Are You Real? - Melancholy and passion against dream-pop backdrops

Andrea Liuzza is a musician from Venice, creator of the project Are You Real?, with four LPs to his name (the first two released under the name Andrea Liuzza) as well as various singles spanning sad-folk, songwriter and dream-pop. But that alone doesn't do justice to his personality and the range of things he does. In 2021 he founded the independent label Beautiful Losers, which has released a long line of Italian musicians, and he also runs a hugely popular YouTube channel where Liuzza talks – with expertise, insight and, above all, a calm, measured tone – about music scenes, recommended albums and anything else related to the world of music. Definitely one to follow.  

Beautiful Losers came about almost by chance, four years ago, in a small apartment in Venice. I was out of work, with just a laptop and a vocal setup. I was collaborating with a few musicians and thought it would be nice to give their projects a home – and mine too. That's how the label was born: independent, Italian, but with an eye on the international indie scene. The name is a tribute to Cohen, but it's also a kind of manifesto: at a time when everyone wants to be a winner, we stand with the outsiders. Today it's become my job. I moved to the mountains, near Vicenza, where I built a home studio in the middle of the woods, which often hosts the artists I produce.

Can you name some of the musicians you've produced?

The first was An Early Bird, before Beautiful Losers even existed. Then came A Red Idea, About Blank, Matt Mun, Gintsugi, RosGos – all on the label, spanning alternative, indie folk and dark pop. But I also work with outside artists, like Nicola Lotto on a track with Edda, and more recently Alessandra Milieri, who has a truly extraordinary voice.

You're also behind a hugely popular podcast which, through short but extremely detailed videos, has explained various music genres, from post-rock to punk. I really like your videos because they work both for newcomers and for people who already know the subject well. How did this idea come about, and how much work does it take to put together something so detailed?

I simply wanted to promote our YouTube channel, talking about music in a way that was accessible but still substantial. I never imagined it would become my most-followed project. In two years I've built a wonderful, devoted community, and one of the videos has passed 200,000 views. Lately people have even started inviting me to give talks on the topics I cover. I publish about three a month, and each one takes a couple of days of work. I write them in my spare time, and I enjoy it. Recording them… a bit less so: I hate being in front of the camera!

You've managed to bring on board some very important names in Italian music criticism, I'm thinking of Federico Guglielmi and Carlo Bordone. I imagine their involvement felt like a real seal of approval, and probably meant a lot to you.

It was an honour. Podcasts, often for good reason, don't get much respect from serious music journalism. That's exactly why having people like Federico Guglielmi, Carlo Bordone and Federico Savini from Blow Up on board felt like real encouragement to keep going. And it's not over yet: more very interesting guests are on the way.

Lastly, a few months ago you released “Unicorn,” a track I'll let you describe yourself. Who took part in writing and recording it?

“Unicorn” is the new track from my project Are You Real?, the first in five years. I need silence and distance to make music. One night I dreamed of a unicorn in the middle of traffic: that's where the song came from, blending electronics, my ethereal backing vocals and Gintsugi's splendid voice. I also made an animated video with drawings by Riccardo Ambrosi, which then became an illustrated book. Three dimensions for a single track… An attempt to go beyond the usual playlist single. I'm happy about it also because I don't think there are many labels that publish illustrated books.

Will this track be the first from a future LP?

Yes, I've almost finished mixing the new album. Another song will be out soon, also with a video hand-drawn by Riccardo. The album will follow in winter, I think, and it'll be called “A World Without Humans”. It's about our times: on the brink of environmental catastrophe and a third world war. And about the need to close your eyes and find within yourself a space to transcend evil.

I also read that a band asked you if they could do a cover. Can you tell us how that went?

It happened with the New York duo Sub Lights. I'd been following them for a while and we'd been writing to each other by email. They offered to do a remix of “Unicorn”, and for me it was an honor. The result was a hypnotic EDM version that I loved, plus a new mix of my own arrangement, in an almost cyberpunk vein. Both have just come out.

Thank you very much, and I'll close by asking what your plans are for the future. Will you keep doing the podcast? Any new artists you'd like to point us to?

The podcast continues, for as long as I can keep talking about what I'm passionate about, without chasing the algorithm. The project I'd like to point out is the new one from Beautiful Losers: Nowhere. A truly special album, out in June. These are the songs of Roberto Bonfissuto, who sadly passed away far too soon, in 2019, leaving behind a hard drive full of demos and unfinished ideas. His brother Giulio, with enormous love, saved them and entrusted them to me to complete. It was intense, moving work. And now Roberto's voice will finally be heard.

Ride the wave of great music

Add OndaRock to your favorite sources on Google Discover. Don't miss our reviews, milestones and latest news straight in your feed.

Follow on Google