Donnarumma have recently released their raucous debut single Love Your Man, a horn-bouyed heavy hitter that leaves little to the imagination, out now. The trio have also dropped a spectacularly menacing clip to accompany the track, directed by Lewis Brideson (Last Dinosaurs, West Thebarton Brothel Party). Love Your Man is the first taste of the upcoming EP from the guys, Billy Billy, due for release on June 30. Donnarumma will be hitting the road to celebrate Love Your Man and Billy Billy throughout July, hitting up Adelaide, Melbourne, Wollongong and Sydney along the way.
What was your first guitar?
I bought my first guitar when I was 15, teenage Louis was over the moon! I got myself a Cole Clark FL1. When I started gigging and busking around as a solo artist, this was my one and only for a while.
What’s your main guitar now?
My dad had an old ‘82, Takamine in the house. It was quite beat up, but had history behind it and a beautiful sound to it. I’ve always loved to have a diverse range of sounds, Donnarumma’s music has these soft and delicate moments but can build and turn into hard rockin’ epic endings. I based my guitar around Damien Rice’s. Rice is a folk singer but at live gigs he could get distortion and fuzz effects through his acoustic which blew my mind. So, I chose to use that sound and set up, putting an magnetic pick up in my guitar and running my pedal board through my amp, I able to create those similar tones without feedback issues problems.
Through what amp and why?
I’ve got Fender 2×12 Hot Rod Deville. It has such a warm and beautiful clean channel with amazing reverb. It’s all I ever need!
Which pedals are your standards?
I run everything with my Soul food overdrive turned on. I act this like my clean channel, always having just a bit of grit. Then I’ve got my empress reverb pedal, having endless reverb possibilities and several pre-set options. It’s by far my favourite pedal. From there I connect to a classic Ibanez tube screamer, then to my cry baby wah and finish my mini fuzz face. Having an acoustic through these pedals, I spent hours of experimenting initially to see what works and doesn’t work.
What’s your latest recording and when will you be back in the studio?
We finished our first EP back in July last year in Mixmasters studios. Recently I’ve been working with a few mates demoing new songs as well as some rough garage band recordings, all for our next recording sessions later this year.
What gigs have you been playing lately?
At the beginning of the year we focused on our Adelaide Fringe Festival shows as well as playing with some local bands that are great friends of ours.
Most memorable gig?
Once upon a time, prior to Donnarumma where we didn’t really know what we’re doing and who we were as a band, current bassist Anthony and I wounded up playing at a very cool event called ‘The Porch Sessions’. It was a beautiful intimate setting, opening for Julia Jacklin out of all people! It’s those moments where you decide to do the whole music thing seriously.
Worst stage nightmare?
Aha so in short, drummer Max fell off his drum stool during one of our songs. Max is full of energy and loves to jump out of his seat but one night it all went wrong for him. I’ll give him credit, he kept hitting whatever he could reach while he was down. Bassist Anthony and I didn’t notice a thing!
Album that changed your life?
Jeff Buckley ‘Grace’ Album. One of my biggest inspirations to keep creating.
What gigs are coming up in the next few months?
We’ll be on the road for our national ‘Billy Billy EP Tour’ in July, hitting up Melbourne, Wollongong, Sydney and our home town of Adelaide. We’ve also got a couple of exciting gigs opening for Bootleg Rascal and The Teskey Brothers.
A guitar tip for the kids?
Remember: Metronomes are your best friend.
DONNARUMMA ‘BILLY BILLY’ SHOWS
SAT 1 JULY | GRACE EMILY HOTEL, ADELAIDE SA | 18+
FRI 7 JULY | WHOLE LOTTA LOVE, MELBOURNE VIC | 18+
THURS 13 JULY | RAD BAR, WOLLONGONG NSW | 18+
FRI 14 JULY | THE TOWNIE, SYDNEY NSW | 18+
Free Show