Pier and Carolina

A new installment of our radio-focused column: this time we speak with Pier Ferrantini and Carolina Di Domenico, hosts of Rock And Roll Circus on Rai Radio2

What does radio mean to you, and how did you first get into this medium?

P: I've always been strongly drawn to radio, ever since I was a kid and my parents would find me sitting in front of it, recording cassettes of my favorite songs. Later on, during all the years I spent promoting the band with Velvet, I spent a huge amount of time in radio stations, even if just as an interviewee, and I have to admit I always admired the good hosts enormously, and envied them a bit too.

C: Radio has always been part of my life, especially as something to listen to while studying during my high school years. I've always loved this medium, even though professionally, coming from TV, it scared me a little: the thought of not having my image, my body language, to help me express myself made me feel less confident.

Are there any radio stations that contributed to shaping your musical taste?

P: I hope this doesn't sound like flattery, but I can't help mentioning RadioRai: especially in the '90s I listened to nothing else, from Planet Rock to Stereodrome to Stereonotte, I'd daydream listening to wonderful music and incredible concerts. I also studied for a lot of university exams that way, and studying in the evening was much less painful with Planet Rock playing in the background. I also want to give a shout-out to Radio Città Futura, which gave us the chance to get comfortable with the medium of radio, and to Radio Rock: in Rome these are very important stations, and I listened to them a great deal too.

C: I figured out what my musical tastes were relatively late, around 17 a whole world opened up for me, I discovered my musical identity, but not through radio - rather by listening to records.

What does landing on Radio Rai specifically mean to you?

P: It was a huge source of satisfaction. Carolina and I actually started out just for fun, with a show that was only meant to run for twelve episodes during August 2013. It was called "Yes Weekend" and it was a kind of journey through the decades, trying to tell the story of music's evolution starting from the great revolutionaries all the way to today's followers, who are sometimes a little too similar to the originals. Basically, something like: in 1968 Led Zeppelin arrived, and in 2016 we have Royal Blood, with everything that happened in between.

C: We started out at a private radio station with an idea born from the desire to point out that a lot of the bands and artists of that period, hugely successful among teenagers, had drawn inspiration from greats of the past that kids probably didn't even know. It was called "Ritorno al Futuro" and it told exactly that story. Getting to Radio2 and being able to build on that same idea was a great satisfaction.

What's distinctive about your show?

P: Without wanting to sound presumptuous, we talk about great music that struggles to find space on other networks, and we do it with a light touch, without putting ourselves on that pedestal of boring industry insiders which, in my opinion, has ruined so many potentially great radio shows over the years, creating an endless sequence of tedium broken up only by good songs. We offer interesting new releases, interviews and in-depth features on the biggest names on the international music scene, plus great concerts by Italian and foreign artists. It's a paradox that the music played on Rock And Roll Circus is considered niche by most networks, when in reality these are top-ten artists in most other countries around the world.

C: We try to play music from the top of the charts, popular music from the rock and alternative scene. We put together bite-sized features that tell the story of famous bands starting from an interview done directly with the band members. We showcase live performances from top-quality artists and, more generally, we deepen listeners' knowledge of the music we play through anecdotes about its protagonists.

What's changed today, in the digital era, for people making radio, in your view? The impression is that, despite greater freedom and wider scope, there's still a lot of homogenization, at least on the most popular networks...

P: I completely agree, and I say that with real regret - I'm firmly convinced that there's still a huge audience out there eager to discover new music or listen to something other than the hyper-pop that dominates TV and radio. The success of Virgin Radio proves it, as does our show in its own small way, among others. The way I see it, it's not the music that determines whether a show succeeds, but the skill of the people presenting it and their ability to connect with the audience. I think Linus and Nicola would still be brilliant even if they occasionally played Primal Scream or the wonderful new single from Banks & Steelz.

C: The problem of homogenization is real, but we've always believed in letting listeners know they can also hear what isn't played five times a day on the radio, so they can explore, learn more, and maybe discover unexpected tastes of their own. It's a research job that anyone who plays music has a duty to do. The digital era has made this kind of exploration much more immediate and, if anything, more personal, so I'd call it a positive change.

Do you also listen to web radio? Do you think it can genuinely help broaden the range of music coverage out there?

P: We don't listen to it, but purely because of time and other commitments. I'd happily do it, and I think, one way or another, sooner or later, we're heading in that direction anyway. The BBC, as always ahead of the curve, launched BBC 6 back in 2002. A brilliant station that has always broadcast purely digitally and via streaming. Today I think it has more than two million listeners a week and is heard all over the world. As I said before, I have no doubt that a well-made web/digital radio station, backed by a solid editorial plan, could establish itself quickly.

C: Personally I don't listen to many, but I'm convinced that web radio is a sign of the times we live in, and that, if it specializes in a particular area, it can still offer a wider range of choice.

Can you tell us about any particular experiences you've had live on air, any curious behind-the-scenes stories with listeners?

P: It'll be hard to forget Lauryn Hill's concert at the Radio2 Lucca Summer Festival last year. She showed up more than two hours late, and Carolina and I were forced to fill that time live, improvising as best we could. Another important moment with listeners came during the first RNR Circus party: we invited Verdena to play for us and a hundred fans. We got thousands of requests that obviously we couldn't satisfy, but it was wonderful to see Via Asiago surrounded by kids waiting around, hoping to get in even without an invitation.

C: Our listeners always give us great inspiration: spontaneous groups of people form who get into the habit of listening to us together; we have a category we spontaneously nicknamed "the ladies of rnrcircus" because, no longer in their first youth, they tell us how much company we keep them; children who were born while their parents were listening to the show. And then there are our moments of nonstop laughter, like at school, when you just couldn't stop.

What are the five tracks you'd always include in your playlists?

P:

1. The Smiths – There Is A Light That Never Goes Out

2. Depeche Mode – It's No Good

3. The Cure – Just Like Heaven

4. U2 – New Year's Day

5. Elliott Smith – Angeles

C:

1. Jeff Buckley – Lover, You Should've Come Over

2. U2 – One

3. Lucio Dalla – Anna e Marco

4. Niccolò Fabi – Costruire

5. Etta James – At Last

What are your upcoming projects related to the world of radio?

P: Winning an award for best show of the year. I don't know which year, but sooner or later.

C: Definitely building an ever stronger connection with our listeners and coming up with something new, hopefully a big hit.

For Pier: what can you tell us about Velvet, do you have any news in store with your band?

P: We're in a bit of a stand-by phase right now. We don't have any particular urge to set off on new tours or throw ourselves into a new battle to try to get our music out everywhere. We fought the good fight with great results for fifteen years, now we're catching our breath a bit and looking for new inspiration, to quote ourselves. Actually, we're putting a lot of focus into sync licensing and soundtracks: we just placed a track in a successful and really good film, "Fast as the Wind" by Matteo Rovere with Stefano Accorsi, and we've got other things in the works. As for a new album or new singles, I honestly don't know yet, but it's not out of the question that one day we'll be back in the game without much warning.

For Carolina: what about your work as a VJ, will you be going back to TV?

C: TV is a more occasional commitment for me now, but I welcome it, because that's where I come from and I won't deny how much I enjoy hosting on television. This autumn I'll be part of the Ninja Warriors team, airing on La9, as a field reporter getting to know the contestants taking on this crazy adventure better. It'll be a lot of fun.

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09/05/2026