Alessandro Cortini facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alessandro Cortini
|
|
|---|---|
Cortini with his Buchla 200e at the 2009 NAMM Show, in Anaheim, California.
|
|
| Background information | |
| Born | 24 May 1976 Bologna, Italy |
| Genres |
|
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Instruments |
|
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Labels |
|
Alessandro Cortini, born on May 24, 1976, is a talented musician from Italy. He's most famous for playing with the American rock band Nine Inch Nails. Alessandro is great at playing many instruments, like special electronic keyboards called synthesizers, regular keyboards, guitar, and bass.
In 2020, Alessandro made history! He became the first Italian person to be welcomed into the famous Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This happened because of his amazing work as a member of Nine Inch Nails.
Alessandro also creates musical instruments. He designed a special electronic synth called Strega, which means "witch" in Italian. He made it with a company called Make Noise.
Contents
Where Did Alessandro Grow Up?
Alessandro Cortini was born in Bologna, Italy. He spent his childhood in another Italian city called Forlì. Later, he moved to the United States to study guitar at the Musicians Institute. After finishing his studies, he decided to focus more on keyboards and synthesizers instead of the guitar.
Alessandro's Music Journey
Early Bands and Projects
From 2001 to 2002, Alessandro toured as a guitarist for a band called The Mayfield Four. He helped them perform songs from their album Second Skin.
Alessandro also helped start an electronic and alternative rock band called Modwheelmood. This band was based in Los Angeles. He formed it with another guitarist named Pelle Hillström. Together, they released several music collections, including ? (2003) and Enemies & Immigrants (2006). They also released a remix album and parts of their album Pearls to Pigs, Vol. 1.
Playing with Nine Inch Nails
While Alessandro was teaching at the Musicians Institute, he saw an advertisement for auditions to join Nine Inch Nails. The band's leader, Trent Reznor, said that Alessandro "fit in immediately."
Alessandro toured with Nine Inch Nails from 2005 to 2008. He mostly played keyboards, but also played guitar and bass on some songs. Besides touring, he helped create music for their albums Ghosts I–IV and The Slip. He also appeared in their live concert DVD Beside You in Time and in music videos. He left the band in 2008 to work on other projects.
In 2017, Nine Inch Nails announced that Alessandro would join them again for their summer performances. This time, he mainly played the bass guitar.
As mentioned before, when Nine Inch Nails was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020, Alessandro became the first Italian musician to receive this honor.
How to Destroy Angels
Alessandro also joined How to Destroy Angels as a touring musician. This group includes Trent Reznor and other artists. Alessandro played many instruments on stage. He even created a remix of their song "The Spaces In-Between." In 2013, Alessandro returned to Nine Inch Nails and helped write a song for their album Hesitation Marks.
Alessandro's Solo Music
In 2009, Alessandro started a solo project called blindoldfreak. He went on a small tour in Canada under this name.
He is also the main artist behind SONOIO, an electronic and alternative rock project. The name SONOIO comes from an Italian phrase meaning "it's me," showing it's his solo work. SONOIO released albums like SONOIO Blue in 2010 and SONOIO Red in 2011.
Since 2019, Alessandro has released more albums under his own name through Mute Records, including "Volume Massimo" in 2019 and "Scuro Chiaro" in 2021.
Working with Other Artists
Alessandro has collaborated with many other musicians.
- He helped produce a song called "We Are the Sea" for Marnie, the lead singer of the band Ladytron.
- In 2009, he filled in for another musician, Morgan Nicholls, who plays with the band Muse.
- In 2010, he contributed electronic sounds to a song called "Birds of Prey" by pop star Christina Aguilera.
- In March 2020, Alessandro released a collaborative album called "Illusion of Time" with musician Daniel Avery.
Musical Instruments He Created
In 2021, Alessandro Cortini released a special electronic synthesizer called Strega. This instrument, whose name means "witch" in Italian, was created in partnership with Make Noise.
Music Albums
Here are some of the albums Alessandro Cortini has been a part of:
- As himself
- 2013: Forse 1
- 2014: Sonno
- 2015: Risveglio
- 2017: Avanti
- 2019: VOLUME MASSIMO
- 2021: SCURO CHIARO
- SONOIO
- 2010: SONOIO (Blue)
- 2011: SONOIO (Red)
- 2018: Fine
- Blindoldfreak
- 2009: 1 (EP)
- Modwheelmood
- 2003: ? (EP)
- 2006: Enemies & Immigrants (EP)
- 2007: Things Will Change (Remix disc)
- 2007: Pearls to Pigs, Vol. 1 (EP)
- 2009: Pearls to Pigs (Album)
- With Nine Inch Nails
- 2007: Beside You in Time (live DVD)
- 2008: Ghosts I–IV
- 2008: The Slip
- 2013: Hesitation Marks
- With Ladytron
- 2008: Velocifero
- With Daniel Avery
- 2020: Illusion of time
Images for kids
-
Cortini with his Buchla 200e at the 2009 NAMM Show.
See also
In Spanish: Alessandro Cortini para niños
