I AM / I WAS
The Final Album
Most of these songs were written during the global lockdown due to the pandemic.
Some are reflections, some are descriptions, some are outlets.
Some are for someone who's not part of my life anymore, or maybe, being in these songs, will be part of it forever.
On the other hand, life is tape...
I take the chance to make available via Bandcamp and on my website www.didascalis.it, a Deluxe Edition with 21 instrumental bonus tracks: I latley see it is something common among the artists I love and I purchase their music.
If it is too much for you, you can easily purchase or stream from your favourite platform.
credits
releases March 9, 2022
DAVIDE MARANI:
all lead & backing vocals, piano,
electric piano, keyboards, electric bass,
acoustic / classical / electric guitars,
melodica, oboe, shakers, whistle
ANDREA GUERRINI:
open & muted trumpet, flugelhorn brass section
ENRICO FARNEDI: trumpet
MARCO LAZZARINI: tenor saxophone
GIANLUCA NANNI: drums
ROSSELLA BIOLO: lead & backing vocals
LUCA 'GARDUZ' GARDINI:
tenor saxophone
GIACOMO ROCCHI: drums
IRIS QUARTET:
Stefania Pozzi (I violin)
Cecilia Bramucci (II violin)
Ginevra Ravagli (viola)
Virginia Grassi (cello)
Arranged & Produced by Davide Marani
Mastering: Carlo Biondi
STRANGE TIMES (Digital Single)
A single before the album, during uncertain times
While working on my next and last album, I found myself writing melodies, arranging covers but also writing songs of mine.
This track, these lyrics are absolutely about this strange times we are all living in this Covid-19 era, especially about how I am facing it.
Simple and tight concepts that means a lot to me.
I couldn't wait to include it in the album, I had the urge to release it now.
Along with the song, there is the Instrumental version, where you can enjoy the skills of Andy G on trumpet and Giacomo Rocchi on drums, and an Intimate version, heart of the song.
These are strange times, I never would've imaging....
credits
released March 21, 2021
Davide Marani: lead & backing vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, electric bass, keyboard, shaker, programming / arrangment / mixing & production
Andrea 'Andy G' Guerrini: trumpet, muted trumpet, brass section
Giacomo Rocchi: drums
Lyrics by Davide Marani wrote on December 20, 2020
Artwork concept and realized by Davide Marani on March 6, 2021
NO FEARS, NO TEARS
Instrumental & Bonus Tracks
During the realization of "No Tears, No Fears", I decided to transform "Me And My Big Ideas" - a duet between Roland Orzabal and Oleta Adams - in a duet between Andy G and Garduz.
For fun I decided to sing it myself, without the aim of releasing it.
For chance I made instrumental versions of all tracks of NTNF, and without being distracted by the leading voice, I felt them versions somehow quite interesting.
So, opposite of the instrumental version of MAMBI, I decided to release the antagonist to NTNF, that is "No Fears, No Tears - Instrumentals and Bonus Track", adding a remix of "Pale Shelter" and a lovely outtake of "Break It Down Again".
I had to chose a female singer to duet with, and the choice fell on a beautiful woman, singer and friend: Augusta Trebeschi.
credits
released December 8, 2020
Produced and arranged by Didascalis.
All Instruments and vocals by Davide Marani except
Andrea 'Andy G' Guerrini: trumpets & brass section
Paolo 'Poppy' Brasina: harmonica
Giacomo Rocchi: cymbal rolls & drums
Augusta Trebeschi: vocal
NO TEARS, No FEARS
A Homeage to Tears For Fears
In 2013 Didascalis released the acclaimed "Enjoy My Wrong Shoes" album, homage to one of his all-time favourite band, that is Depeche Mode.
The choice was picked up amongst other bands were left behind.
After a long hiatus, working with lot of love to each track without any hurry or pressure, "No Tears, No Fears" is a homage to the duo formed by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith, Tears For Fears.
A dozen of songs that were and still are evergreen, huge singles, but some of these are also linked to beloved moments of life, like 'Power' or 'Laid So Low', the latter in common with a dear friend who prematurely passed away in november 2019.
There is some kind of maturity in this work that hopefully will please both new listeners as well old ones.
As much as they are covers of famous songs, the reinterpretation here and there has the flavor as if it were an original composition.
Maybe the next album will be entirely composed of original songs, but for the moment, this is a good return for Didascalis
credits
released June 5, 2020
TEN YEARS OF
A "Best Of", a "Greatest Hits", an overview on 10 years of Didascalis, including 2 unreleased tracks
released December 11, 2017
20 tracks taken from each Didascalis release from 2007 to 2017 including 2 unreleased tracks
credits
released December 11, 2017
All tracks produced, arranged and played by Davide Marani
Guests musicians:
Andrea 'Andy G' Guerrini: trumpet, muted trumpet, flugelhorn, brass section
Daniele 'Dano' Caprelli: soprano sax
Erika Tozzi: vocals
Francesca 'Frensy' Castorri: vocals
Henrique Pirai: flute
Luca 'Garduz' Gardini: alto sax
Valentino Bianchi: tenor sax
Life Is A Tape 2007-2017
A compilation/not compilation
I was going to release a 'best of' for the 10 year career, and as any collection that respects, it should have included some unreleased or alternative versions.
I started collecting some tracks, remastering some of them, digging the archives for unreleased material, and at the end of the day I found myself with 11 tracks.
Virtually an album.
Agreed with my label, I've welcomed the suggestion of adding another couple of songs, and put out next release as an 'album', not to confuse and surrender the new material, while the 'best of' will be out later this year.
Both always and only in digital, the album on all download and streaming platforms, while the 'best of' only for iTunes at a very low price.
'Life Is A Tape 2007 - 2017' will not be a real album as "23:32" was conceived and the tracklist will consist of:
- a 12 minutes suite I never dared to release before
- the original version of 'Springtime', so far only available in 'Remix'
- 2 covers released last year in "Papeetecafé Saudade" plus another cover that did not find room in the tracklist of the same
- 2 instrumental tracks with Andy G, part of 4 experiments, one of which, "Essence" has recently been released by Lounge Masters.
- 1 remastered track and one remastered and revisited from the first album 'Beautiful Memories ...'
- a new version of 'Basically I'm Fine'
- 1 track that was initially instrumental for a commercial project and I turned it into a song
- 1 song that comes to its third garment
- And finally a track composed yet before Didascalis released something officially, even dating back to 2003, but never done in the studio to this day.
So I can say that the seventh album will be a collection-non-collection, with the sound and flavor that distinguishes my latest productions.
I forgot: it will be called 'Life Is A Tape 2007 - 2017' because it also contains a new, almost acoustic version of 'Life Is A Tape', featuring Garduz - who since playing live with me, adores this song, and sang by Mary.
After all, I think 'Life Is A Tape's' lyrics are one of the deepest and most original things I've ever written.
P.S. As usual, each track will be posted along with a description and a story about it.
P.P.S It will be a more downtempo album than I wished, so: relaaaaaaaax
D
credits
Didascalis – Life Is A Tape 2007-2017
Davide Marani:
vocals, keyboards, programming/production, acoustic & nylon guitars, electric bass, shakers
Andrea ' Andy G' Guerrini:
mute & open trumpet, flugelhorn, mellophone, brass section on 04, 06, 09, 11, 13
Luca ' Garduz' Gardini:
alto sasxophone on 'Life Is A Tape 2017'
Maria 'Mary' Passaro:
lead vocal on 'Life Is A Tape 2017'
01, 02, 03, 05, 08, 10, 12 written by Davide Marani
23:32 Twentythree And Thirtytwo
An album dedicated to my Dad
released June 6, 2016
Didascalis is:
Davide Marani - production, vocals & backing vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, electric bass, shakers & various electronica
guesting:
Andy G - trumpet, flugelhorn & brass section on 02, 04, 05, 09
Daniele ' Dano' Caprelli - soprano sax on 11
Garduz - tenor saxophone on 01, 12
Frenky - electric guitar solo on 05
Frensy - backing vocals on 02, 11
Eri Ka - vocals on 12
Henrique Piraì - flute on 02
Thanks to: Andrea Guerrini, Daniele Caprelli, Luca Gardini, Marco Franchini, Francesca Castorri, Erika Tozzi, Henrique Pirai, Marco Leonardi, Alex Montana, Nicola Pari, Roberto 'Robert-Eno' Salaroli.
Special thank to Francesco Garofalo.
This album is dedicated to my beloved dad and to my mum.
A heartfelt thanks to everyone who buys or listens or feel interest for my music.
Surrender (Digital Single)
1st single taken from the album "23:32"
release date: April 25, 2016
Produced by Didascalis
"So Simple" & "23:32" are non-album track & exclusive to this release
credits
Davide Marani - production, vocals & backing vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, electric bass, shakers & various electronica
Andy G - trumpet, flugelhorn & brass section
Frensy - backing vocals
Henrique Piraì - flute
BLACK, BLUE, RED
2nd single taken from the album "23:32"
release date: May 16, 2016
Produced by Didascalis
"Be Still My Beating Heart (feat. Andy G)" is non-album track & exclusive to this release
credits
released May 16, 2016
Davide Marani - production, vocals & backing vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, electric bass, shakers & various electronica
Garduz - tenor sax
Andy G - muted & open trumpet
LAST CHRISTMAS / HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS
Didascalis - Last Christmas (Digital Single)
Last Christmas 05:17
written by G. Michael
Produced by Davide Marani
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (feat. Andy G & Garduz) 05:48
written by Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane
Produced by Davide Marani
credits
released December 4, 2015
Davide Marani: production, nylon acustic guitar, vocals and programming
Andrea Guerrini: flugelhorn & brass section
Luca Gardini: alto saxophone
WHITE CHRISTMAS / DECEMBER SKY
Digital 2-tracks single including Bing Crosby's classic "White Christmas" and Didascalis's original "December Sky", featuring Andy G on both tracks.
White Christmas 05:11
written by Irving Berlin
Produced by Davide Marani
December Sky 05:00
written and produced by Davide Marani
credits
released December 1, 2014
Andy G: trumpets open & muted, flugelhorn & brass section
Davide Marani: all vocals, nylon strings guitar, production