ON HER FIRST RECORD, IN MY BED, A YOUNG ITALIAN SINGER-SONGWRITER FACES WITH VIGOR AND TENDERNESS THE UNIVERSE OF FEELINGS BETWEEN WOMEN: HER STORY EXCLUSIVELY FOR BABILONIA.

Mark Harris is a reknowned musician and producer, now revealing the further qualification of outstanding talent scout.
His latest find is a very young Roman singer-songwriter, whose debut recording he's delivered to us on a CD produced by Mark for his fledgling label, Saint Rock.
Erika Cecchini has us curious right from the album cover, which depicts her between the sheets caressing two dogs.
Then there's the title of the CD, "In my bed": is this just a caption for the photo or something more?
And is the fact that she sings in English rather than Italian a further dare tossed at the listener?
There's only way to find out: fix an appointment with her and ask!
The record is, after all, very beautiful, the vocals strong and confident, the lyrics truly intriguing, at times deeply moving, brimming with pain and passion.
Erika is very amiable and open and agrees to meet on Christmas Eve under the magic snowfall whose white mantle has cheered up Milan, a place usually so glum and dour.
Erika, quite the contrary, is high-spirited, colorful, brilliant and blessed with a great sense of humor, a rarity around here. However, what impresses us most is her good sense and determination; in a word, her poise, the inner balance evinced by her quick and adroit answers.
Nothing trangressive, then.

What's behind the cover pic and the title, a slight provocation?

Absolutely not! That photo, as well as all the others in the booklet (and in this article - editor's note) were taken by my companion Marina Pozzoli, a professional photographer; all the photos are spontaneous - that's really my house, this is my bed, these are my dogs - I liked this one and chose it for the cover, and the title is simply the title of one of the songs on the album, nothing studied, nothing arrogant.

Well, then, tell me why you compose your songs in English!

I've been doing that from the very outset, I'm used to it: I was fortunate to learn the language well from early childhood and songs come naturally to me in English. On the other hand, why limit one's horizons in an adventurous undertaking such as that of launching a new artist and record, why not go for the widest possible audience, which can be reached, let's be honest, only through the English language?

Have you ever tried writing songs in Italian?

Italian is a splendid language, noble, cultured, gallant, refined - sure, everything's easier in English, but I'll be doing pieces in Italian at some point in the future, no doubt... after all, this is only my first record!

Your lyrics, in any case, are very intense, sometimes dramatic; are they situations, emotions, that you've actually experienced?

Certainly, every song is tied to a period or a particular event in my life, it's all true, it all really happened.

How do you write your pieces?

I don't push myself by any means, they spring to mind with ease at any time of the day: I rush to get them down on tape and then I play these demos to my arranger, who knows how to render my melodies perfectly with instrumental parts.

In your CD there are 16 pieces, a brave choice, no skimping!

Oh, I've got plenty more ready... I didn't hoard any for fear of creatively barren periods, it all comes quite easily to me, as I said...

On the CD and in the booklet there are various gay symbols, is that a choice of the record company?

No, no, it's my choice, I wanted them, I've never had any problem with openly declaring my homosexuality.

Well, then, let's talk about that, if you don't mind...

I became aware of being a Lesbian very early on. I made the usual clumsy attempt at going with a boy - poor thing - and then and there I realized immediately that my path was loving women instead. I'm very serene with this, I've had conflicts neither with myself nor with friends, nor in the workplace...

How about conflicts with your family?

With my family, unfortunately, yes, incomprehension has run deep . I think I let down their bourgeois expectations doubly, because I'm a Lesbian and a musician, which is why I preferred to come away from Rome and create a new life for myself here in Milan.

And with men?

In this field there are many; some, like Mark, are dear friends. I don't give it much thought, then maybe I'll realize that some guy is coming on to me, and only then do I perceive a problem... anyway, I'm lucky to have a playful disposition, so others don't take me too seriously, I mean it's very unlikely that those situations ever take a dramatic turn.

Let's get back to music: what do you like, what do you listen to?

I never followed Italian music very closely, with the exception of Franco Battiato, who I really like... lots of folk music, especially Celtic, and then American '60s balladeers, Bob Dylan being my favorite... but I don't listen to much music now; I prefer to take long walks with my dogs.

Other interests? Cinema, Literature?

I used to go the movies a lot, but the present onslaught of superslick Hollywood productions has wearied me. I don't like fiction, I prefer real life. I don't have a TV. I don't have a computer; there are times when I say to myself that it might be useful, but it's a tool that scares me a bit, I regard it with suspicion and prefer my good old trusty pen and paper.
I've always been an avid reader, mainly going through philosophy texts lately. I like to explore, learn, study as much as possible, keep my curiosity alive.
I've travelled quite a bit, but I'd like to travel more and there's nowhere I wouldn't go - every place has something to discover.

Are you geared towards success?

No, that's not the problem, this is my "first time" - it's my first record and everything's new to me. I don't want tons of money, just a living; I don't want to go on TV and be a court jester. Clearly I hope people like my songs, like my voice, but I want keep composing and singing while maintaining my freedom.

Have you ever sung live? Does it intimidate you?

Yes, I've sung in various settings, nothing huge, but, you know, whether you're in front of one person or a hundred thousand makes no difference, there's always someone out there listening to you and judging you; I try not to think about it and just concentrate on what I'm doing.