Mirco “Passione” Mariani, “Solo songs”. Self-interview

By signing the new work “Canzoni in solo”, for the first time, the artist from Romagna who became known to the general public with eXtraliscio presents himself as Mirco Passione Mariani. A choice of profound identity that has its roots in family history: “I have been Passione since I was little, my nickname has always been”, says Mirco. “That’s what my grandfather Guido was called and I’m the only one to have inherited it. I’m very proud of it because it represents me and I would like it to accompany my future.”

“Solo Songs” the triple CD “Musica per origine” follows and it is also a monumental project: 30 tracks selected from a repertoire of over 60 songs, born and recorded in a creative breath between December 2025 and January 2026, trying to focus on the songs right away, start and finish them in one go, so as to avoid the subsequent steps of mixing and mastering. What you hear on this album is what was recorded without “cybernetic” adjustments or corrections.
The production process followed a precise sentimental geography: started in Labotron of Bologna and continued toUgoBar of the Ensini (Romagnolo Apennines), in a domestic and choral dimension.

The album is defined by the author as a set of “solo musical climbs”, an intergalactic journey ideally undertaken on the back of a tractor. The melodies were born like this, whistled while working in the fields and immediately captured on the cell phone.

The cover, an analogue photograph signed by Gilda Marianivisually encapsulates the soul of the album. There is the risk of an upside-down somersault, but there is also play, fun and solitude understood as a precious possibility of exploration.

If recording 60 songs was a natural flow, for the final selection Mirco entrusted the definitive setlist to a heterogeneous group of friends and mentors, coming from worlds apart: Nico Rascunà (Greetings from Saturn), Luca Ferraro Fano (Greetings from Saturn), Ermanno Cavazzoni (The Poem of the Lunatics), Luigi Savino (Scolopendra), Igort Tuveri (Linus), Alessandro Rinaldi (Korobu), Massimo Simonini (AngelicA), Davide Gulmanelli (Jang Senato), who was joined by Viola Marianihis debut in artistic production.

In the album three tributes for three important songs: “Cerchi nell’Acqua” by Paolo Benvegnù“Sinnò me Moro” by Carlo Rustichelli and “Cucurrucucù Paloma” by Tomas Méndes.

“Solo Songs” released on the independent record label Modern ugliness renewing the long-standing collaboration with Francesco Giampaoli (GDG Modern Trio, Sacred Hearts, Sur, Classical Orchestra Afrobeat)

This is how Mirco Mariani interviewed Mirco Passione Mariani.

Mirco Mariani: Welcome to Mirco Passione Mariani here on Rockol.
Mirco Passione Mariani: Thanks, it’s a pleasure!

Mirco Mariani: Let’s start with the first question. Why 30 short songs? Wasn’t it better to make six long and beautiful ones?
Mirco Passione Mariani: To tell the truth, I recorded more than 60 between December and January, then 30 ended up on the album. I like to exaggerate and above all I don’t care about everything. It’s a recorded disc and that’s it, without cybernetic corrections, without mixing and without mastering. Then if 30 songs are good you have to include them all! Lots of ideas in a short time!

Mirco Mariani: How were these songs born? What is the common thread that holds them together, if any?
Mirco Passione Mariani: So, they were born on the back of the tractor, recorded on the mobile phone, hummed or whistled, others improvised and ended up on the record often with lyrics invented on the spot. They are all recorded on very few tracks, all played by me, recorded by me alone at the Labotron in Bologna or at the Ugobar degli Ensini, in a short time. A group of weird friends helped me make a selection.

Mirco Mariani: How would you define this work of yours? An experiment, the fruit of a creative urgency? Truly a solo climb…
Mirco Passione Mariani: I have always liked improvisation and wanted to bring it closer to song form. It’s important for me to rediscover spontaneity and I like the mistake that turns into an idea. It’s an imperfect and reckless record, a bit of a somersault into the void, in short, a free record. I think it will take time to understand and appreciate it because, especially in Italy, our ears are too accustomed to glossy, careerist and fashionable music.

Mirco Mariani: In your career you have created the most disparate ensembles, from smooth to avant-garde, up to the Shaloma Locomotiva Orchestra. Why are you showing up alone now?
Mirco Passione Mariani: But because in my opinion solitude is a great resource for radical exploration without half measures. Today I need to deal with myself to find the music that I have in my head and that I have always dreamed of being able to make, without genres and without rules.

Mirco Mariani: So, do you prefer music or tractor today?
Mirco Passione Mariani: The tractor without a doubt, because it can open up pristine roads, when you are on the tractor, unlikely melodies and noisy arrangements like Luigi Russolo can arise.

Mirco Mariani: But then why don’t you go on stage with the tractor?
Mirco Passione Mariani: Why… I don’t know, but I’ll think about it, for now I like to think about solo concerts – with headphones – isolated – but with my music inside ready to transport the audience to a new world in a new psychedelic galaxy where everything is still possible… on the tractor with Sun Ra and Kraftwerk.

Mirco Mariani: It was a pleasure.
Mirco Passione Mariani: Me too.

Mirco Mariani: Hi Mirco.
Mirco Passione Mariani: HI!

Mirco Mariani: Sorry, I forgot… Why Passion?
Mirco Passione Mariani: Passion was my grandfather, he taught me passion for things, I couldn’t help but take his nickname with me in this new solo adventure of mine.