Multi-Talented Artist, Graphic Designer, Photographer, Singer, and Film-Maker, Claudio Marino, Chats
Photo of and by: Claudio Marino
Time to switch gears a bit. This site, while being about music, in a broader spectrum of things, is about art. While I was in London on vacation in March of this year, I was so thrilled to be able to take in a concert to see Magna Carta Cartel and True Moon play at the Black Heart Tavern in London, UK. Claudio Marino, lead singer for TID, was there taking video and photos and supporting his friends on stage. Claudio not only lends his voice to TID (and other bands), but he does album artwork, music videos, photography, graphic design, documentary and films. This guy is a multi-tasking genius! His work is incredible and deserves recognition for the creativity, beauty and inspiration it provides to so many people. I was fortunate and honored to be able to interview Claudio and would like to share the interview here with all of you. Go check out his work on social media and on the Internet. Thanks Claudio!
https://www.facebook.com/artaxfilm/
http://www.claudiomarino.com/
Q: Being my first official interview, I have to ask the standard question(s) of course. Can you explain a bit about your background in the arts? I pluralize because you not only create graphic designs, but you also do film making and music. What inspired you to tackle those art forms?
“In my early teens, I got involved in music and that interest soon lead me into graphic design as I was surrounded by all these bands that needed help to create covers for demo tapes, etc. I also started my first band around this time. After some years that ended up with me taking on work outside of the music scene and I started working for several agencies. Some years ago, I pursued my dreams of working with film. I’m constantly looking for inspiration. It may be in people, film, books, comics, music, games or whatnot. Everyday life so to speak.”
Q: In your film making, specifically with Cold Void; Ink Blood and Spirit; and Keeping Abreast; these are documentary style films. In the three specified, you tackle very real issues in life: Mental illness, substance abuse, suicide; spirituality blending with art and tradition; and the process of how a woman with a long line of family that has fallen victim to breast cancer, is trying to get a deeper understanding of breasts, breast cancer and maybe how to avoid the clutches of the illness. Is it a preference to focus on documentary-type film making, or do you see yourself branching out to do independent films (perhaps dramas, comedies, thrillers, etc.)?
“I feel that I got a good balance between documentaries and music videos - real life content and visual freedom to satisfy my creative needs. That said it would be a fun and interesting task to tackle a film. A close friend of mine wrote me a script for a short horror film some years ago and I have been working on a script, some sort of cosmic horror thing, of my own. The main problem with feature films, as I see it, is that the budget needs to be so much bigger compared to documentaries. But it is after all one of my biggest interests so we will see.”
Q: When you are thinking of a film project, is there anything that inspires you to go in a certain direction?
“I imagine I got a rather clear idea of what I want to achieve when I set out to do a new film. That can change however depending on the results from the interview. So far, I have either, done the research, or known my subjects, so there has not been any big shifting of focus. I imagine that, that day will come though.”
Q: What is it that you hope your fans or curious viewers will get from these films and videos?
“As long as my work touches them in whatever way, I’m satisfied. I’ve had several people come up to me after watching the Blood and Spirit films telling me they want to lead their lives in a different way – that they feel they are wasting their lives on a 9 to 5 job. For me that is in a big way what those films are about so that resonates great with me. Cold Void made some viewers cry and that obviously makes me proud of my work. But as long as they feel something I’m happy.”
Q: You have also taken video of live concerts, as well as produced music videos for artists. This is a very different aspect of film making than your documentary work. Is this something you are doing to capture the moment of your friends on stage for those friends and fans, or perhaps are you looking at a broader aspect and perhaps getting live footage for potential music documentaries?
“Well I’ve only done some live footage of my friends in MCC and that was in a somewhat documentary manner. I do however really enjoy doing music videos, they are a perfect contrast to the documentary work. Working with bands like Watain is very rewarding for me, both in the cooperation but also as they had a pretty big budget. That said, I like my documentaries to look as film-like as possible.”
Q: Your singing has evolved quite a bit. Your work with Roswell and Tid have very different singing styles to them. With Roswell and the first two EPs for Tid, your vocals were aggressive, loud screams. But with “Fix Idé,” your vocals were more subdued growls. They are still strong, but vastly different from your previous work. Why the change?
“The work I did with Roswell was recorded between 2001–2003 and it’s a different genre too – I could not stand doing the same thing without developing regardless of media. My vocal register is not that big but perhaps I can manage to try yet another thing for the next recording.”
Q: Since the release of Fix idé in 2016, has the group been working on any new music? Will the musical direction of the group be changing at all?
“We don’t work on material as a group between records – we gather inspiration and Martin writes the lion part of the material. We don’t make up plans as for when the next record is due. It happens when the stars align, and we are up for it.”
Q: You provide the primary vocals for Tid. We have heard Martin in Simon provide additional vocals when appropriate. Can we expect to hear more vocal duties from the other band members in addition to yourself?
“Personally, I liked their vocal contribution on the record, so I won’t oppose that.”
Q: What are you going to be working on for the duration of 2018?
“At the very moment I am editing a short thing I filmed with MCC in London earlier this year. As for the rest of the year my main focus will be my next, yet-untitled, documentary featuring Nergal from Behemoth. It will be a much bigger project than Cold Void, so I guess that production for it will take up the rest of the year. That said I hope to do a music video or two in between.”
Thanks for the interview. Ever Onward!