What is your name and role within the band?
Cecilia Della Peruti, singer/songwriter/guitarist.
How did you start?
I wanted a project that was my creative outlet as opposed to following directions in bands I was playing in at the time. I enjoy seeing someone else’s vision come together, and I like helping the cause, maybe because I have some producer passion in me, but I wanted my own project also.
Where are you based?
Los Angeles.
Please give an example of your music writing process?
It’s different every time, sometimes I write on the road by creating software instrumentation and writing topline, or jamming in my house, or start singing/humming an idea and getting it down in a voice memo. Sometimes during rehearsal or soundcheck we start improvising and jamming on a theme, and then it inspires me to write around it.
What are you working on right now?
Album #2!
What is your gear setup?
In the US I have a Fender Deluxe Reverb, and UK/EU I have a Fender Princeton. For guitar either the American Pro Strat or American Pro Jazzmaster, and a pedal board (Earthquaker Devices Afterneath Reverb, Digitech Whammy, Boss Delay, Small Stone, and Aria Overdrive).
What do you like to do outside of music and does it affect your music?
Before I started pursuing music I used to write for an activist blog, and used to march with the Black Bloc in my teens (before I grew out of angry impulses lol) and then continued to write for fun. Debate and postulation energizes me, and keeps me mentally fit, and with so many opportunities to advocate for equality and educate fans about regressive thinking, it definitely leaks into my social media and music.
How would you describe your music genre?
Californian Guitar Pop. I can’t shake my love for classic rock and prog rock, so GT has some unpredictable elements set within a pop world.
Do you know any music theory?
Only the basics to be honest!
What are your plans for the future?
Just continue to make and share music. I learned not to have any expectations because I’m very critical, but if I’m to stay emotionally healthy and fulfilled I just focus on how grateful I am for every good small thing that’s happening. Hopefully I will have some funding for album 2 so I can commit real time and record full band/live, and focus on getting sounds! For Fast or Feast, we recorded inside a 5’x7′ room with just me and Todd playing everything, squeezing in as much as we could any time we were both home from tour.
How did you get into music?
My parents are musicians so it was always in the house. I started with piano lessons as a kid, and then started forming and joining bands in high school. I was always in choir or band at school.
What are you listening to at the moment?
The new Timber Timbre album is so great.
Who are your top 5 influences and icons?
Bjork, Nina Simone, Madonna, Television, The Police.
When are you playing next?
On tour now in UK and 6/6 in Los Angeles at The Resident.
Please feel free to include any extra info.
There are a lot of publications crediting band members that haven’t been in Gothic Tropic for more than 3 years haha. I just did this by myself, by default because I was writing while I was touring in other bands. I have to hire live players, because they weren’t there when I was writing, and/or the people I want to write with are already taken haha. Also, all my favorite people to play and tour with happen to be session players.
