Andrea Longato On the Making Of “Sure Thing”
What was the creative process like for this particular masterpiece?
I wrote this tune during the summer of 2020, right in the middle of the pandemic. In general, I find composing to be extremely “therapeutic”. I often write my tunes as a way to cope with tough situations or feelings of sadness and unrest. “Sure Thing” is a good example of that. I intended it as a song where ‘dark’ and ‘light’ coexist, and this duality very much resonates with me. This song helped me find a sense of purpose at a time when there was a lot left to be desired, which is why I chose it as my first single. Musically, I see “Sure Thing” as a blend of a lot of the music I love and grew up with. As I listen back to it, I can list some of the artists that inspired it: Bill Frisell, Wayne Krantz, Robben Ford, but also Radiohead and Jeff Buckley.
Were there any memorable or standout moments during the recording sessions for "Sure Thing?"
I don’t know if I can pin down a particular moment, but I can certainly recall a deep sense of gratitude for being able to record this song with Rob (drums) and Bryan (bass). They both brought a tremendous level of support and insight to the process, let alone killer musicianship. We made the record ourselves, with Rob engineering the sessions, and me taking care of the overdubs, mixing and mastering. I like the DIY attitude behind it, and how it all came together.
What impact do you hope "Sure Thing" will have on your audience?
I see the song as a pretty honest representation of me – how I am, what I feel, how I react to things. It takes its time to unravel, but eventually lets you in, haha. It’s definitely the most “autobiographical” out of the song-selections from the upcoming album, and for this reason the first one I wanted the listener to hear. I don’t have any other expectations apart from sharing a bit of my world to the audience. If the song will resonate with other people too, at any level, that’s even better of course!
Can you share a memorable experience from a collaboration that enriched your music?
There are a lot of them, and they mostly come from my tenure as a sideman. Throughout the years I got to work alongside a lot of musicians and producers that are way better than me, and I found that to be one of the key-ingredients to a healthy music career, haha. In particular, during my first year in New York I was playing in a group that also counted a very famous musician - a member of one of the most successful bands of the past 2/3 decades, and also a guitar player. I won’t mention his name, I don’t want to brag. The point is: especially at the beginning during rehearsals I was playing all the time, with no breaks on any of the tunes. He instead would sit out for a whole song, except maybe for one moment where he would play something incredible and knock us all out. I’ll never forget that feeling, and I still go back to it because I feel there’s still a lot to learn from.
Are there any upcoming projects or releases that you are particularly excited about?
At the cost of being a bit self-serving, I’m excited about the release of my first full length record, “Thinking Heart”, set for January 2025. This album marks my full-length debut as a bandleader, which I also produced, mixed, and mastered. It represents a milestone in my career, and I’m excited for it to be out there in the world. I took on the challenge of being involved in all aspects of it, and it’s been making for a very unique experience that I can’t wait to share.