Alessia Tondo – Sita (Ipe Ipe Music, 2021)
Alessia Tondo is a leading singer-songwriter and musician from southern Italy. She is best known as lead vocalist for the acclaimed Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino. “Sita” is Alessia’s debut solo album, and it is a superb achievement. Here, she is joined by two acclaimed guests, Mauro Durante from Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino and Italy-based Albanian cellist Redi Hasa.
“Sita” is a lovely, intimate album that highlights Alessia’s talent as a vocalist and writer of timeless new songs rooted in Apulian folk traditions. However, Alessia Tondo is also an innovator. On some songs she uses overdubs to create remarkable vocal layers, adding masterfully crafted looped percussive vocal techniques, whispers and harmonies that support her lead vocals. Furthermore, the addition of cellist Redi Haza adds an exquisite chamber music element to one of the songs.
Alessia Tondo says about the album: “Sita is my most intimate story, the one that until now I would have told or whispered to the closet in my room and to no one else. It is my rosacea, my most insidious why’s, my most beautiful light. It is the worst panic attack and the best antidote to placate it. Sita was born from the chest and the guts, in solitude. One does not need to scream but to untangle, it is the exorcizing of “malepensiero” (evil thoughts), my healing rite that takes place with the story. It puts the feelings and thoughts in place“.
Lineup: Alessia Tondo on vocals, guitar, percussion; Mauro Durante on violin’ and Redi Hasa on cello.
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.