This past Sunday I met up with Roberto Villa. If you've been following my not-so-blog, you probably know who he is, and you've likely already seen the photos I took of him a while back. This time we decided to head back to the old silk mill—or rather, I decided, and, as always, he was kind enough to humor me, the way you'd indulge a kid. Though, I'll admit it: I really hope he likes the photos.
This wasn't your typical photo session, though. I wanted it to feel relaxed—more like an ongoing conversation than a shoot. We talked about politics, cyberpunk and modern corporations, the state of the world, how life has been treating us, what we're working on, and the creative needs that keep pushing us forward. And while we chatted, I snapped a few photos here and there.
Roberto has an incredibly charismatic face—one that's both compelling and full of character. You can almost see the weight of his experiences and the cultural background he's built over the years. On top of that, he's a psychologist, so I can only imagine the kinds of people and stories he's encountered throughout his career.
Lately I've been listening to a musician named Billy Strings. I stumbled across him on YouTube completely by accident, and he immediately grabbed my attention. I don't usually listen to much bluegrass, but somehow he made me fall in love with it. He's an outstanding guitarist, has a fantastic voice, and is simply an extraordinary musician.
I guess all these recent detours into bluegrass must have left their mark on me, because I can totally picture Roberto on the cover of a bluegrass album. Then again... I could just as easily see him on the cover of a Motörhead record.
As usual, the Filanda was my go-to place for this studio shoot. It's been my favorite spot for the past couple of years. It's in Soresina, and if you ever get the chance, give it a try—you won't regret it.
