Lockdown

On March 13th, 2020, at 6 PM while everyone was still stunned by the total lockdown that had just begun across Italy, the first Flash Mob Sonoro, a sound flash mob, took place. Throughout Milan, from their balconies and windows, musicians began playing simultaneously, to show unity and connection at time of sadness, fear and isolation. An attempt, just for a few moments, to transcend the anxiety and loss engulfing the whole country and soon the whole world. Those images were broadcast by news outlets worldwide.

Eileen Rose remembers watching the scene play out on her television in Nashville which was not quite in the throes of mass disease, death and isolation that was to come. She watched one musician in particular, an extraordinarily talented and soulful trumpet player, who conveyed a sad resilience in his playing that touched her heart, Raffaele Kohler. He would become a musical icon of this strange, mournful time. Eileen had no idea then that years later she would become friends with the man, perform with him and be moved to write a song to showcase his talent in her own music.

"Lockdown", the 3rd single from Eileen’s forthcoming album, "Insanitia", features Raffaele on trumpet along with his dear friend and collaborator Luciano Macchia on trombone. Eileen wrote this song as a sort of homage to the music of Ike and Tina Turner. She liked to imagine Tina herself belting this one out in a fringe skirt and big hair wig, hot dancing like only Tina could. While the lyrics deal with the end of a relationship that gave next to nothing and took way too much effort and time, the music itself has the classic soul dance groove that would slot right into a 1960’s Top Of The Pops radio playlist.

Of course, Eileen made certain that the track went extra heavy on the horns, with what she describes as a 'musical blowout' or argument between the trumpet and trombone that is both funny and mind blowing in its sheer musicianship and talent. Eileen couldn’t have been more thrilled with the results. Good luck sitting down listening to this one. It’s a one song dance party.