Alessandro Cortini
Encyclopedia
Alessandro Cortini is an Italian
musician best known for touring and recording with the American industrial rock
band Nine Inch Nails
from 2004 to 2008. Currently, Cortini is also the frontman for the Los Angeles
based electronic
-alternative
band SONOIO
. In addition, he was a touring member of The Mayfield Four
from 2000 to 2002. Cortini was also a founding member of Modwheelmood
, an Electronic-Alternative band from Los Angeles, California along with former Abandoned Pools guitarist Pelle Hillström. He recently completed a small Canadian tour under the guise of his solo project, blindoldfreak
.
, but raised in Forlì
. Cortini moved from Italy to the United States to study guitar at the Musicians Institute
. After graduating, and straying away from the guitar, he decided to focus on keyboards and synths. From 2001 to 2002, Cortini acted as touring guitarist for The Mayfield Four
in support of their album Second Skin
. While briefly teaching at the Musicians Institute, he saw an ad for open auditions for Nine Inch Nails. Reznor stated that Alessandro Cortini "fit in immediately." Reznor also stated that:
Cortini toured with Nine Inch Nails from 2005 to 2008, during the band's "Live: With Teeth", "Performance 2007" and "Lights In The Sky Over North/South America" tours. His primary role was that of touring keyboard player, although he also played guitar and bass guitar on some songs. Besides touring with the band, Cortini also contributed to the instrumental album Ghosts I-IV (receiving co-writing credits on a number of tracks) and the 2008 album The Slip
. A Modwheelmood remix of "The Great Destroyer" was also released on the Year Zero
remix album Year Zero Remixed
, and Cortini features in the live DVD Beside You In Time
, as well as the music videos for The Hand That Feeds
and Survivalism
. He left the band at the end of 2008, citing a desire to pursue other projects.
Cortini is also the frontman of Los Angeles
band Modwheelmood
, which he leads with former Abandoned Pools
guitarist Pelle Hillstrom. Together they have released two EP
s, ? (2003) and Enemies & Immigrants
(2006). In 2007, they released Things Will Change
, the companion remix
disc for Enemies & Immigrants, and they released the first part of their new album Pearls to Pigs, Vol. 1
on December 25, 2007 exclusively as a digital release.
In fall 2006, Cortini contributed to the Musicians Institute's Recording Artist Program by acting as advisor for one-on-one training with students. In 2009, he filled in for Morgan Nicholls
of Muse
while Nicholls took a leave of absence to be with his newborn son. In 2010, he recorded a song called Birds of Prey with pop artist Christina Aguilera
, produced by Ladytron
. The song is featured on the deluxe edition of her fourth studio album Bionic.
In summer 2010, Cortini formed the band SONOIO
. The band name SONOIO comes from the Italian phrase “sono io”, which means “it’s me”, as it is a solo project consisting solely of Alessandro Cortini. In July 2010 SONOIO released the album "SONOIO Blue" which was followed up by a remix album in December 2010 "NON SONOIO". In June 2011 SONOIO released the album "SONOIO Red".
Blindoldfreak
Modwheelmood
With Nine Inch Nails
With Jovanotti
With Ladytron
With Yoav
With The Mayfield Four
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
musician best known for touring and recording with the American industrial rock
Industrial rock
Industrial rock is a musical genre that fuses industrial music and specific rock subgenres. Industrial rock spawned industrial metal, with which it is often confused...
band Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock project, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. As its main producer, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Reznor is the only official member of Nine Inch Nails and remains solely responsible for its direction...
from 2004 to 2008. Currently, Cortini is also the frontman for the Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
based electronic
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
-alternative
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band SONOIO
SONOIO
-NON SONOIO - Blue Remixes:Track listing-SONOIO Red:Track listing-Official sites:** page on MySpace* hosted on Vimeo* on Facebook...
. In addition, he was a touring member of The Mayfield Four
The Mayfield Four
For the telephone signalling method known in the UK as MF4, see Dual-tone multi-frequencyThe Mayfield Four was an American rock band formed by Myles Kennedy in Spokane, Washington in 1996...
from 2000 to 2002. Cortini was also a founding member of Modwheelmood
Modwheelmood
Modwheelmood is an Electronic-Alternative band from Los Angeles, California formed by Alessandro Cortini and former Abandoned Pools guitarist Pelle Hillström in 1998.-History:Modwheelmood formed in 1998, initially as a project entitled...
, an Electronic-Alternative band from Los Angeles, California along with former Abandoned Pools guitarist Pelle Hillström. He recently completed a small Canadian tour under the guise of his solo project, blindoldfreak
Blindoldfreak
Blindoldfreak is the Electronic-Alternative solo project of Alessandro Cortini...
.
Background
Cortini was born in BolognaBologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
, but raised in Forlì
Forlì
Forlì is a comune and city in Emilia-Romagna, Italy, and is the capital of the province of Forlì-Cesena. The city is situated along the Via Emilia, to the right of the Montone river, and is an important agricultural centre...
. Cortini moved from Italy to the United States to study guitar at the Musicians Institute
Musicians Institute
Musicians Institute is a privately owned for-profit music vocational school located in Hollywood, California. Although not a regionally accredited school, the school offers a variety of unaccredited Bachelor Degree, Associate Degree and Certificate programs in fields including contemporary music...
. After graduating, and straying away from the guitar, he decided to focus on keyboards and synths. From 2001 to 2002, Cortini acted as touring guitarist for The Mayfield Four
The Mayfield Four
For the telephone signalling method known in the UK as MF4, see Dual-tone multi-frequencyThe Mayfield Four was an American rock band formed by Myles Kennedy in Spokane, Washington in 1996...
in support of their album Second Skin
Second Skin (album)
Second Skin was the second album from American rock band, The Mayfield Four. Two singles were taken from the album: "Sick and Wrong" and "Eden ." Singer Myles Kennedy has stated that "Sick and Wrong" and "Flatley's Crutch" are the only songs he has written that contain profanity...
. While briefly teaching at the Musicians Institute, he saw an ad for open auditions for Nine Inch Nails. Reznor stated that Alessandro Cortini "fit in immediately." Reznor also stated that:
Cortini toured with Nine Inch Nails from 2005 to 2008, during the band's "Live: With Teeth", "Performance 2007" and "Lights In The Sky Over North/South America" tours. His primary role was that of touring keyboard player, although he also played guitar and bass guitar on some songs. Besides touring with the band, Cortini also contributed to the instrumental album Ghosts I-IV (receiving co-writing credits on a number of tracks) and the 2008 album The Slip
The Slip (album)
The Slip is the seventh studio album by American industrial rock act Nine Inch Nails, released on July 22, 2008. It was the fourth consecutive Nine Inch Nails release to be produced by frontman Trent Reznor with collaborators Atticus Ross and Alan Moulder...
. A Modwheelmood remix of "The Great Destroyer" was also released on the Year Zero
Year Zero (album)
Year Zero is the fifth studio album by American industrial rock act Nine Inch Nails, released on April 17, 2007, by Interscope Records. Frontman Trent Reznor wrote the album's music and lyrics while touring in support of the group's previous release, With Teeth...
remix album Year Zero Remixed
Year Zero Remixed
-Vinyl:-Critical reception:Year Zero Remixed received generally positive reviews. Virgin Media's review described the album as "a real cornucopia of treats" and "Highly recommended." Pitchfork Media's review, however, criticized the album, writing that it "lacks cohesion and is predictably...
, and Cortini features in the live DVD Beside You In Time
Beside You in Time
Beside You in Time is a live home video release by Nine Inch Nails, issued in Europe on February 26, 2007, and the United States on February 27, 2007. Beside You in Time is also the title of a track on the NIN album With Teeth. The video documents NIN's 2006 Live: With Teeth tour, and is available...
, as well as the music videos for The Hand That Feeds
The Hand that Feeds
"The Hand That Feeds" is a song by the American industrial rock group Nine Inch Nails, released as the lead single for the album With Teeth . It is the highest charting song by Nine Inch Nails on all charts except for U.S...
and Survivalism
Survivalism (song)
"Survivalism" is the first single by Nine Inch Nails from their 2007 album Year Zero. The song is the third track on the album...
. He left the band at the end of 2008, citing a desire to pursue other projects.
Cortini is also the frontman of Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
band Modwheelmood
Modwheelmood
Modwheelmood is an Electronic-Alternative band from Los Angeles, California formed by Alessandro Cortini and former Abandoned Pools guitarist Pelle Hillström in 1998.-History:Modwheelmood formed in 1998, initially as a project entitled...
, which he leads with former Abandoned Pools
Abandoned Pools
Tommy Walter is an American musician and songwriter, best known for his Alternative rock band, Abandoned Pools, as well as being the former bassist and one of the founding members of Eels....
guitarist Pelle Hillstrom. Together they have released two EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
s, ? (2003) and Enemies & Immigrants
Enemies & Immigrants
Enemies & Immigrants is an EP by Modwheelmood released in 2006 on Buddyhead Records.-Track listing:#Things Will Change - 4:08#Going Nowhere - 4:30#Delay Lama - 4:05#As I Stand Here - 4:21#Money For Good - 3:56#Yesterday - 4:06...
(2006). In 2007, they released Things Will Change
Things Will Change
Things Will Change is the companion remix disc to Enemies & Immigrants by Modwheelmood released in 2007. The proceeds from the sale of this album are given to the Los Angeles based charity Create Now, a charity that deals with assisting and helping the lives of high-risk and at-risk youth through...
, the companion remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
disc for Enemies & Immigrants, and they released the first part of their new album Pearls to Pigs, Vol. 1
Pearls to Pigs, Vol. 1
Pearls to Pigs, Vol. 1 is an EP and the 4th release by Electronic-Alternative Rock band Modwheelmood. It was released digitally only on December 25, 2007. This was the first of a series of releases, the next being Pearls to Pigs, Vol. 2, which was released in February, 2008. The album was mixed by...
on December 25, 2007 exclusively as a digital release.
In fall 2006, Cortini contributed to the Musicians Institute's Recording Artist Program by acting as advisor for one-on-one training with students. In 2009, he filled in for Morgan Nicholls
Morgan Nicholls
Morgan Nicholls is an English musician, member of Senseless Things and best known for performing with Gorillaz, The Streets, Muse and most recently Lily Allen. He released one solo album under the name Morgan.-Career:...
of Muse
Muse (band)
Muse are an English alternative rock band from Teignmouth, Devon, formed in 1994. The band consists of school friends Matthew Bellamy , Christopher Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard...
while Nicholls took a leave of absence to be with his newborn son. In 2010, he recorded a song called Birds of Prey with pop artist Christina Aguilera
Christina Aguilera
Christina María Aguilera is an American recording artist and actress. Aguilera first appeared on national television in 1990 as a contestant on the Star Search program, and went on to star in Disney Channel's television series The Mickey Mouse Club from 1993–1994...
, produced by Ladytron
Ladytron
Ladytron are an English electronic band formed in 1999 in Liverpool, Merseyside. The group consists of Helen Marnie , Mira Aroyo , Daniel Hunt and Reuben Wu .Their sound blends electropop with New Wave and shoegazing elements. Ladytron described their sound as "electronic pop"...
. The song is featured on the deluxe edition of her fourth studio album Bionic.
In summer 2010, Cortini formed the band SONOIO
SONOIO
-NON SONOIO - Blue Remixes:Track listing-SONOIO Red:Track listing-Official sites:** page on MySpace* hosted on Vimeo* on Facebook...
. The band name SONOIO comes from the Italian phrase “sono io”, which means “it’s me”, as it is a solo project consisting solely of Alessandro Cortini. In July 2010 SONOIO released the album "SONOIO Blue" which was followed up by a remix album in December 2010 "NON SONOIO". In June 2011 SONOIO released the album "SONOIO Red".
Musical equipment
Cortini uses the following equipment in his studio:- Buchla 200eBuchla 200eThe Buchla 200e is a modular synthesizer designed by electronic music pioneer Don Buchla and built by Buchla and Associates.- History :The 200e is based on the earlier Model 200 system. Many of the modules in the 200e series share similar functionality and layout with Model 200 modules, and...
- Buchla 200
- Electro-Acoustic ResearchElectro-Acoustic ResearchElectro-Acoustic Research is a small consortium of synthesizer related manufacturers founded in 2005 in Southern California. Founded by Peter Grenader and Mike Brown, EAR's initial charter was the manufacturing of Plan B Synthesizers and Livewire Synthesizers...
modular synthesizerModular synthesizerThe modular synthesizer is a type of synthesizer consisting of separate specialized modules connected by wires to create a so-called patch. Every output generates a signal – an electric voltage of variable strength...
(custom-created for Nine Inch NailsNine Inch NailsNine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock project, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. As its main producer, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Reznor is the only official member of Nine Inch Nails and remains solely responsible for its direction...
at Cortini's request) - Native InstrumentsNative InstrumentsNative Instruments is a technology company that develops software and hardware for music production and DJing. The company has originally been identified mostly with software instruments, but has also expanded to various other music equipment segments in recent years.Current products of Native...
ReaktorReaktorReaktor is a graphical modular software music studio of proprietary license developed by Native Instruments. It lets musicians and sound specialists design and build their own instruments, samplers, effects and sound design tools. It is supplied with many ready-to-use instruments and effects, from...
and Guitar RigGuitar RigGuitar Rig is a software effect processor developed by Native Instruments. Primarily designed for electric guitar and bass, the software uses amplifier modeling to allow real-time digital signal processing in both standalone and studio environments.It was originally released in mid-2004... - Apple Logic ProLogic ProLogic Pro is a hybrid 32 / 64 bit digital audio workstation and MIDI sequencer software application for the Mac OS X platform. Originally created by German software developer Emagic, Logic Pro became an Apple product when Apple bought Emagic in 2002...
- JoMoX XBase-09 analogAnalog synthesizerAn analog or analogue synthesizer is a synthesizer that uses analog circuits and analog computer techniques to generate sound electronically. The earliest analog synthesizers in the 1920s and 1930s such as the Trautonium were built with a variety of vacuum-tube and electro-mechanical technologies...
drum machineDrum machineA drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums or other percussion instruments. They are used in a variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music...
Discography
SONOIOSONOIO
-NON SONOIO - Blue Remixes:Track listing-SONOIO Red:Track listing-Official sites:** page on MySpace* hosted on Vimeo* on Facebook...
- 2010: SONOIOSONOIO-NON SONOIO - Blue Remixes:Track listing-SONOIO Red:Track listing-Official sites:** page on MySpace* hosted on Vimeo* on Facebook...
(Blue, Album, 2010) - 2011: SONOIOSONOIO-NON SONOIO - Blue Remixes:Track listing-SONOIO Red:Track listing-Official sites:** page on MySpace* hosted on Vimeo* on Facebook...
(Red, Album, 2011)
Blindoldfreak
Blindoldfreak
Blindoldfreak is the Electronic-Alternative solo project of Alessandro Cortini...
- 2009: 1 (EPExtended playAn EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, 2009)
Modwheelmood
Modwheelmood
Modwheelmood is an Electronic-Alternative band from Los Angeles, California formed by Alessandro Cortini and former Abandoned Pools guitarist Pelle Hillström in 1998.-History:Modwheelmood formed in 1998, initially as a project entitled...
- 2003: ? (EP, 2003)
- 2006: Enemies & ImmigrantsEnemies & ImmigrantsEnemies & Immigrants is an EP by Modwheelmood released in 2006 on Buddyhead Records.-Track listing:#Things Will Change - 4:08#Going Nowhere - 4:30#Delay Lama - 4:05#As I Stand Here - 4:21#Money For Good - 3:56#Yesterday - 4:06...
(EP, released May 2006) - 2007: Things Will ChangeThings Will ChangeThings Will Change is the companion remix disc to Enemies & Immigrants by Modwheelmood released in 2007. The proceeds from the sale of this album are given to the Los Angeles based charity Create Now, a charity that deals with assisting and helping the lives of high-risk and at-risk youth through...
(The companion remix disc to Enemies & Immigrants, released digitally in October 2007.) - 2007: Pearls to Pigs, Vol. 1Pearls to Pigs, Vol. 1Pearls to Pigs, Vol. 1 is an EP and the 4th release by Electronic-Alternative Rock band Modwheelmood. It was released digitally only on December 25, 2007. This was the first of a series of releases, the next being Pearls to Pigs, Vol. 2, which was released in February, 2008. The album was mixed by...
(EP, released on December 25, 2007) - 2008: Pearls to Pigs, Vol. 2Pearls to Pigs, Vol. 2Pearls to Pigs, Vol. 2 is an EP and the 5th release by Electronic-Alternative Rock band Modwheelmood. It was released digitally only on February 26, 2008. This is a second of a series of releases, the release date of the next EP is June 2008...
(EP, released on February 26, 2008) - 2008: Pearls to Pigs, Vol. 3Pearls to Pigs, Vol. 3Pearls to Pigs, Vol. 3 is an EP and the 6th release by Electronic-Alternative Rock band Modwheelmood. It was released digitally via iTunes and Amazon on July 17, 2008...
(EP, released on July 16, 2008)
With Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock project, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. As its main producer, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Reznor is the only official member of Nine Inch Nails and remains solely responsible for its direction...
- 2007: Beside You in TimeBeside You in TimeBeside You in Time is a live home video release by Nine Inch Nails, issued in Europe on February 26, 2007, and the United States on February 27, 2007. Beside You in Time is also the title of a track on the NIN album With Teeth. The video documents NIN's 2006 Live: With Teeth tour, and is available...
(live DVDDVDA DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
/HD DVDHD DVDHD DVD is a discontinued high-density optical disc format for storing data and high-definition video.Supported principally by Toshiba, HD DVD was envisioned to be the successor to the standard DVD format...
/Blu-ray, 2007) - 2007: Year Zero RemixedYear Zero Remixed-Vinyl:-Critical reception:Year Zero Remixed received generally positive reviews. Virgin Media's review described the album as "a real cornucopia of treats" and "Highly recommended." Pitchfork Media's review, however, criticized the album, writing that it "lacks cohesion and is predictably...
- "The Great Destroyer" (remixed by Modwheelmood) - 2008: Ghosts I-IV
- 2008: The SlipThe Slip (album)The Slip is the seventh studio album by American industrial rock act Nine Inch Nails, released on July 22, 2008. It was the fourth consecutive Nine Inch Nails release to be produced by frontman Trent Reznor with collaborators Atticus Ross and Alan Moulder...
With Jovanotti
Jovanotti
Lorenzo Cherubini, better known as Jovanotti, is an Italian singer-songwriter and rapper.The name Jovanotti derives from the plural form of the Italian word giovanotto , i.e. giovanotti. Lorenzo Cherubini originally auditioned a band with the name "I Giovanotti", but the record producer only was...
- 2008: SafariSafariA safari is an overland journey, usually a trip by tourists to Africa. Traditionally, the term is used for a big-game hunt, but today the term often refers to a trip taken not for the purposes of hunting, but to observe and photograph animals and other wildlife.-Etymology:Entering the English...
With Ladytron
Ladytron
Ladytron are an English electronic band formed in 1999 in Liverpool, Merseyside. The group consists of Helen Marnie , Mira Aroyo , Daniel Hunt and Reuben Wu .Their sound blends electropop with New Wave and shoegazing elements. Ladytron described their sound as "electronic pop"...
- 2008: VelociferoVelociferoVelocifero received positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 73, based on 26 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews"....
(Collaboration & Production. Album, June, 2008) - 2008: Ghosts single (modwheelmood remix, May, 2008)
- 2011: Gravity the SeducerGravity the SeducerGravity the Seducer is the fifth studio album by English electronic band Ladytron and their second to be released by Nettwerk. It was released in the United Kingdom on 12 September 2011 and in the United States on 13 September....
(Collaboration & Production. Album, September, 2011)
With Yoav
Yoav (musician)
Yoav is a singer-songwriter of Israeli-Romanian descent, raised in South Africa whose debut album Charmed And Strange was released in early 2008. Yoav's music is purely based on his own vocals and acoustic guitar, which he uses to create electronica-style beats with his hands...
- 2008: Adore Adore (modwheelmood remix, 2008)
- 2008: Beautiful Lie (modwheelmood remix 2008)
With The Mayfield Four
The Mayfield Four
For the telephone signalling method known in the UK as MF4, see Dual-tone multi-frequencyThe Mayfield Four was an American rock band formed by Myles Kennedy in Spokane, Washington in 1996...
- 2001: Second SkinSecond Skin (album)Second Skin was the second album from American rock band, The Mayfield Four. Two singles were taken from the album: "Sick and Wrong" and "Eden ." Singer Myles Kennedy has stated that "Sick and Wrong" and "Flatley's Crutch" are the only songs he has written that contain profanity...