Hopes Die Last – Daniele Tofani (Vocals)

I recently interviewed Italy?s HOPES DIE LAST, more specifically their vocalist Daniele Tofani, who recently released their album Trust No One via Standby Records.  Here?s what they had to say?  Bump some of their tunes here while you read: www.facebook.com/hopesdielastofficial

You guys are from Rome, Italy.  I must ask the easy questions.  How?s the pizza out there?  And how is the local music scene?

Well?Pizza here is to die for and I think it is one of the best things left in our Country (: I wish I could tell the same about our music scene  but unfortunately it isn?t so. In Italy most people listen to traditional Italian pop music and there?s actually no room for alternative music; it?s considered just ?noise?. It?s a small part, most of the time very good too, but it easily gets vampirized by huge majors producing easy-listening music for teenagers.

The general music scene has nothing interesting to give at the moment and we know how hard it is to stand up in the crowd to gain attention and be rated abroad. We too have worked our ass off to get this far.

It seems like you guys and BlankTV seem to love each other.  I keep seeing video after video being exclusively premiered over there, spread out strategically, and the hype surely seems to be building on the videos quick.  Actions speak louder than words to me many of the times, you guys must be stoked the response so far?

Yes we are really satisfied about that, we didn’t expect such a response…we think that blankTv staff works very well, and to commit the videos promotion to them it’s been the right choice.

You?ve got an album coming out in the US called Trust No One, which comes out on Feb 14 via Standby Records.  What I?ve heard sounds great.  I dig the groove, the chemistry, and the craftsmanship of what you guys do rocks.  What was the song writing process like?

We feel the same. This time we?ve worked as a real team, sharing ideas and fixing each song in every single part of it. It was something we hadn?t done in the past: Six Years Home for example was entirely written by our guitarist Marco. But at that time the band still needed to grow, to find the harmony and the right team spirit that makes a band a real experienced band.

We?ve put all ourselves in this record, we feel it very intimate and we are so proud of the result.

?Unleash Hell? is a song that grabbed me from the get-go with its instant energy.  It has a good balance between brutality, and the more melodic clean vocals.  What are some of your favorite songs off of Trust No One?

I agree with you as regards what ?Unleash hell?. It?s a great song. But If I should pick some of my favorite songs I?d definitely say: ?Never Trust the Hazel Eyed?, because I?ve loved it from the very first time, even when still in the writing process. Then ?Life After Me Life After You?, because it?s very personal and dedicated to the love and memory of a person that I?ve recently lost. And finally ?Keep Your Hands Off?, because it?s the most powerful song we?ve ever written, and compared to all the others, it has something that makes it special and one step further.

Any plans to come overseas to the US and tour in support of Trust No One?

Yes, hopefully towards the end of this year.

Expanding upon the last question, are there any other places you guys really want to tour as well as visit just for fun?

We can?t wait to go back to Japan in June, because Japan is such an amazing country that loves you in such a devoted, incredible and surreal way. Then United States for sure: because it?s an unexplored and exciting experience and it?s also the biggest music market and we would be so excited to discover it. Last but not least, we would love to go to Australia. Unfortunately it is very far away and it?s very expensive to reach, but it would be amazing to tour there.

Here?s a fun and tricky question.  If you were to organize a dream tour, who?d be on it?

Cool question. If I could organize my personal dream tour I?d love to play together with Underoath and Bring Me The Horizon, because they are two of my favorite bands and it would be such an honor to share stage with them. Even if, looking at their level and popularity, it would take too much money to organize it. But it was a dream tour right? So no fear to dream big.

Here?s another fun question.  What are some of your guiltiest pleasures that one wouldn?t expect to see on your ipod?

Five and Spice Girls. And I don?t feel ashamed of it. With the passing of time, I?ve learned to love boy bands because they reminded me of my light-heartedness early age.

It was good speaking to you guys.  Any last words?

Thank you very much for talking to us and for  asking questions which were different from usual. It?s been fun.

By Alex Gilbert