Alessandro Michelucci (Corsica Magazine — October 2008)
"It is not just a record, but a complex work in which sound, theory, and poetry happily intertwine... Her research is directed at the origins of sound."
RDM Records
10/1/20081 min read
"The first instrument was the voice. Then the others came: from percussion to guitar, from wind instruments to keyboards. As a result, the voice has frequently taken on a secondary role, and in some cases has even been set aside. However, there has been no shortage of historical figures who have explored the possibilities of the voice to restore its role as an original instrument.
The most recent rigorous proposal in this field comes from Romina Daniele, a young singer born in Naples and living in Milan. The artist represents one of the most interesting and autonomous innovations on the musical panorama. The fact that she uses her voice as an instrument projects her into a territory that few have wanted to explore. Her experience recalls that of radical experimentation, moving completely outside the standard logic of the conventional song form. It is therefore no coincidence that she won the Demetrio Stratos Prize, established to remember vocal research. Shortly afterwards, Aisthànomai (2008) was released, stimulating considerable attention from the specialized press. Already with Diffrazioni Sonore (2005), the musician had laid the first brick of her sonic and conceptual edifice.
Aisthànomai continues that path by clarifying its contents and objectives. It is not just a record, but a complex work in which sound, theory, and poetry happily intertwine, giving life to a coherent and complete result. The extreme particularity of the vocal approach is accompanied by long texts: vocal research is combined with poetic research. The album does not fall into the false waters of non-conformism, as stated in the booklet. Romina Daniele refuses to be classified under empty, overused avant-garde labels. Her research is directed at the origins of sound, not towards a hypothetical future. In the small volume included with the album, a long text stands out where Romina has collected numerous philosophical and musical considerations. The singer is light years away from commercial logic; in her case, we must say that a sovereign voice is born."
