Interview with Domino

January 19th, 2005

It is my pleasure to bring you all the long awaited Domino Interview! Domino agreed to do this interview for this website, and I hope you all enjoy the read!

- Interview -

Nine: Thank you very much for agreeing to do this interview for the internet's first Domino Fan-Website, Dominonline.com! Could you please tell us who you are, and a bit about yourself? Domino: It is not so easy find a definition for myself... I’m jocking... Anyway my name is Alessandra and my surname is Gatti. My lovely father gave me also a nick name: Mirka. I’m a Scorpio. I was born in a little village near Mantova (North Italy); my mother is hysterical-pleasent, my father mad-genious-misunderstood... a big brother always mourning. I live in Mantova with the biggest love of my life: my son Federico (13 years old). He is wonderful, the son I’ve always dreamt of. A little bit crazy, artist, musician and designer. A great mix between me and his father Dave Rodgers. Just as I finished Artistic lyceum I met Dave and I stopped studying. But now that’s all, I don’t want to show me more... (Scorpio likes mystery). Nine: The first thing I would like to ask is, why the name Domino? Does it hold any special meaning? Domino: Dave gave me this name... he was fond of a song “Domino Dancing” and he decided. I like this name a lot, and it was also a very lucky choice. Then I learnt to recognize myself in that name; not as a ruler but just like the game: Domino’s game... Nine: Why and did you decide to become a Eurobeat Singer? Domino: I must admit that it was not me who decided. Dave decided instead of me. I had and I have music running through my veins. I cannot imagine a life without music. When I arrive at home the first thing I do is switching the stereo on and the same when I drive my car. I’ve always loved every kind of music and I also love singing. I was 9 years old, in the church of my little village when I sang for the first time, I was a star!!!! Then in 1986 I met Dave; he was working with Farina and Crivellente and he was in looking for of a background vocal: HERE I AM!! I’m here I told him. At the beginning it was an hobby and then a real profession; I was starting singing Eurobeat. It was a very difficult way, Dave’s patience and Alessandra’s constancy helped me to become the Domino I am. Nine: You have released many Japanese songs, which is very impressive, because Japanese is very difficult. Can you speak Japanese? Domino: Since one year I’m learning japanese. I have lessons two times a week. It is very difficult but I don’t like at all easy things. During my first month of lessons I would “killed” my wonderful and clever teacher Sachiko; then I thought that I’m felt in love with japan, and that I’m very lucky for working there; with a crazy population like them! Nine: What goes into creating a "Domino" song? Domino: At the beginning of my career Dave wrote songs for me, great songs but ...sad, very sad songs. I’m not a sad person, I’m sunny!! Dave told me that he was not able to write songs Eurobeat like I wanted. Dave has his great style; a style that belongs to those who lived in the days of the great rock music. He is 10 years older than me, he has different experiences and a different way of being and it is normal that he creates different music. In 1994 Brad Sinclare (our ex-collaborator) decided that I would have sing his song “Tora Tora Tora”. I was so happy because I could sing something funny. Then I started writing songs for me, for Go Go Girls, for Lolita, Mega NRG Man, Matt Land... Nine: Some popluar songs that you have credit in include Matt Land's Here I Am, Lolita's Goin' On, and Go Go Girls' Hot For Your Body. When we see "A.Gatti" in the song's credits, what does this mean? Domino: It means that I’m one of the authors of the piece we are talking about. I often followed production, but I’ve been rarely mentioned in this role. Nine: Domino is the main name you sing as, but in the past there have been others like Mirka, Juliet, Go Go Girls, King & Queen, etc. What vocal work have you done on more current ABeatC projects? Domino: No one remembers it (or maybe no one knows it) but I was with Dave Rodgers and Albert Contini when they created AbeatC. Some years ago I had some problems with Dave and I left “the team”. But anyway I do not bear him a grudge. (no rancour). I think I’m very lucky because listening and observing Dave I’ve learnt a lot. But now I do prefer stopping because talking about everything I left makes me sad. Nine: Eurobeat is really popular in Japan, but there are a handful of fans in Canada and the USA who love the music as much as the Japanese, or probably even more! This fansite of you is focused towards the English speaking croud, because most information on Eurobeat and Eurobeat artists can only be found in Japanese. What do you think about having fans in North America? Domino: I think it is great, I want to thank who invented internet, because without it I would never knew your great attendance. You’re wonderful!! Nine: This may be a difficult question to answer, because whenever people ask me this I can never make up my mind! What is your most favorite "Domino" song? Domino: All of them, because everyone recalls me a moment of my life, but the most important among them is “Spinning Like A Top” for 3 reasons: 1st, I found the title while I was playing with my son Federico who was 6 years old. It was a very funny moment and I thought that a lot of other people would liked a song dealing with a crazy–spinning-top. 2nd: It was the first song I wrote and that I‘ve also produced. (with only some little help). 3rd: It was my first song in Japanese. Nine: A big problem that has come up recently is piracy of Eurobeat music on the internet. What are your views and opinions on music download and file sharing, and what do you think Eurobeat Artists, Labels, and Avex Trax could do to get more people to buy Eurobeat, instead of downloading it? Domino: When I deal with this topic I get very angry. Who get songs from Internet is just a thief. I don’t add more or I will say something wrong. It is absurd and no one knows a solution for this serious problem. Nine: Finally, Is there any "exclusive" information you can tell us about your future in the world of Eurobeat? Should we expect a 3rd album from you, or could you shed any light on any new songs that you are working on, for you or other ABeatC artists? Domino: The only piece of news I can give you is that I will never leave Eurobeat. I cannot reveal now the “scoop” but I will do it in some weeks. I can assure you that you will be the first to get news about my professional future. Anyway you can wait for great SURPRISES!!! Nine: With songs like "Tora Tora Tora," "I Wanna Dance," "Gotcha!" "Spinning Like A Top," "Mickey Mouse March," and many others, you have put so much to the world of Eurobeat, and all your fans all around the world thank you for your and ABeatC's contribution. I would also like to thank you for doing this interview for this website! Do you have any final words? Domino: I want to thank all my fans because they supported me in all these years. I promise you I will never disappoint you, but if I would, please love me so much always telling me what you want me to do and what you do not.