soft spot – A COOL CONVERSATION WITH GIANNI CARPANZANO
Photo Eli Vicks
By Ralph Beauchamp
soft spot is a Ct three piece based out of Stamford and composed of Gianni Carpanzano (Guitar/Vocals), Dave Eisermann (Bass) and Marc Marenco (Drums). soft spot have just released their debut album entitled This Will Make You Cry. It’s very hard to pigeonhole soft spot‘s sound. There are elements of grunge and psychedelia. They also incorporate fragments of hard rock and visions of doom. In other words, soft spot demands that you open your mind and experience the full effect of their eruptive and provocative music. Expect the unexpected.
This Will Make You Cry is a exhalating tome. Opening with “Loose”, the album immediately grabs you by the throat. “Loose” is filled with grungy riffs and pulverizing vocals. Carpanzano’s voice is captivating with cinematic undertones. Eisermann’s bass is just plainly dirty while Marenco’s percussions have an emotional depth. “Use Me” continues the onslaught but has a more melodic feel. More rocking, “Use Me” shows another dimension of soft spot. The entire full length is full of surprises. “Time” and “Down” both offer a dreamier soundscape. “Hey Now” delivers a brazen arrangement with bold inflections. soft spot‘s first offering dishes out impressive gems. Very worth the listen.
Gianni Carpanzano was kind enough to sit with AMP for the cool conversation.
AMP: Can you give our readers a brief background of the band?
GIANNI: soft spot started as a solo project during the pandemic as a way of getting my feelings out of my head. It quickly grew to guitar and drums, and then we found Dave. Or should I say, Dave found us.
AMP: Your music has aspects of a diverse number of musical genres including, grunge, doom, rock and psychedelia. How would you best describe your sound?
GIANNI: To sum it up I would have to say I consider us a space rock band.
AMP: What’s your creative process like?
GIANNI: Most of the time I start messing around with a chord progression I really like, then I will pick a point in time or something from my past that evokes some kind of emotion, and I’ll usually just go from there. Then I’ll bring it to band practice and we’ll usually flesh it out some more.
AMP: You are based in Southern CT. Do you feel the local music scene is nurturing?
GIANNI: We have been doing our best to keep the southern CT music scene alive. As well as my uncle Quinn who does a lot for the local scene over here as well. We definitely got some cool stuff happening over here!
AMP: What is the band’s internal energy like?
GIANNI: Internal energy you say? I’d say we’re a pretty chill group of dudes. When it comes to getting stuff done, we’re definitely pretty on it, but when it comes to just day-to-day stuff, we’re an immensely relaxed group of dudes haha.
AMP: You just dropped your new album entitled This Will Make You Cry. Can you give us a little insight into the record?
GIANNI: This Will Make You Cry is our first album as a band and is something we’ve been crafting over the last few years. Trying to hone in on our sound and our skills, this album is an evolution of soft spot. Songs like “down,” “loose” and “screw it” were some of the last songs written for the album, and I would say you can expect more soft spot stuff to sound like that for the next project.
AMP: What do you want your fans to take away from your songs?
GIANNI: I hope people can feel something from it. Or relate to it on some level. I think most of the songs all cover themes that we all can relate to and find some comfort in.
AMP: Do you feel that Social Media is a positive outlet for young bands today?
GIANNI: I think it’s kind of a double edged sword. Mostly, I think it’s a positive tool that can be utilized well, but it’s also so overwhelming at times that sometimes I don’t even know the best way to utilize it. I think we’ve found our own formula that works, but who knows haha.
AMP: Who’s the crazy in the band and vice versa who is the calming agent?
GIANNI: Yah know I don’t know if any of us are really the crazy in the band. We all play in another band called Peoples Club, which is more punk rock and very different than soft spot, but we all have an alter ego for that band. So if Jean Man ever finds his way down at a soft spot practice then you’re in for a wild time; that guy’s a maniac!! But if there’s a voice of reason and “calming agent” we’re gonna have to go with Dave.
AMP: What’s next for soft spot?
GIANNI: There is so much to come for soft spot! We are currently working on new songs for some new projects we plan on releasing this year and early next year! We are headlining a show at Space Ballroom in Hamden, CT, on August 22, which will be a total dream come true! We’re also currently planning our next tour. You will see us on the road very soon!!!
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