Playing on contrasts to talk about elsewhere and spirituality is the challenge of «Just beyond the sky», the latest single from the singer-songwriter from Reggio Eugenio Ripepipublished by Bollettino Edizioni and distributed digitally by Ada Music. On a reggae musical base, the song tells of the tension towards the absolute that unites human beings, in the form of an intimate dialogue with oneself, in the moments in which we contemplate the sea and the sky above us.
“These are ancestral questions that we all ask ourselves – the artist underlines – but in reality music is able to convey a sensation better; in this case that of “suspension”, which allows you to go towards the other. Musical suspension always takes me to the other side, and it is the type of music capable of conveying specific messages”.
A song consistent with Ripepi’s style, but also a piece distant from the punk rock accents of the other singles and unreleased songs that will make up the new album, due out next winter.
«“Giusto al di là del cielo” is unique compared to the other pieces and I wanted to release it in the summer. I like to convey content of civil commitment, but also profound, through catchy music, without embracing an exclusively reflective or even restless perspective; although restlessness is a normal feeling when we project our thoughts towards what is other than us. As human beings we have arrived in front of a firmament that imposes a distance on us, and it is beautiful for me that on a cheerful rhythm we can hum this finiteness of ours and a hope of a secular nature, with the idea of not being completely alone in this universe. A verse of the song says: “Scende un pensiero strano giusto al di là del cielo”».
The song therefore ignites the hope of a beneficial presence in the universe: «The meaning is exactly this – specifies the artist –: there is someone, he is far away, but he is really there and perhaps he is watching us at this moment, even if in this world we do not feel him».
The video clip, shot by Ripepi himself on the Imperia seafront, where he lives and works as a multimedia teacher, is also consistent with the atmosphere. A video made dreamy and captivating by the presence of the sea as the main element, which well represents man’s infinite search for knowledge and comfort, enriched by the presence of his former students: the protagonist Sophia Sismondini, Valentina Ciro (director of photography), Jonathan Taggiasco (camera operator) and Davide D’Amico (drone operator with Ripepi and Alessandro Sposato). “I have produced video clips for several artists who wanted to shoot in Imperia and this time I decided to make one of my own, also to offer a job opportunity to the guys who are really smart, and who are a pleasure to work with.”
Accompanying Ripepi, who plays the harmonica, are Simone Mazzone and Mauro Vero on guitars, Lorenzo Lajolo (bass), Folkert Beukers (drums) and Marco Moro (flute). The piece was recorded and mixed by Alessio Senis and Andy Senis at Rosenhouse Recording Studio – Industrie Musicali in Vallecrosia and mastered at Ithil World Studio in Imperia by sound engineer Giovanni Nebbia.
