To all Italo Disco fans out there – here is an exclusive interview with Ryan Paris, made by SouthPole Radio webmaster Pingo. Ryan Paris is of course featured in our Pingo® ItaloMIX on Spotify – subscribe now and get the instant updates!
RYAN PARIS – INTERVIEW SOUTH POLE RADIO
Pingo: Ryan – your first super-hit was Dolce Vita, released in 1983. It was written and arranged by Pierluigi Giombini. Can you describe how that song was created and how that co-operation with Giombini started?
Ryan Paris: Pierluigi Giombini was producing and writing songs for Gazebo and one day Gazebo said to Pierluigi: Why don’t you write a song which title is Dolce Vita?
I met Pierluigi Giombini because I was searching for a keyboard player and I was astonished by his new sounds and productions (Masterpiece, You are a danger). Pierluigi liked my voice and I wrote a song (You gonna save my love) and Pierluigi started to work on it. One month after that, he presented a new song to me, written by Pierluigi. That song was Dolce Vita.
Pingo: Dolce Vita was a huge hit all over Europe – number 5 on the UK Singles Chart. Did you expect it to be that big hit? What did it mean to you that it was so successful?
Ryan Paris: If I have to tell you the truth: yes! I don’t know why, but my heart told me when I heard the song as a demo in Pierluigi home studio, that this was beautiful! It was my first record so I didn’t know very much about the music business but the song for me was SUPER NICE!
To me the success of the song meant realisation as a singer and happiness, because the song brings happiness to the listeners.
Pingo: During the 1980’s the Italo Disco scene was huge all over Europe, and also in other parts of the world. Can you describe the situation, which clubs was most important and how the collaborations between artists worked?
Ryan Paris: I didn’t have many cooperations in the 80’s, more in the 90’s. It is true that the Italo Disco was really a big phoenomena. I also didn’t do many shows in the 80’s.
Pingo: Can you describe your other albums and songs? What tunes meant the most to you – except from Dolce Vita?
Ryan Paris: The LP was done with BMG Italy, but it was quasi done as “contract” and not for the music. I love all my songs, the new ones are very nice for me and actual. The song until now that I love the most after Dolce vita is “I wanna love you once again”. The 80’s version was done in cooperation with Eddie Miami from “I venti d’azzurro”. Eddie did a really a beautiful remix in 2009 which became a cult song in mexico, Poland, and East Europe.
Pingo: Which Italo Disco artists did you work with or meet frequently?
Ryan Paris: I meet P. Lion sometimes, very good person. I worked with Alberto Styloo for a medley of the 80’s and I worked with Enigma for a song of mine. I still work with Pierluigi Giombini which still is a very good composer and always innovativ in the music.
Pingo: Today you are still making music – what style do you like the best today? When not making music yourself – what do you listen to?
Ryan Paris: I love all the work of David Guetta which has brought the music back and the POP dance very high. I love all kind of music and I listen to modern music like Tajo Cruz, Florida, Ryhanna, Bob Sinclair, Avicci and all the new pop, in particular Coldplay.
Pingo: You also made apperances in films! You had a role in Sergio Leone’s ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA, starring Robert De Niro and James Woods. How did that happen? Did you do any other work in the famous action films from Italy of the 1980’s?
Ryan Paris: A friend of mine, Catherine Ventura, which did the casting for the film in Roma invited me on the stage and I was filmed in two-three scenes. It was very nice . I was already working in the 70’s with Renato pozzetto and maria Schneider and the 80’s with Angela Molina in the film LA BELLA OTERO.
I love acting and my last appearance is in the short film LA MALAPINTURA, from Carles Congost, done in Barcelona.
Pingo: Anything else you want to add to your fans on SouthPole Radio?
Ryan Paris: Have fun in life because life is fun. Have fun with music! I love you!
Pingo: Thank you very much for doing this interview with SouthPole Radio!
Be sure to visit his Official Website and check out what he’s doing right now! Also, go to Ryan Paris’ Facebook! As always – get back to SouthPole Radio to see the current updates of our Italo Disco Spotify Playlist!
The pictures/photos are Copyright © Ryan Paris. This interview is Copyright © SouthPoleRadio.com, 2012, and may not be reproduced. You can LINK TO IT if you want though.