Living with her family in an old, remote farmhouse in the rural Marche region of Eastern Italy, nestled in between the Appenine Mountains and the Adriatic Sea, Olivia Belli takes inspiration from the natural world and the people surrounding her. Though she expresses that she cannot remember a time in her life without music and is a classically trained pianist, it is only in recent years that she has been releasing her compositions in the public sphere where they have quickly found a warm reception. Following up last year’s Mater (Memory House Recordings), Olivia will soon be releasing her next album entitled Sol Novo, a phrase lifted from Dante’s The Divine Comedy. Translated as ‘new sun’ or ‘new day’ it serves as a reference to the many types of light that can be seen every day in Marche region which permeates the album as a metaphor for renewal.
In this album the reference is the light of the place where I live: of my seas, my mountains, meadows, wheat fields and the old villages. It is natural light without human intrusion. My favorite light is the oblique one, in the morning and the evening. It brings the shadows and everything is more fascinating and mysterious. Our summer mid-days have an unbearable light, so bright, it’s almost like the cold of the north.
The album generously offers sixteen enchanting pieces discretely accompanied by strings that add depth and color to Olivia’s expressive piano which is front and center. Having previously released “Visions to Come”, “As I Was”, and “Lea”, the next single in advance of Sol Novo‘s autumn release is the title track featured here in an intimate live performance video featuring Luca Mengoni on violin and Federico Perpich on cello.
It’s true that there is comfort in my pieces, maybe even refuge – but I can’t ignore the melancholic side too. It’s all part of it. My overall aim is to keep the light in the melodies. Perhaps it is because I am Italian – for me the sun is always a major factor, also in my music.
Sol Novo will be released in October 2021 by XXIM Records, a new imprint from Sony Music dedicated progressive instrumental music spanning neo-classical, post rock, electronic, ambient and more.
Links: Download/Streaming | Olivia Belli | XXIM Records
Stationary Travels 
So relaxing … so peaceful
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