Edo Ferragamo

We’ve all heard of Salvatore Ferragamo and his legacy of leather goods and fashions, but have you heard of his grandson, Edoardo Ferragamo? Edoardo is the second son of Leonardo Ferragamo, the fifth son of the late Salvatore Ferragamo. But to the public and his friends, he is known simply as EDO. Forgoing his illustrious surname, EDO has disassociated himself from his impressive heritage and embarked on a journey to put his own name on the map – not of fashion, but of music. #legend sat down with the charming, 24-year-old Italian musician to discuss his passions, past and present.

Tell us, who is EDO?

My name is Edoardo Ferragamo, but to my friends – and as an artist – I go by the name EDO. It stands for Electronic Dance Organization. I’m a producer, a composer, an artist and a musician.

What’s your musical persona?

I consider myself as a musical conductor. I compose, and I’ve always wanted to be a performer since I started playing the guitar at the age of 13. I grew up playing rock music in Italy and moved into funk fusion and jazz, only recently diving into dance music.

What’s unique in your musical style?

My goal is to unify pop dance music played with real instruments. When I perform, I play the guitar with a live drummer and vocalist, while digitally controlling the backing tracks. It feels like going to a concert, due to the live element, but the pre-produced side gives it a dance vibe.

Of all things, why did you choose to pursue music as a career?

I’m not sure. It all just fell into place. I remember when I was with my first band, The Legshakers, we played at a club in Sofia, Bulgaria. I’m usually very stiff and stage-shy, but the moment we walked out that night, something suddenly clicked inside me, and I found this boost of energy. I’m not sure where it came from. And from that point on, I realized this felt right. This is my calling in life.

Edoardo is the first member of the Ferragamo family to be professionally involved in music
Edoardo is the first member of the Ferragamo family to be professionally involved in music

You’ve moved from Italy to the United States. What prompted your move?

I have always pictured pop music being more American-focused than Italian, and it was my dream to study at the Berklee College of Music in Boston – what I consider to be one of the most prestigious music schools worldwide. During my last year of high school, I applied for Berklee and got accepted, and the rest was history. That was my chance to move to America and live out my dream.

Why do you consider pop music American rather than Italian?

The only problem is language. There are definitely some amazing Italian artists who are recognised worldwide, such as Andrea Bocelli, who I’ve worked with before. I went on tour with him about three years ago; it was an eye-opening learning experience.

What do you think of Andrea Bocelli?

He’s undoubtedly a world-recognised star. His music is so different from what I do, though. It’s a mixture of opera and live pop.

What was your biggest milestone so far?

My musical career really took off in September of 2014, when I was signed by management in New York, resulting in me flying back and forth between Boston and New York every weekend. In January, I decided to drop out of school and fully commit to my musical career. I moved to New York, and I’m so glad I did. It felt like a good time for me to launch myself as an artist and to dedicate myself 100 per cent to this project. I practise and produce as much as I can. Right now, I try to write at least a song a day.

You hail from the Ferragamo family, but you’ve moved away from fashion, and instead you’re pursuing a career in music. Did you ever consider going into the family business?

Honestly, no, it wasn’t for me. I’m trying to do my own thing. I’m the first member of the Ferragamo family to be professionally involved in music. I started playing the guitar at 13, and by the time I was 16, I knew music was my passion. Besides, it’s not enough being born a Ferragamo. You need to meet very specific criteria, along with years of experience, to join the family business. In my family there are four children, with career scopes ranging from jewelry design to strategy consulting to psychology. Will I join the family business? For now, I’ll say no. But never say never.

What was it like growing up as a Ferragamo?

It was fantastic. Our family is very united, and there is immense support. I feel very fortunate to be a part of this family, each member with big dreams and goals. Without my family, I couldn’t do what I do. - Hashtag Legend

This Wednesday during NYFW, Edo Ferragamo celebrated the release of his new EP at Corso Como.

Edoardo Ferragamo, also grandson of Salvatore Ferragamo, took to the Milan based luxury fashion store, Corso Como to perform his latest EP, Common People with his live band and a crowd of music and fashion insiders including Maggie Laine, Sailor Brinkley-Cook, and Marshall Wade. The self named musician is a pioneer of the Salvatore fashion house to pursue music, describing himself as a producer, composer, and artist. The newly opened Seaport retail store transformed into an intimate club brought to life by the Howard Hughes group, with an open bar all night and continuous music played into the early morning by DJ Chaim from Israel after the live performance.

“Thank you for an EPIC night! The EP release party was so much fun,” Ferragamo shared on instagram. He also wrote on instagram, “2018 has been a tough one but I grew, learnt a lot and wrote many songs.” - The Knockturnal

Italian-born musician Edo Ferragamo joins us on Close-up Culture as he gears up for a big 2019.

Q: 2019 is fast approaching. What kind of sound and music should we be excited about hearing from you next year?

A: It’s a very uplifting, up to date pop sound with urban influence and a lot of organic sounds. Guitar is my main instrument!

Q: I’ve seen some great clips of you online playing with Cayenne Noluck and the band. How much fun are you having testing the new stuff out on live audiences?

A: Honestly, playing live is what I love the most! Cayenne Noluck is a really talented artist and a good friend, we wrote so much music together in the past year and I am so excited to share it with the world in 2019!

So far the response that we received from playing live has been really great and it keeps getting better every time!

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Photo by Lapo Quagli
Q: You mention Cayenne. Tell us more about the people – and the type of people – you like to surround yourself with when creating new music?

A: Like I said, Cayenne has been a very important piece to this album. He is a great rapper, singer and writer.

I love exploring different sounds and voices (singers or rappers.) I go into sessions with no expectations, but with an open heart and usually something great comes out!

Q: I’ve heard Jimmy Hendrix and Stevie Wonder are a few of your influences. Was there an artist – or something else perhaps – that you drew inspiration from for your new work?

A: I listen to so many artists all the time! One of my favorites is definitely John Mayer cause he’s just an amazing musician, songwriter and guitar player. I grew up listening and playing all the classic rock records from Led Zeppelin to Pink Floyd to Guns ’n’ Roses. While at Berklee though, I came across funk, pop, some jazz and later on electronic music.

My current playlist would have: John Mayer, Dua Lipa, Foster the People, Andrea Bocelli, Greta Van Fleet, Ed Sheeran, Halsey, Post Malone…just to name a few.

Q: You are the grandson of Italian designer Salvatore Ferragamo. Can you tell us about your background and how those early experiences shaped you as an artist?

A: My family has been very supportive in my career. It took some time to prove to them that I was very driven, a hard worker and talented. But once that happened, they became my biggest supporters. Growing up as a Ferragamo taught me what it means to value the family and what it means to work hard to achieve your goals.

Q: As a film lover, I enjoyed hearing that ‘School Of Rock’ helped spark your love of the electric guitar. What did you love about that film and do you ever return to it?

A: I still watch the film from from time to time! I remember hearing the sound of the electric guitar for the first time at 12 years old. I was just fascinated and I immediately thought: I have to do that as well! So I went down to the basement to pick up my mom’s old classical guitar and started to mess around with it.

Shortly after, I started taking lessons and fell in love with it. By the time I was 15 or 16, I knew that music was going to become my main focus in life!

Q: What eventually brought you to the US and how have you adapted to the lifestyle change?

A: The first reason I came to the US is because I attended Berklee College of Music, which was a very strong and beautiful experience. My dream was always to go to US to focus on music and playing along some of the best musicians in the world.. Berklee gave me that opportunity!

I certainly made some changes in my life still but I’m still Italian in my roots and that will never change.. I really like the fast pace of living in NYC!

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Photo by Lapo Quagli
Q: What do you want to achieve as artist in 2019 and beyond?

A: I’m very excited for my music to come out, and I hope it can reach as many people as possible! I really look forward to performing at more concerts and traveling the world next year.

Q: Lastly, do you have a message for your fans heading into the new year?

A: I want to thank my fans for supporting me throughout this journey that is only at the beginning! I have so much music to share – so please keep following me as I move forward. - Close Up Culture

MIU VERMILLION (for VGXW MAGAZINE): Whenever people hear (or, in this case read) your full name for the first time, most of them cannot help but wonder if you are related to Salvatore Ferragamo, the inventive Italian shoe designer and the founder of the world-famous luxury goods company. To what degree does your family background define who you are both as a person and as someone who pursues a career in the music industry?

EDO FERRAGAMO: Salvatore was my grandfather, and even though I never met him, all the stories about him and what he was like, makes me feel like I have. My grandfather and my family have been a big inspiration for me as a person. My family has been very supportive of my career. It did take some time to prove to them that I am very driven, hardworking, and talented; but once that happened, they became my biggest supporters. Growing up as a Ferragamo taught me what it means to value the family, and what it means to work hard, with attention to details, to achieve your goals.

MIU VERMILLION: Are there times when your surname gets in the way?

EDO FERRAGAMO: Definitely. It has its advantages and disadvantages, but as an artist I try to create my own path and my own name, even though I never want to shy away from who I am and where I grew up.

MIU VERMILLION: Just like your grandfather, you moved to Boston at a young age. He moved to Boston to pursue his dream in the footwear industry, and you moved to Boston to pursue your dream in the music industry. Why Boston? And how was your first few months in the U.S. like?

EDO FERRAGAMO: Boston is a very nice city! Of course not as fun or exciting as NYC or LA, where I spend most of my time now, but it’s the perfect place to study hard. The reason why I went there initially is because I attended Berklee College of Music, which was my dream university to study at. After getting accepted I was very happy to move there! My first month in the U.S. was actually really fun. I was sharing a dorm bedroom with two other guys, and had to get used to community bathrooms at school. Not the most comfortable lifestyle, but I’m someone that can adapt easily! Not the most comfortable lifestyle, but I’m someone that can adapt easily! In general, I like challenges very much, and I was there to study and learn as much as I could, so having a luxurious space was definitely not in my priorities. Also U.S. colleges are very expensive and I didn’t want my parents to spend more on me than they were already doing by sending me there. Anyways, it was also really great because I didn’t know a single person in the beginning. I began to make new friends and I tried to play music with everyone I could. I quickly realized that there was so much talents around me, my dad always told me “go with who’s better than you and buy him dinner.” Meaning there is always someone better than you at your talent or skill and you can always learn from them.

[VGXW Magazine] An Interview with Musician Edo Ferragamo

MIU VERMILLION: Let’s talk about music. How did it all begin?

EDO FERRAGAMO: I started playing guitar at the age of 12. I watched the movie “School of Rock” with Jack Black, and vividly remember watching the scene with him showing the electric guitar to the school kids. I remember I was fascinated with the sound of the electric guitar in the film, so I immediately went down to the basement where my mom had an old classical guitar and started messing around with it. Shortly after that I took my very first guitar lesson and immediately fell in love with it. By the time I was 15 or 16 I knew that music was going to be the most important thing in my life and that I was dedicated to it whole heartedly! The thing that I love the most about music is being able to create something that never existed before, being in touch with my feelings through sounds, grooves and melodies and being able to perform the songs that I create for other people to make them feel good!

MIU VERMILLION: Many people dream of becoming a musician, but after spending several months learning the fundamentals and realizing that it will take them a very long time before they can play any song the like, they give up. What kept you going when things became difficult and repetitive?

EDO FERRAGAMO: Being a musician and learning how to play any instruments and understanding all that’s around it has so many ups and downs. I think for me, what kept me going, and still does, is that I never let anyone or anything interfere with my dreams. I love to dream. I imagine in my head how it feels to hear my guitar at the MSG or O2 Arena. However, being a serious musician is not for everybody. You have to be a little crazy to do it as your main thing. You have to dedicate your life to your art and make it a priority over everything else (going out, partying, significant others, etc). It is a big sacrifice, but if you love it, then it’s worth it!

[VGXW Magazine] An Interview with Musician Edo Ferragamo

MIU VERMILLION: Do you remember your first live gig? How was it like?

EDO FERRAGAMO: Hahaha. Yes of course! It was more or less terrible. I think I was 14 when I formed my band that did rock covers. We played at a “Limoncello Party” and did not do that well. I remember the sound engineer was an old man who was sleeping on the side of the stage. He could care less about a couple of kids. Hahaha.

MIU VERMILLION: What genre of music do you listen on a daily basis?

EDO FERRAGAMO: Really many genres from top 40 pop, hip hop, funk, fusion, rock, classical, deep house, etc.

MIU VERMILLION: Let’s talk about your upcoming single ‘Common People‘?

EDO FERRAGAMO: ‘Common People’ is a very uplifting up to date pop sound with urban influence and a lot of organic sounds. I wrote ‘Common People’ with Cayenne Noluck who’s also singing and rapping in the song. The inspiration for the song started by laying down some ideas, mainly acoustic guitars and grooves. I played the music to Cayenne and that inspired the words. ‘Common People’ is an uplifting song that talks about humanity, with all that is happening in the world right now. I wish for this song to give some positive energy to those who listen to it.

MIU VERMILLION: you mentioned that you are a foodie. What would you recommend to someone who plans to visit NYC and Florence?

EDO FERRAGAMO: Yes! I have to say I pay attention to what I eat and try to be as healthy as possible. I enjoy working out 5 or 6 times a week. But who doesn’t love good food?? NYC is great because you can find all kinds of restaurants. Some of my favorites are Bar Pitti, MAMO, Bondst, 10 Corso Como at the seaport, Cafe’ Select, Coco Pazzo, Beatrice Inn, Mr.Chow, Peter Luger. In Florence it’s difficult to go wrong! There are so many affordable great places. Any typical Tuscan Trattoria is great!

MIU VERMILLION: If you don’t mind, would you tell us one surprising fact about yourself?

EDO FERRAGAMO: I am a hopeless romantic …

[VGXW Magazine] An Interview with Musician Edo Ferragamo

MIU VERMILLION: In Summer 2013, you began a world tour with Andrea Bocelli, starting from Budapest, Verona, then various cities in the United States. Would you share one of the most memorable experiences during the tour?

EDO FERRAGAMO: The best thing is that we began a real friendship. The Bocellis are all really amazing and kind people (other than being super talented.) Andrea is one of my favorite artists of all time, and also his son Matteo is becoming a superstar. He has such a fantastic voice, and Amos is a superb pianist! Also all the charity work that they do for their foundation is remarkable …

MIU VERMILLION: Before you toured with Andrea Bocelli, you performed in Bulgaria with your first band “The Legshaker”. You also performed in Hong Kong, NYC, and Italy with “The Fresh Mob” the band you formed while you were a student at Berklee College of Music. Would you us about your first concert abroad.

EDO FERRAGAMO: I think I was 16 when I went to Sofia for the first time (to perform at the Sofia Live Club – Bulgaria.) It happened that the concert was streamed on national television and they called us to do an interview the morning after. To be honest, I met the owner of the club a year before in Italy, and for the following year I busted his a** to invite us to perform. A lot of persistence, but it paid off in the end because they called us back for 3 years in a row. It was so much fun!

MIU VERMILLION: What – in a few years time – would you like to be known for?

EDO FERRAGAMO: I would like for my music to reach as many people as possible and to be able to play large shows. I also want to be know as someone that does this because he loves it more than anything. I like to give uplifting vibes to listeners! It’s a constant journey and I’m just at the beginning…

MIU VERMILLION: What advice would you give to someone who would like to pursue a career in music?

EDO FERRAGAMO: Do it for the love of music first! It’s an amazing way to express yourself and to collaborate with people, build friendship and relationships. Never give up. There will always be difficult moments, but hard work pays off and if you are good at it and determined, at some point you will be heard! - VGXW Magazine

PLAYING MUSIC BETWEEN
FLORENCE AND NEW YORK

Barely twenty years old, he was born to a family whose style and creativity have contributed to making Florence and Italy a worldwide symbol of taste. Edoardo Ferragamo, known as EDO — the abbreviation of his name, but also the acronym for Electronic Dance Organization — is a musician and producer. EDO lives in New York, but he often comes back to Florence, where he was born and raised, for its quality of life and for artistic inspiration.

Edoardo Ferragamo Suggests: Opera di Firenze Maggio Musicale Fiorentino | Il trippaio di Porta Romana | Fiesole | Piazzale Michelangelo - Firenze Yes Please

Common People is the first ever single by Edo Ferragamo , singer and guitarist that despite the important surname really represents what he sings. He is an ordinary person, with ambitions (in his case, making a name for himself in the pop) but also many arrows to the bow: from the sharp songwriting to a technique with a guitar that is more than excellent.

The song then is the last of these arrows, which Edoardo discovered he only recently had in his quiver, not even two years ago. Since then his vision of the Edo Ferragamo project has changed completely, extending the injection of trust not only to his skills as a guitarist but also as a frontman.

However, the video we have today as a preview is a somewhat particular variation of Common People , a cross between an acoustic and an orchestral version. Edo himself told us on the phone, on the other side of the world.

Are you still studying?
No, I completed my studies four years ago. I studied in Boston, at Berklee College Of Music, but for four years I have been in New York to focus on my musical project, which includes writing, production, concerts and so on.

The Common People video, however, does not seem to have been filmed in New York.
No, in fact. I shot it in Florence, in a sixteenth-century ballroom. I did the video in collaboration with the OGI, the Italian Youth Orchestra. I managed to get them involved in this project by studying an acoustic arrangement of Common People that went well with the orchestra. In the video there is also the choir and Cayenne Noluck. And then there are me too.

Did you arrange the orchestral parts?
Yes, I arranged them together with Roberto Baldi, a producer I often collaborate with here in New York. He has already worked with artists of the caliber of Jovanotti, so much so that he presented it to me. Roberto gave me a hand with the songs from the new album. Even Common People , which I started with him but then I finalized with another producer in Los Angeles, one of Dim A by Steve Aoki.



When will the album be released?
I was counting on getting it out before the summer, and then having the chance to spend the summer doing concerts. I've already set some between LA and New York, then a small European tour at some festivals, some openings. However I call it an album but in the end there are 4, 5 tracks: it's practically an EP.

Your surname is very important, why did you not opt ​​for a moniker?
I prefer to use my surname because it carries essential values, such as dedication to work, attention to detail and never leaving anything to chance.

You've studied a lot with regards to the guitar, but you've also worked on vocals, right?
Absolutely. I started singing a year and a half / two years ago. This was because, to finalize my songs, I was always forced to call singers for sessions, which slowed the process down a lot. So out of curiosity one day I tried to record my voice. I was quite surprised by the tone, I liked it! Then a light bulb turned on. I started taking burst singing lessons. Nearly every day. So in this album I sing about all the songs, in collaboration with a couple of artists including Cayenne. He is a very good rapper and singer.

How did you meet him?
Think of the case: he was the nephew of my vocal coach. One of the first times I went to class, I took the guitar with me and started playing riffs improvising. He started doing freestyle rapping. I thought "Wow! Figata! ”Then the next day we immediately went to the studio with me to record. Since then we have seen each other almost every day to register, for six months. We will have written about fifty songs together. We have become great friends.



However it was a wise move to study singing as well. In this century the soloist guitarist like Santana unfortunately would have no great following. You have to put your face on it.
Absolutely, but without DJing. Because if you're a DJ, it makes more sense to call a singer, a different face that justifies not singing live. But if I'm a musician and performer, someone will have to put their faces together, even if they're in a band. It is an understatement to say that I only play the guitar, with singing I found another way to express myself.

Have you ever been tempted to send your studies as a musician to be a DJ?
I never thought of sending my studies into the cow. But in the beginning, when I was figuring out what to do with my songs, one of the options was to DJ. In all honesty I also tried to do it, but I didn't like it. It didn't give me the same emotions that it gives me playing live, with other musicians. So then I dismissed the idea.

How do you manage the stage?
I am certainly much more at ease than a few years ago. In general, I think one never stops improving and learning. There is still a lot of work to do, but now I feel much more confident with myself. I can start facing bigger stages and more important situations. Surely the interesting thing about this project is that it is versatile: I can play in trio as in the quintet. If the situation permits, I call a keyboard player, a bass player and so on. Otherwise, the basic lineup includes a somewhat hybrid drummer, with acoustic drums and even electronics, then Cayenne and me playing the guitar.

Will there be pieces in Italian on this record?
In this record there will be only English language. I also write songs in Italian, but being at the beginning of this project I must immediately give it an international feel. I keep the Italian for the future, as an added value. - ROLLING STONE ITALY