In this interview with Nick Christophers from Full Access NYC, Lord Sonny the Unifier front man Gregory Jiritano talks about the band name and what it’s like writing music on the cusp of 2020. Thank you Nick for the great interview!
“Lord Sonny has managed to capture a time period in music with a modern twist.”
– Nick Christophers, Full Access NYC
When asked about their unique band name Jiritano responds:
“I always liked the name Sonny because of its odd contradictions and its double meaning, The famous Sonny Corleone (in Italian Sonny is a nickname for Santino) and the phonetic sunny. So you’re an Italian mobster with a sunny disposition, not bad, and I’m Italian so it works. I also had an Uncle named Sonny who was a silent 6 foot 6 giant with slicked back hair who never said a word except when the basketball team he gambled on lost. He lived in a fancy house in Queens so he was mostly a winner. He must have been a subconscious influence, he was a real character. I also loved those ancient names that had those descriptive tags: Eric The Red, Vlad The Impaler, Peter the Great, Ivan The Terrible etc. Ancient Historic Classics you can’t argue with that. Once that struck me, the next came easy. I imagined I was an ancient Land owner who unified warring tribes into one county or some such nonsense. I knew it was a pretty good name when I first told a few cool friends in bands and they said simply, ‘that’s a good name’. They would have been silent if the name was as oatmeal as “The Doors” (I know they’re a great band!).”
When asked about his song writing style, Jiritano explains:
“My general approach to lyric writing is, anything I feel is worth screaming about is ok to sing. Being surrounded by such profound madness makes lyrics sometimes difficult to focus with coherence. When trying to break through this madness being subtle and “poetic” often gets lost in the maelstrom of daily life. I’m finding that my newer songs are more to the point not only lyrically but musically as well. There seems to be no time for subtlety, no time for swelling introductions, it’s all lift them up by their hair and start them spinning as soon as you count in.”
“Their music is for anyone who either grew up with the classics or who can appreciate their artistic message.”
Christophers writes, “Greg Jiritano has also brought a modern issue into his music with the track “The Right in Your I” which touches upon the epidemic of bullying. The video for the track actually sheds light on how the ones in power use their positions to keep others down from ever getting ahead. This is an issue that hits Greg in the heart which he felt needed to be conveyed in his lyrics.”
Full album available April 12th!
Or purchase ‘The Starman’ and ‘Right In Your I” on Bandcamp to immediately receive all 10 tracks on Lord Sonny the Unifiers their debut album, FINAL NOTICE!
Check out the full article on Full Access NYC .