with diabetes. I felt we were both battling for our lives. Inspired by my accident, “her voice”, the love and support of my family and the bond I shared with my sick cat, I wrote the song “Angel on your Shoulder”. Through the years, as the roles have reversed and I’ve been the supportive “angel” on the shoulder of loved ones who have faced their own health crises, the song has been a pillar of strength for me. Reminding me that in our greatest time of need, the love of “angels” will always be there…
Your lyrics are really spiritual. Have you always been spiritual?
Thank you for complimenting my lyrics! Before my accident, I always felt a very strong connection to planet earth and my fellow man. I would say as a result of my accident, I haven’t necessarily become more religious, but I do believe in angels. I do, I do!
On your MySpace you say, “my music focuses on the love of the world and of all people regardless of race, color or creed. My hope for my music is that it inspires people to put aside their petty differences and see that we are all just human beings who share the same planet….so let’s create it TOGETHER!!!”
That’s a fantastic attitude. How do you keep this attitude up?
Great question! Well I am an eternal optimist who truly believes in the power of love and music! I have my down days, but I do my best to stay focused on the positive. There is so much negativity coming at us from every angle, it’s easy to get consumed by it but that accomplishes nothing productive. So I take things one day at a time, doing what I can to make the world a better place, knowing all along there is an “Angel” on my shoulder. And hey, for me, after what I’ve been through, every day above ground is a good day!
Who’s your hero?
Right now, I’d have to say Barack Obama. You may not agree with him politically, but regardless, he is a true American hero. We live in a time with extremely complicated problems, where every solution has flaws. Our President has the weight of the world on his shoulders and I admire his courage and dedication to being a positive force in this world.
You have had lots of media attention even here in Australia! Do you think you really have an angel on your shoulder making these things happen?
{laughs} Very clever! I truly do believe I have an “Angel” on my shoulder surrounding me with love in everything I do. But I don’t believe anything is controlling my destiny. We are all surrounded by love of an unimaginable magnitude and knowing that is enough for me, so no worries.
You loved going to a Kiss concert as a kid. Do liking all kind of music genres help with creating your music?
I really have a very broad taste in music from old school rock (70’s, AC/DC) to modern pop (Lady Gaga) to Broadway musicals (“Phantom of the Opera” and of course “Cats”!). But as for other genres influencing my own music, I have to say that I am influenced by all the many great male singers such as Michael Crawford, Tom Jones, Elton John, Billy Joel, Bono, Chris Daughtry and Adam Lambert to name just a few….
What do you hope for your future?
Good times filled with song, dance and plenty of laughter……and of course a few hit songs along the way can never hurt!
Check Gioia
out on Myspace at http://gioiamusic.com/
English