London-based composer and virtuoso guitarist Fabio Cicala is an artist who seeks balance through music, using his compositions to find spiritual harmony. With his guitar always tuned to the healing frequency of 432 Hz, he creates musical moments designed not only for personal catharsis but also to connect with listeners on an intimate and meditative level.
Having moved to London over a decade ago, he developed his talents as a busker, charming passersby in different corners of the city. Performing at special occasions and corporate events, his playing always left an impression, earning him a reputation for his expressive and soulful style. Beyond music, Fabio has also explored the world of film, making appearances in major productions like Artemis Fowl by Kenneth Branagh, where he took on the role of a busker elf, as well as working in independent films.
Shifting his focus from live performance to studio recordings, Fabio made his debut last year with “Rude Awakening”, a track that introduced his intricate guitar work and emotive style to the world. Now, he follows it up with his latest release, his brand new sophomore single titled “The Words I Didnāt Say”, an instrumental piece that serves as both a reflection of personal growth and a meditation on missed connections.
Thematically, the song was inspired by a tale of infatuation and restraint after Fabio met a woman on a film set whose aura left him utterly captivated. Though there was an undeniable mutual fascination, he found himself unable to act on it, as he was already in a relationship at the time and the emotions stirred by this encounter found their way into his music, resulting in a composition that’s at once wistful and beautifully expressive.
The song is performed solely on Fabioās Cordoba F7 Paco, a classical guitar named in homage to one of his greatest inspirations, Paco de LucĆa. Recorded at legendary studios such as Abbey Road and Soho Sonic Studios, “The Words I Didnāt Say” is part of a larger nine-track project that chronicles Fabioās story since relocating from Italy to the UK back in 2014.
Brought in by the delicate flutter of acoustic guitar notes, intricate tumbles and delicate sweeping melodies combine to form a stripped back and thoroughly mesmeric listening experience that gently flows through a stunning scene of classical and flamenco inspirations. Putting his compositional talent and incredible performance panache on full display, with “The Words I Didnāt Say,” Fabio Cicala delivers an enchanting sound that conjures emotion even in the absence of lyrics.
We caught up with Fabio Cicala to find out more about his musical journey so far, his new single “The Words I Didnāt Say” and what he’s got lined up for the future. Check out our interview with Fabio Cicala below.
Hey Fabio, howās things?
Hi guys this year started out very well, with my new single Iām very excited about!
Whatās your earliest memory of making music?
Apart from crying as a baby, I remember when I was a child I used to play in a field with my friends, and we built fake musical instruments with wood and stringsā¦ Every now and then I used to write some song with my sister, just for fun. Then when I was in primary school, my father brought us to visit our relatives in Rome for Christmas, and my cousins had a keyboard they could play. I started to mess around along with them, and when we went back home, my father bought me a childās keyboard for my birthday. After he saw my commitment, he bought me a more professional one and I was developing my repertoire by ear. But at that time, I wasnāt taking music very seriously.
Which artists do you draw most inspiration from?
There are several, because there is so much to learn from each of them. First of all Jimi Hendrix, because he gave me the inspiration to start playing the guitar when I was a teenager. I was enchanted by his shamanic way of making music, and by the expressiveness of his guitar, which seemed like painting with the sound! Steve Vai for his technical dexterity, his spirituality, his way of walking the talk, the ability to manage his talent even in an entrepreneurial way, and the ability to inspire generations of musicians around the world. The Japanese band Casiopea for their energy, the richness of rhythms and chord transitions, and of course, the technical dexterity of all the bandmates! I have to say that there are many Japanese bands which I admire, just for the richness of the chord progressions, whichever musical genre theyāre playing. Pino Daniele from Naples, for his ability to blend blues, jazz and rock, with Mediterranean sounds, and the courage to have used his Neapolitan native language in his songs, in a historical moment in which, with his abilities, if he had used English for example, he would certainly have achieved global success. His courageous choice though, didnāt prevent him from being appreciated by world famous masters such as Chick Corea, Pat Metheny, Paco De Lucia, and many others…
How else do you find inspiration for your music?
Looking inside myself and through the word which surrounds me. Some of my music was born from my personal experiences, some other from my fascination for the arts, literature, spirituality, and Greek mythology. Sometimes I just think about an abstract idea, and then develop the music concept. I have a visual imagination, as Iāve been drawing and painting since when I was a child, and then I went to study at the Naples Academy of Fine Arts. Every musical idea, generates from a visual story taking place in my mind, each chord transition is shaped into music from a mixture of colors and textures.
What was your highlight of the year for 2024?
The release of my debut single in March! I see it as the time I was āartistically bornā, I mean when an artist releases his first work, thatās when he speaks his truth into reality and shares it with the world around him!
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What do you love about the London music scene?
Well, I think the overall experience of the British capital! London is a vibrant and multicultural megalopolis that gives everyone the chance to express themselves. Whichever talent you want to hone, or whichever musical genre you want to propose, thereās always a part of the people willing to welcome you! The only request to you from The City, is the burning desire to get involved, to take risks for your own ideas… But the hectic life takes care of this, the availability of infinitive cultural and non-cultural experiences, being in contact with people from different backgrounds, and with the most unthinkable ambitions, all of that definitely free your imagination. Furthermore, often the high cost of living, and the high cost of rent (in proportion to the tiny spaces you live in), force you to focus on your goals, making your creativity explode!
What would you say is the perfect setting for listeners to enjoy your sound?
Since the combination of minimalism and hypnotic melodies, I think my sound can be listened to with headphones while relaxing, or it can become the background for daily activities.
How has your own style and sound evolved since you started out?
When I started out, I wanted to play like Jimi Hendrix. I was practicing on the classical guitar on my own, and then I was playing the electric guitar with some friends in a basementā¦ I had long nails on my right hand to play the classical guitar, with a combination of plectrum and fingers for the electric, while now I trim my nails, so my right hand plays with the finger tips. Most recently Iāve been enjoying playing arrangements for classical guitar, whichever genre they were originally played. Arranging different type of songs for classical guitar, or playing other artistsā arrangements, has given me more awareness of melodies and chord transitions. Not to mention it made me even more unprejudiced when it comes to composing music, though I try to work on the economy and the effectiveness of notes and movements. When it comes to the sound, I think I moved toward a very warm one, usually preferring a guitar built with darker wood, both for the body and the fretboard. I recorded all this music project with my Cordoba F7 Paco, a great guitar inspired by grand master Paco de LucĆa, one of my guitar heroes. The back and the sides are made of rosewood, while the top is in cedar, and the binding is in maple, which make a very agile and versatile guitar, perfect for my playing throughout the whole spectrum of the sound! I prefer DāAddario Pro Arte nylon strings for the crispy sound and the feeling in my fingers.
Who would be your dream artist to collaborate with?
There are several actually I would like to collaborate with. The first one crossing my mind is Teddy Swims, who Iāve been listening to a lot lately. I truly appreciate the texture of his voice, warm, bright, agile, and slightly vintage.
How did you find making your new single āThe Words I Didn’t Sayā?
It started by mistake, or by synchronicity, depending on your beliefs! I was practicing a song for a gig, and my fingers and my mind went somewhere elseā¦ Immediately after starting Careless Whispers by George Michael, I found myself playing a mixture of a baroque and neoclassical solo, and discovered my mind was thinking about a girl I had met on a film set. It was a love at first sight I didnāt pursue because I was already in a relationship. So I decided to actually write a song about that experience. I kept the A minor, just like the song I was practicing, and developed a tune based on minor melodic scales. Then I toned down the drama with chromatic passages inspired by the progressive rock of the 70s.Ā
What message did you want to get across with this release?
I wanted to suggest a different viewpoint on love at first sight, or someone we may perceive as a twin flame or a soul mateā¦ Especially when weāre already in a relationship! Love at first sight, can also be a guide to the elements and attitudes missing from our lives at that specific moment, recognised in the other person, or triggered by them. I don’t believe the train only passes once, but that we attract a suitable one, as we progress on our journey of personal and spiritual growth. In fact, the more we become aware of all the choices we make, starting from the simpler ones, the more we are able to give the correct relevance to the experiences and the people who cross our paths. So, basically, donāt make choices out of impulsivity or advantage, especially when it comes to a topic as important as love.
What artist have you been listening to most recently?
I usually listen to any type of music and I donāt focus just on the guitar, but at the moment Iām being very enthusiastic about the artistry of Matteo Mancuso and Eric Gales. Furthermore, Iām discovering amazing guitarists from the Instagram page @shredmusictv!
Whatās the main thing you want people to get out of listening to your music?
I would like to help them reach a state of relaxation and inner strength, so they can see the best in themselves to be able to face the good and the bad days. Giving people the inspiration to choose careers and relationships based on the authenticity theyāre seeking for, even if that means to go through more obstacles and less comfort.
Whatās been your favourite live performance so far?
There are a few I really enjoyed, especially Yngwie Malmsteen at the Electric Ballroom in London in November 2023ā¦ I arrived three hours earlier, and a little cue started to form at the entrance of the venue. But I was among the first to be there! We waited under a quick rain and a long cold… Then, half an hour before the doors were supposed to open, the security came out to tell us the artists hadn’t arrived yet and there could be some delay. We religiously waited, and the cue had grown exponentially, but when the security finally let us in, I was leading the second small group allowed in the venue.
I walked in, and my resilience was rewarded with a place right under the stage! One of my guitar heroes since when I first started to pick it up, was unveiling the secrets of the six strings lady in front of me. His refined technique was no second to his scenic presence, or his powerful voice, that surprisingly was singing most of the songs, despite the out of this world skills demanded by his Fender with scalloped frets. I was completely dazzled for ninety minutes and paid a careful attention to his lesson. Besides from the scenario depicted by the sound of his music, the performance was enriched by several tricks, spanning from manipulating the guitar resonance playing it close to the amplifier, to playing it in several positions and throwing it in the air, or to his loyal assistant, always with perfect timing and elegance… I’m sure it would have had the approval of Jimi Hendrix! Since the consistent workout the guitar was exposed to, a new one had to be played for every song, and I enjoyed the launch of plectrums to the audience every now and then. The show itās still continuing running in my mind, and hopefully, I’ll be shredding soon!
Who would be 3 artists to headline your dream festival? And where would it be?
Itās difficult to choose among a wide range of great artists I look up toā¦ The very first ones I can think of are the Japanese super band Casiopea, Renzo Arbore and his Italian Orchestra, and last, but not least, Carlos Santana and his loyal bandmates. As for the place since I love the sun and the sea, the festival would be in Rio de Janeiro!Ā
Do you have any advice for a new artist wanting to follow your footsteps?
Sacrifice! First of all, I suggest to run away from the civilization, to go into a cave, a forest, a desert, whatever suits you, starting a deep introspection with your instrument for a while. Once youāre ready, go back to the civilization and share your honed gift with the world! But donāt feel too comfortable with it: find the worse naysayer you can get, eventually among your closest relatives or circle of friends, and the most excited fan of your musicā¦ Sorry mate, this one needs to be someone you met or became a close friend with, because of your music! Once you have found them, whatever they say to you, you carry on and youāre half way through!
Finally, what do you have lined up for the rest of the year?Ā
I donāt want to tell you so much because Iām superstitious! All I can say is that Iām working with a vocal coach to hone my voice, and Iām writing some songs Iām going to sing for you at some point!Ā
Listen to The Words I Didn’t Say below
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