Interview with Ilaria Graziano
- This interview was conducted by bubuche93 through email on July 28, 2004 in English. If Graziano's responses don't make sense, it's because she responded to the questions in English. The interview was edited as best as possible by an English-speaking friend of bubuche93 (a Frenchman) and by Spaceman-Spiff.

Q1: Can you tell me a little about yourself? Such as: how old you are, where you come from, etc.
IG: Wow! You have a lot of questions, don't you?
So, I'll tell you. I came from Naples (hope you enjoyed my city), but now I live in London... I started playing violin when I was a child, but I had been singing on my heart all the time... I've also studied the arts, in a painting school.
My age...? I'm young... maybe 19, I can't remember really well!

Q2: What was your first experience as a singer? With Miele?
IG: I started to play with some bands when I was 15, and I had done a lot of featuring with pop/hip hop bands, and I've been touring with different groups and making really different styles of music (folk music, ethnic...).
That's what I like of my experiences. I love so many genre of music, and I couldn't choose in between them. I had the opportunity to work in a lot of different worlds! I've also made music for a play in a theatre... what a trip! Really good experience.
With Miele, we made together this project, and then we went on TV promotions and on a tour in Italy. It was a really nice time!

Q3: How and when did you meet Yoko Kanno?
IG: I met Yoko six years ago... my agent was also working for Yoko, that's how we met each other.

Q4: What are your feelings about Yoko Kanno? Was the work easy with her or did she run a tight ship?
IG: She's a flower, a butterfly. She's an amazing person and it's always a great experience to work with her. With no one else, I can feel so comfortable and free... she guided me when we were recording, and I try to follow her light!

Q5: Can you confirm if Gabriela Robin is Yoko's nickname? (:p)
IG: I don't think so! I met Gabriela one time, she's a really nice person. I think all the people that I met from Yoko, all the musicians, are fantastic people.

Q6: What is your favorite singer / song / anime song / anime soundtrack / anime etc.?
IG: My first love was Billy Holiday, and after that, I also love so many other singers... it's a long list! PJ Harvey, Diamanda Galas, Mike Patton from Faith no more, and... oh... it's a really long list! And the same goes for anime songs or soundtracks. How can I say which is my favorite, all of them are different and beautiful!

Q7: You haven't sang on many songs, why is that? Are you waiting for propositions? If so who from?
IG: I think I have to give my voice to the right character and atmosphere.

Q8: Can you tell us more about your songs/album in preparation?
IG: I'm working on my own new project... it's not a secret, but I prefer not to speak about that because it's just too early!
Anyway, I'm also starting to do a new live project: a sort of fusion between electronic music and loop machine... it will be really funny!

Q9: What are your plans for the future, in the next 20 years or so?
IG: I learned that it is not good to make a long term plan, you'll never know what will come up in life!

Q10: What's the funniest thing that has happened to you while doing this job?
IG: Every time, funny things happen, that's a difficult question!

Q11: Can you describe how you go about recording your songs, do you feel the need to move to Japan or do you just stay at "home"?
IG: We met sometimes in Naples, Rome and New York... I've never been to Japan.

Q12: Are you aware that one of your songs called " valse de la lune" (a French song) contains big French grammar mistakes? (but you have a lovely French accent, lol :D)
IG: I’m really sorry about that, but a French girl (from the university!) said that everything was all right. Maybe I made a mistake to believe her?

Q13: Have you ever been to a "Japan Expo" (that's the name of our annual exposition concerning Japanese culture in Paris), in France or in another country? If not, would you come and perform a show during the expo? (there are some Japanese artists and voice actors there)
IG: No, I've never been there. It will be a pleasure to come and do a little show.