Doomed Confessionary: M, Bitta, Chopper, James & LSimon (Sexperience)
Sexperience is a five-piece alternative/groove metal band from Cremona in nothern Italy. So far, the band released two EPs, »Showdown« (January 2016) and »Sexp’Anger« (May 2022).
Sexperience are Mirko “M” Mocci (lead vocals), Andrea “Bitta” Bittasi (guitar), Leonard “Chopper” Simonazzi (guitar), Lorenzo “James” Vezzosi (bass, backing vocals) and Luca “LSimon” Simonazzi (drums, backing vocals, visuals).
Can you say a few words about your band?
Sexperience was born in the province of Cremona in 2009, initially playing covers to find the right feeling and participate in live activities in the area, then starting to write original songs in English with a heavy and alternative imprint in 2011.
Later including stoner/groove metal and metalcore sounds, we realize in 2015 the EP »Showdown«, where the original quartet permanently adds to the line up a second guitarist and performs mainly between Emilia Romagna and Lombardy.
Continuing with the live activity and after a change to the lineup with a new guitarist, the band independently releases in 2022 the EP »Sexp’Anger«, work where the band demonstrates an evolution of more refined sound with strong alternative/groove metal connotations, which we do not abandon the stoner and hardcore elements; we emphasize the fact that all the members of the band were friends since before starting this adventure.
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
Probably the biggest challenge is being able to maintain focus among the thousands of weekly commitments, and also always having to find musical solutions that get everyone on the same page.
What can you be most proud of so far?
We could say that it is a great pride that we have always made everything independently (not only in terms of labels but also in terms of trends) and also the fact that we have received so many positive comments over the years even from those who were absolutely not in the rock/metal environment.
What was your biggest regret?
Talking about the past years, having delved too little into technologies that would have helped and sped up different areas of work: daws, social networks, softwares and so on (and having chosen to play stoner groove metal in Italy lol).
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
Not because of any particularly successful performance on our part, but on an emotional level the main stage of the rock club where we grew up, which was later closed and sold.
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
The skill of certain underground musicians who may never have a worthy spotlight shone on them, and on the other hand, how in the underground scene over the years, labels and agencies have lost the power they had and now almost count for nothing unless they are owned by major labels…
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
Talking about heavy music (each member has a little bit of their own), we could mention: Gojira, Wheel, Chris Steppleton, Sleep Token, I Prevail, Body Count, Alice In Chains, Queens Of The Stone Age, Mgła, Lamb Of God, Electric Wizard (never forget the masters: Judas Priest), and many others.
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
That’s very easy. But it’s also not. The best advice we had been given as musicians is to “keep on studying”. Which doesn’t only mean to constantly improve and adapt your technique and your knowledge of music theory, but it also means to open your mind to new musical influences, getting better with production, technologies, writings, improve your sound and your taste. To put it short… The whole package.
What are your guilty pleasures?
Not gonna say who, but among us there’s someone who really likes Dua Lipa and other recent pop acts. Someone’s a bit too fond of Dragon Ball. Someone who’s a huge Magic the Gathering and D&D nerd. Someone spends pretty much time on social networks looking at stupid memes and then realizes that ages had passed in the meantime. There’s also someone who tends to upgrade/change his bike a bit often. But we’re all friends in the end.
Can you say something more about the music scene in Cremona?
We’re from Cremona (100km far from Milan), which is a city famous for his historical luthiers like Stradivari, but not exactly for his hard/heavy music scene.
In the late years a source of pride for our local scene is the “Luppolo in Rock” festival. Those guys have been able to organize what is now a well-known and respected heavy metal festival, hosting famous bands like Saxon, Testament, Paradise Lost and many more…
Apart from this, the national scene is packed and there are too few places in relation to the number of emerging talents. Many venues tend to privilege tribute bands/DJs or Spotify’s playlists instead of independent and original live music, no matter the genre.
Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
Right now we’re in the process of writing and producing new stuff, but we have a few live shows here and there, spread across the north of Italy, mainly closer to our downtown. It’s gonna be fun to alternate stage and studio.
What are your plans for the future as a band?
The main thing is that we’re trying to revolutionize our creative and writing process, which has always been a bit slow. We’re gonna try new methods for what concerns the production and publication of our new songs, with a special focus on the home production.
How can people best support your band?
By listening to our music and leaving us a signal or – to put it down better – interacting with us on our various platforms like YouTube or Instagram and Facebook. We’ll gladly answer to everybody who would like to reach us and to those who want to leave us their feedback. Also “taking the hazard” of buying some merch on Bandcamp would be a very-well-appreciated gesture.
Do you have any message for your listeners?
Don’t homologate. Don’t blindly accept the given conditions. Always aim for the best and never do something just because your neighborhood is doing the same. Keep on listening to us, even a little support as a small interaction or sharing our music is extremely valuable to us. Keep the heavy and underground scene alive!
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well