Arca

“Intelligent, impassioned and inspired by integrity, Arca’s continued growth as an artist promises to be one of the most exciting journeys of the coming years. The musician has no plans to stop either, telling us in no uncertain terms: ‘I want to make music until I die.’” - Dazed “Arca was making body music for the active mind.” - New York Times On the 7th of April, Arca will release his third full-length album. Released via XL Recordings, the self-titled record is the first to feature the Venezuela-born, London-based producer’s untreated singing voice. He sings in Spanish – the language of his childhood home, Venezuala. It stands as a defiant, delicate statement of intent, and cements his position as one of this turbulent decade’s defining musicians.

The more Alejandro Ghersi gives of himself, the larger his music as Arca grows. His latest feels both intimate and expansive, a connection between his melodic past and a chaotic future. This album began long before Alejandro Ghersi became Arca. In the nascent stages of his career, Ghersi made dreamy synth pop songs as a teenager in Venezuela under the name Nuuro. These love sketches, sung in Spanish and English, showcased an upbeat singing voice and brightly colored electronic landscapes redolent of Postal Service or Passion Pit. What he did as Nuuro and what he now does as Arca couldn’t seem any more different. Arca’s sound is one of chaos and contortions, further defined by the unsettling visuals of morphing bodies suspended in space he made with longtime collaborator Jesse Kanda. But when Ghersi debuted his newfound (or perhaps rediscovered) singing voice on Arca, it felt like a wormhole opened up one that connected his prehistoric past to his visions of the distant future.

Arca Progjet were born from an idea of Alex Jorio (drummer of Elektradrive) and Gregorio Verdun (bass and keys), together with Sergio Toya (vocals), Carlo Maccaferri (guitar) and Filippo Dagasso (keys and programming). "Arca Progjet", an elegant and tasteful hard rock progressive with italian lyrics, features as very special guests Mauro Pagani (P.F.M. and collaborations with artists as F. De Andre', Timoria, Gianna Nannini, Ligabue,…) Gigi Venegoni and Arturo Vitale (Arti & Mestieri).

"Basta che torni" gli dicevo senza riuscire a nascondere la commozione. Ed è per questo che lui comunque è sempre tornato, perché è quello che deve fare un padre, ogni padre, tornare a casa comunque, con le proprie ferite, i propri segreti e i propri silenzi. "Basta che torni" gli ho sempre detto, ma anche gli incantesimi più potenti a volte falliscono. E un giorno mio padre non è tornato. Ma non da una pericolosa missione militare come ci si aspetterebbe da un ufficiale dell'esercito come era il papà di Francesco Arca. Da quelle era sempre rientrato: stanco, sfibrato, distrutto dagli orrori della guerra, ma vivo. È da una battuta di caccia in Toscana che il padre non tornerà più. Francesco ha solo sedici anni e niente sarà più come prima..