Page 19 - Black Velvet Rock Magazine Issue 110

BV110 pg 18-19 Halflives.qxp_BV110 pg 19 19/05/2024 16:51 Page 2

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hen Halflives headlined a show in Prague, the capital city of the Czech Republic, in
W March, Linda Battilani (founder, singer, songwriter, keyboardist and guitarist) cried
while on stage, wrapped in a rainbow flag, while being squished by her bandmates Gloria and
Enrico. Linda later wrote that she felt ‘so fulfilled, so blessed,’ and proud and happy with how
their first headline tour went. It saw sold out shows, with the musicians performing in the UK,
the Netherlands, Germany, France, Hungary and the final night in Prague. It was the icing on
the cake, but also the start of much more that is to come. Inspired by the tour and the band’s ‘In-
ferno’ EP, released last year, which is full of raw feelings and emotions that Linda has said ‘burnt
me like a fire, leaving me scarred forever,’ Black Velvet got in touch with Linda and asked a few
questions, inspired by similar raw feelings and emotions.
Black Velvet: You released ‘jealous' as a sin- him. ing accomplished?
gle. What makes someone jealous? Why do LB: I’m grateful I get to be a musician for a living.
you think some people become more jealous BV: In ‘everybody knows it’ you sing ‘You’re It has always been my only goal and I’m so
than others? making me stress out, I’m choking in anxi- lucky I get to call this my job. Having a fanbase,
Linda Battilani: People can be jealous of any- ety, self doubt’. What makes you feel anx- putting my music out there - teenage me would
thing, actually. They can be jealous about some- ious? be really proud.
one’s beauty, someone’s success - and that LB : The apocalypse. I don’t even think it’s going
becomes envy. But that’s not a feeling I really to be an immediate and drastic event like we BV: As we try to achieve success, we often
share, and I’ve genuinely never felt and can’t re- see in movies and TV shows (or maybe, yes, I wish it was easier, and sometimes may want
ally understand. Jealousy is more a feeling I un- don’t know), but I feel it coming more like a slow to give up. What would you say to someone
derstand and feel in love. The way I see it, it’s a death - which is even scarier, in my opinion. else that is trying to do what they love, but
sort of a passionate feeling. I also know people feeling that it’s hard to make a mark in the
who claim they don’t know what jealousy is, and BV: You also sing ‘The world is burning world?
don’t feel this way, but I find this impossible! down’. Is there anything we can do to stop LB: That it’s hard indeed. But the key is that it’s
Everybody feels jealousy in one way or another, the world burning down? an endurance game. If you hold on long
we just don’t all experience it in the same way. LB: I’m afraid the biggest change needs to come enough, you’ll start seeing some of the results
from people in power. Stop caring about money of your hard work. Keep digging and you’ll even-
BV: Have you known people be jealous of and profit for once and focus more on how to tually find gold, right?
you? solve the climate change issue. Or the capital-
LB: In love, yes. For my career, who I am… ism issue - but I hardly see that getting solved. BV: How would you like to inspire others?
probably yes, but no one ever tells you plainly. In our little realities, we can do our best to try LB: A fan who was at my show in Prague trav-
And anyway, there’s nothing to be jealous of, it’s and make greener choices, like consuming less elled all the way from Poland to be there. She
so stupid. meat or going veg, buying second-hand was at the meet and greet and when it was her
clothes/anything, giving a second life to material time to take the picture, she thanked me and
BV: You sing ‘the way you looked at her just things when possible, buying local products, try- Gloria for what we do, for what we stand for and
makes me wish I shot her dead’. Do you ing to consume less energy or choosing public what we talk about. For being an ‘icon’ in the
think jealousy in a relationship can be de- transport when possible, etc. They’re just small LGBTQ+ world. I never really thought I’d get to
structive? Is there a way to work on jealousy drops in the ocean and we can only hope that be that for someone, let alone for a community
and insecurities? one day the tide brings change. of people, but it made me realize that’s what I
LB: Yes, it definitely can be toxic and destruc- want. I want Halflives to be a safe space, to be
tive. It’s always important to keep it in check and BV: What makes you angry? What do you a place where people feel represented.
not go over the limit, but if it’s not understood wish more people would care about?
and you don’t feel reassured by your partner, it LB: Less about money and trivial things and BV: You wrote that you cried on stage in
can also drive you crazy. The way it works for more about giving themselves, their children Prague for the very first time, wrapped in a
me, is to feel safe in my relationship and to know and everybody else an actual future. rainbow flag, while being squished by Gloria
I can trust my partner, and, most of all, that I can and Enrico and while the whole crowd was
feel free to speak to her and that she under- BV: Going back to 2016, you released ‘May- roaring. You said you felt so overwhelmed
stands my feelings. That way, through commu- day' and sang ‘I still don’t know if I can trust by all these positive emotions. Do you feel
nication, you find peace of mind. anyone’. Do you think many people are trust- like that positivity has lit an exciting new fire
worthy? Is there a way to tell if a person is in you?
BV: You released ‘EVERYTHING SUCKS!’ a trustworthy? LB: For sure. After the tour, I felt so full of en-
year ago. What do you think is the best thing LB: Almost nobody’s trustworthy. There’s no ergy, like never before, started writing more and
to do when you are going through anything way to tell if someone’s trustworthy from one felt more motivated than ever to keep going.
that sucks? Is there anything that can help look, they have to prove they can be trusted and
you feel better? that takes time and commitment - and that’s BV: Going back to ‘Mayday’, you sang ‘I lost
LB: Not being alone in it. Sharing the good hard. who I am’. Have you found who you are
things, but especially the bad things, is what now? Who were you in 2016 and who are
makes it all… better, somehow. BV: In ‘sorry mom x’ you sing ‘I’m my own you now?
worst enemy’. Do you think you are too hard LB: I don’t know if we ever get to find who we
BV: Have you had any disappointments, on yourself? Would you say you’re a perfec- really are, actually. In 2016, I was a dreamer,
which you later realised were a blessing in tionist? now I rarely feel this way. When you see too
disguise? LB: Oh, I am, fortunately or unfortunately. Prob- much of a reality you stop dreaming at some
LB: The first producer I worked with - I consid- ably nowadays, considering how fast content point, and that’s really sad. Thankfully, there are
ered him my mentor, and I still do. I had, and al- has to be consumed (hello again capitalism/con- some things that light that spark and wake up
ways will have, a lot of admiration for him. Years sumerism), you live a better life if you’re not a the inner child sometimes (like the past head-
ago, I was counting on him too much. Then, he perfectionist and you’re just ok with putting as liner tour!) so you get to keep dreaming – ‘cause
started having less and less time for me, as his much content out there as you can, no matter without dreams, where would we go? How dull
career moved forward and he started working the quality of it. would life be?
for Italian artists signed to majors. So, I have
been forced to look elsewhere but, most impor- BV: A lot of people have negative thoughts Visit www.wehavehalflives.com for more info.
tantly, I have been forced to start self-producing and doubt themselves. But, on the opposite
my songs. It made me feel very lost and alone side of things, we all go through some amaz-
for a very long time. But now I can count on my- ing experiences and good times. What are Words By Shari Black Velvet
self and I got to realize I am good even without you grateful for? What are you proud of hav-
HALFLIVES