Roberto Diana

Roberto Diana
Roberto Diana Live
Background information
Born	(1983-02-21) 21 February 1983 Luras, Sardinia, Italy
Genres	Rock, Indie rock
Occupations	Musician, multi-instrumentalist, guitarist
Instruments	Electric guitar, slide guitar, acoustic guitar, resophonic guitar, bouzouki, mandolin, lap steel, cigar box guitar, Weissenborn guitar
Years active	1997–present
Website	www.robertodiana.com
Notable instruments
Fender Stratocaster Gibson MN Guitars Reference Cables Elixir strings Fret King

Roberto Diana (born 21 February 1983) is an Italian musician, guitarist, composer, producer and session man.

Biography

He was born in Luras, Sardinia, Italy. He started to play guitar at the age of 14 and immediately began to go on tour with some local bands. He graduated at Conservatorio "Luigi Canepa" in Sassari, then he attended workshops of jazz guitar by Paolo Fresu at Nuoro Jazz. In 2003 he moved to Milan, where in 2007 he graduated in MCR (Master chitarra rock) with Donato Begotti at the "Accademia del Suono".

America

He began working with several American artists such as Hussain Jiffry, Will T. Massey, Steve Lukather,^[1] Tony Levin,^[2] Vinnie Colaiuta,^[3] Frank Gambale, Dean Parks, Brian Ray, JP Cervoni, Simon Phillips, James Raymond, Rachel Z, Richard Hunter, Mike Slo-Mo Brenner, Chris Cacavas, as a sound engineer, guitarist and producer for various albums. In 2009 he went to Los Angeles to play at NAMM show, one of the most important music fair of the world. In that occasion he presented his signature guitar.

The signature guitar

In 2009 the lutherie MN Guitar^[4] made for him the acoustic guitar "Twilight 001/09" that accompanying him in his tour around the world.

Lowlands Band

In 2008 he joined the roots rock band Lowlands^[5][6] and, to date, has recorded three albums with them, also touring internationally with the band. Roberto co-produced all three albums with bandleader Edward Abbiati and also played Weissenborn, lap Steel, electric, acoustic and slide guitar. “Gypsy Child” (2010), which featured duets with Amanda Shires and Tim Rogers (You Am I) and was mixed by Chris Cacavas. Three EPs – “EP Vol.1” (2009) and two download only live recordings – “Radio & Kitchen Sessions” (2010) and “Live in Newport” (2011).

In 2011 he played on and co-produced with Edward Abbiati the album “Fathers & Sons”^[7] for Scottish folk duo Donald and Jen MacNeill and played on the subsequent tour.

Roberto Co-Produced with Abbiati the recently release (as “Lowlands and Friends”) a Woody Guthrie tribute album – “Better World Coming”.

With Lowlands have toured extensively, both in Italy and abroad, playing clubs, small theatres and festivals (as well as a few jails^[8] and one church). Highlights include various headline gigs at the Windmill in Brixton, London, Whelans, Dublin and The Roisin Dubh, Galway in Ireland and Spaziomusica in Pavia, Italy.

Solo career

In 2010 he started to work to his first album "Raighes vol 1". In March 2013 the album was nominated at 12th Independent Music Awards ^[9] category Instrumental. This is the first part of two album: the first one, Raighes vol 1, that is more acoustic and the second one, not released yet, that will be more electric. At the end of 2011, about this first album, was released a preview in smaller version, "Rough Tapes".^[10] This first production receives an immediate success from critics. In June 2012 comes out the final version of Vol 1 and Roberto Diana leaves for a European Tour. He plays in different country: Luxembourg,^[11] Scotland,^[12] Germany, UK and Italy.

Endorsements

He works with some important musical brands such as Elixir strings, Reference Laboratory cables,^[13] Source audio and MN guitar. As demonstrator of this brands, he performs at all major music fairs: NAMM show Los Angeles, MusicMesse Frankfurt, SHG Milan, Acoustic Guitar International Meeting of Sarzana and ADGPA Convention.

Other works

In 2007, he founded, with Marco Pinna, the acoustic duo "Ses Cordas"^[14] (which means six strings in the Sardinian language). This acoustic duo is focused on Mediterranean folk music.

In 2008, he released, with the duo, the album "Mediterranean Journey".

In 2008 he recorded, co-produced and played on the album "Online" by Simone Borghi with the collaboration of Toto's members Steve Lukather^[1] and Simon Phillips, guitarists Frank Gambale, Dean Parks and Brian Ray (from Paul McCartney’s band) and jazz pianist from New York City, Rachel Z. The single "Every Night Together"(2009), performed with Italian singer Linda Valori, received three nominations at Los Angeles' Grammy Awards in 2010. Borghi himself received a nominations as "best new artist" and "best male pop vocal" with the song Endless Trip from his new album.

In 2011 he took part in the realization and production of the album "Fathers & Sons"^[15] for the Scottish duo Donald and Jen MacNeil.

Discography

Solo Releases

• Raighes vol 1 Rought Tapes – Roberto Diana (2011)
• Raighes Vol 1 – Roberto Diana (2012)

Album

• The last call : Lowlands (Gypsy Child Records/IRD) (2008)
• Mediterranean journey – Ses Cordas (Sound Mama/CDbaby) (2008)
• On line – Simone Borghi (2008)
• Ep vol 1 – Lowlands (Gypsy Child Records/IRD) (2009)
• Gypsy child – Lowlands (Gypsy Child Records/IRD) (2010)
• Fathers and Sons – Donald and Jen Macneil (Route 61) (2011)
• The Woody ep – Lowlands (Gypsy Child Records) (2012)
• Better world coming – Lowlands (Gypsy Child Records/IRD) (2012)
• Beyond – Lowlands (Stovepony Records/Cargo/IRD) (2012)

Official Bootleg

• A Quiet Night – Roberto Diana (2011)
• Lovers & Thieves – Lowlands (2011)
• Radio & Kitchen Sessions – Acoustic Tour 2010 – Lowlands (2010)

Singles

• Every Night Together – Simone Borghi (2009)
• It Makes No Sense – Simone Borghi (2010)
• Pay the Price – Ivan Battistella (2010)
• Walking Down The Street – Lowlands (2010)

Compilations

• For You 2 – Lowlands (Route 61) (2010)
• Traffic light project – Roberto Diana (2009)

External links

• Official website
• A recent Roberto Diana interview

References