The journey continues, through ups and downs. The “downs”… a piece of my bite broke. It’s a dental appliance you wear at night if you have a habit of grinding your teeth; basically, it prevents them from wearing down by rubbing against each other. In theory, it’s also supposed to align the jaw, which should have an impact on posture and the way you chew, but I haven’t looked into it deeply—I usually just wear it because it doesn’t bother me.

Another annoyance is my relationship with my bank. I had to redeem an insurance policy—not a huge amount, just a few thousand euros. My consultant warned me at the last minute that she had problems at home and had to leave, but she told me to go anyway, saying I’d find a colleague to help. I go, and I immediately find a girl I’ve never seen before. I explain what I need to do, and she starts wandering here and there, asking the director, the deputy director, her colleagues… but nothing. No one can help me. Finally, she tells me to wait for the director.

I wait for the director, explain the situation, and hand him the papers my consultant had given me to sign (and have my brother sign). And what does he do? He starts questioning and contesting everything! “Well, but we need physical IDs, not digital ones! And the signature has to be done in person! And the succession papers—you need to bring the hard copies! I don’t know if digital will work!”

Do you understand? Because I don’t… I don’t understand why my bank branch has a succession of directors, each one more idiotic than the last! Everything is digital now, and this asshole is stuck 25 years in the past! In Italy, the Revenue Agency sends succession documents digitally! And finally, my brother and I have been customers for years—don’t you want to meet us halfway? Don’t you want to verify who the hell is standing in front of you? I never want to deal with these people because they hide their social inadequacy behind “policy.” But being rigid and bureaucratic at all costs is not a sign of intelligence. Because now, I’m redeeming the policy, opening an account at another bank, and you—director of “undoubted wisdom”—have just lost money for your shitty bank. Dumbass. One director more idiotic than the next.

I hope he just didn’t feel like working at that moment, otherwise, they’re in bad shape. And don’t tell me a bank director “has to be strict”—a sharp person would have evaluated the situation, realized we’ve been customers for years, and facilitated the operation. Instead, I’m facing more obstructionism from my own bank than from the ones where my mother had her accounts. Shameful.

Let’s move on to calmer matters, so to speak. The compositions are progressing; I’m at 7 new backing tracks created. The goal is still far off, but I’ve managed to get back into “composition mode,” so I’m not living it with too much anxiety anymore. Of course, when I finish, I’m satisfied, but there’s a bitter taste left because they are still incomplete—the vocals are missing, and maybe something to create atmosphere in the background… maybe. Logically, I’ll have to make them my own and internalize them because, for now, I don’t remember a single one. Then again, if you see a newborn for a short time and then they shove it in the middle of all the other newborns, it’s hard to recognize it unless it has specific features. And these aren’t even “newborns” yet, because without a voice, it’s like they don’t have a face. We wait.

I can’t wait to work on the next one; I have this urge every night—curiosity, but also a slight fear of not being able to pull out “catchy” riffs that grab people. Fortunately, I did good prep work; I’ve developed a nice gallery of melodies. I just need to choose the ones suited to the rhythm of the moment, the one that sounds best. I usually put in about two and a half hours in the afternoon and then an hour in the evening dedicated solely to the bass. Sometimes I try to make it stand out, to let it walk on its own; other times I have it hold the root note. In short, for me, the bass is important—dynamic or not, it’s like that person you invite to events because their mere presence cheers everyone up. They can be quiet, just doing their part, or bursting with energy; either way, they are indispensable. Like the drums.

The other day I realized the drum track I picked wasn’t in time… I spent 2 hours and 20 minutes looking for a new kit and assembling it. I’ll have to have a real drummer re-record it because the fills are a bit too monotonous, but I took what I could find. Despite everything, I’m satisfied with what I built around it. I don’t like wasting time on unforeseen issues like that. Plus, I noticed there’s very little interesting drum stuff out there, and covers of popular hits remind me too much of the original song, so they don’t work. Anyway, for now, that side of life is going well.

Now let’s talk about the cover. I think you’ve guessed it’s a lineup of perfumes I’ve bought over time when I was sailing in “rosier waters”—not just financially, but psychologically. At that time, I was in love with the woman I dedicated the group’s name to. Now, I’m no longer attracted to any living being. I feel affection for a couple of cats I bring food to almost every weekend, but there’s no longer a woman filling my thoughts from morning to night. I’ve gotten used to it now, and I’m fine. To tell you the truth, in January 2024 I already composed some songs just to see if I absolutely needed a muse. No, I don’t need one, and on January 9, 2026, you’ll find out too. Yes, I have one thing to say: now I care about substance. Direct songs with riffs that grab you without too many flourishes. I used to have more of an Iron Maiden-style approach; now I do things that are simple to understand, and in some cases, I write lyrics in a Japanese style—zero direct references, general themes, universal idioms, etc. I’m not crazy about it, but whatever; on the other hand, for me, the lyrics only serve to make the voice “sound.” I always ramble, damn it!

Okay, the image. Most of my perfumes are leathery, so there’s a good dose of leather—whether they are sweet like Armani’s Stronger with You Intensely and Azzaro’s Wanted by Night, or harsher like Tom Ford’s Ombre Leather and Orto Parisi’s Brutus. In the photo, from your left to right, we have: the aforementioned Armani, Dior Homme Intense, Io and Oltremare (I’ll tell you whose later), Arso by Profumum, Narciso Rodriguez Eau de Toilette (grey bottle), Ocean of a Midnight Moon by Simone Andreoli, Wanted by Night, Brutus, Musk by Acampora, Josy and Explosea by Once, Sunshine and Casanova (again, I’ll tell you whose later), Musc Ravageur by Malle, Hacivat by Nishane, Notturno Indiano (later…), Red Tobacco by Mancera, Ombre Leather, and Scent Intense by Costume National. I also had Creed Aventus… I gave it to a friend for his 40th birthday because it didn’t represent me; he wanted it, so done deal.

Let’s start with the fact that I go by feeling. Before choosing a perfume, I try it on my skin and sleep on it, because some perfumes change on the skin after hours—like Red Tobacco and Dior Homme. They are two scents that bother me at first, then they blend with my own scent and become good. Red Tobacco is always unique; you have to give it about 45 minutes to evolve. Either way, you either love it or hate it; like all the perfumes I have, they must be tried before buying—they are not “Blind Buys.” The Armani is maybe too sweet! Same for Wanted by Night or Musc Ravageur, which even has honey! Arso drives me crazy—there’s cedar, there’s incense; you’re wrapped in a scent that smells like burning cedar wood, it’s wonderful! The violet leaves in the Rodriguez, the masculine leather of Brutus, that smell of woods and mushrooms in Acampora’s Musk which makes me think of sex, the scent of Josy instantly catapults me to the beach (I had a sunscreen with the same fragrance), and then Explosea which vaguely reminds me of Parisi’s Megamare. Finally, the “ignorant” (raw) leather of Ombre Leather—I even smell diesel in there—and we finish with Scent Intense, which is another perfume that evokes sex for me!

Now let me explain who is behind Io, Oltremare, Sunshine, Casanova, and Notturno Indiano—and I’ll tell you, I only got a few! If you are ever in Rome, you must go to Via Pandosia, 4, just before Porta Metronia heading towards Trastevere. Continuing along Via Gallia, right after the church on the left, you’ll find the laboratory of Michele Muzio, a true genius of Roman and Italian perfumery. I can’t even quantify how many perfumes he displays or if he has developed others; I only know that every time I walk in, I regret entering because I fall in love with his work! Here they are called “noses”—he is a “nose,” a true master perfumer! Affable and jovial, he can entertain you for hours and is easy to talk to, so don’t be afraid and go awaken your olfactory senses! Oltremare is a must-have, and I’d also call Casanova and Notturno Indiano his “Bohemian Rhapsody”—colossal works with many ingredients, all blended with care and attention. Another important thing: there’s no chance of allergic reactions because he uses natural products, nothing toxic for the skin. Duration and intensity? It depends on what you’re looking for. He has perfumes that need a refresh every few hours and others that stay with you all day, like a friend who is there to comfort you when you feel tired. Go visit him.

The prices? I use the term “Fair” because we are talking about artisanal perfumery. You aren’t buying a mass-produced product sold by the liter and sponsored on mall screens and TV; you are getting a niche product—real, pure, and genuine! When you consider that Creed sells for 297 euros for 100ml, his prices are a bargain in comparison. My advice is to smell and choose between two perfumes and try them on your skin. Walk around for 10, 15, even 20 minutes, then see how it has changed (if it has) and if you still like it. Another tip: don’t buy immediately. Let a night pass and smell it even before going to bed; it must truly captivate you or you’re throwing money away. Above all, remember the season you bought it in, because perfumes often go with the season. If you buy a perfume in August, it might annoy you in December, but don’t throw it away—you might like it again when the first warm weather hits.

See you soon.