GIUNGLA

Emanuela Drei, aka Giungla, made her new EP ‘Camo’ using just a guitar, a synth, a sampler, and a vintage Yamaha drum machine. The Giungla moniker – it means ‘Jungle’ in her mother tongue, Italian – places emphasis on the slightly chaotic vibrance of her music.

‘Wrong’, the fourth and final track to be revealed from ‘Camo’, deploys its grim sense of menace with offbeat guitar and sullen vocals – Drei says it’s aimed at “know-it-all and judgy types,” as well as being “a reminder to myself to never become like that.” Previous releases on Soundcloud are equally thought-through: the drum-laden ‘Forest’ crafts an ominous world with glitchy samples, while ‘Sand’ fires xx guitar onto a new, dreamy tangent.
Music’s been an outlet since she started piano aged 5, and while still at school near Ravenna, Italy (home to Beaches Brew Festival) Drei says she “never quite fit in… I really put myself in music like it was my safe secret place.” It was then she discovered PJ Harvey, Kathleen Hanna and “whole worlds behind them,” and other inspirations such as Grimes and Warpaint entered the fray.

Now based in Bologna – known to many for its ancient university, huge student population and unbeatable pasta – Drei makes the most of its many DIY venues. The initial plan was for Giungla to be a band, and she's got experience touring as a bassist for her friend His Clancyness, but so far it hasn’t happened. She’s happy with this, despite her initial discomfort at playing alone onstage: “I'm a pretty shy person,” she explains, “so I don't really feel a hundred percent comfortable knowing that all eyes are on me. Basically I play guitar and headbang a lot, so when it's over I can't really remember anything. In a good way.” - NME - LARRY BARTLEET

Meet GIUNGLA, the new project from Italian-born singer-songwriter Emanuela Drei. In Italian, Giungla means “jungle,” which is how Drei would like you to think of her music—chaotic and messy, each part with its own life, but all coming together to create a beautiful harmony.

“Forest,” the follow-up to her debut single, "Sand," both on Camo EP out May 20, sounds like the love child of PJ Harvey and Grimes. It’s fuzzy and distorted, a beautiful combination of rock guitars and house music-like beats that compliment Drei’s laissez-faire vocals. Its inspiration, however, is less beautiful.

"Forest is about a recurring dream,” Emanuela remarked about the song. “It's dedicated to a very important person of my family who suffers from a serious mental illness, who's stuck seeing things that don't exist, feeling haunted and living in some sort of constant fear."

Listen below, and feel a feeling or two. - Noisey - Annalise Domenighini

We’re hardly into spring, but with all of this warm weather on the horizon, our minds have gone straight into summer mode. Even though taking a beach day seems far away, we’ve found another way to channel that radiant energy thanks to GIUNGLA.

Born as Emanuela Drei, the Italian singer’s nostalgic indie pop hymns are pure minimalism, draped gently over melodic echoes in the vein of Beach House and The xx. Her new single, “Sand,” is totally dreamy, and if you close your eyes, you can basically transport yourself to the shores. Then, as the track crescendos from her opening, “I love the sand in my shoes,” into a detached repetition of the words “never real, never real,” you’ll feel as if you’re waking from a gorgeous daydream. It’s half euphoria, half bittersweet denial—feelings we know all too well.

Dive straight into “Sand,” below. - Nylon - Dana Guth

For everything Italy has given Western Culture, modern pop music seems to be something they haven't really been exporting. And maybe some of you are more cultured than I am, rolling your eyes at my ignorance, but for those of us who want to know more of the music modern creatives are crafting in Italy, look no further than GIUNGLA.

The chanteuse released her debut EP Camo last week and has been popping up more and more on the radars/screens of music lovers all around the globe. Emanuela Drei, aka GIUNGLA, brings her unique sound to your ears in praise of, and in protest of, Italian pop music.

Read below to see how Italy, the countryside, and music has shaped GIUNGLA into the artist she is today. And while you're reading, listen along to two of her latest singles, 'Wrong' and 'Forest'.

What was it like growing up in Italy as a child? Have you always lived there? (If not, what made you come back?)

I grew up in a small town in the province of Ravenna, set in North-Eastern Italy. Since my parent's house is totally lost in the countryside, I have enjoyed the freedom of running everywhere up and down our garden and the fields, basically spending my childhood playing with my dog and Legos. Sometimes I think this tiny world of mine has made me kind of shy, but I probably compensated with imagination.

I've been living in Bologna for quite a few years now. The thing I love more about the city is that despite its relatively small dimensions, it's still crammed with fine venues and gigs, not to mention it being less than an hour's ride from the sea and also the place - a cheap place! - where all my friends live. I probably don't see myself living here forever, but so far it has been an ideal nest, especially for someone like me who spends a lot of time on the road.

What kind of music was played around the house when you were growing up? What are some of your earliest memories of music?

I guess those long evenings spent with my mum and dad in our living room right by the fireplace. I used to sit on the floor with all my family playing vinyl - stuff like The Beatles, Elton John, Barbra Streisand, all mixed up with Italian singer-songwriters such as Mina and Lucio Dalla. I used to rummage through our record collection and admire all those covers with old-fashioned layouts and familiar faces printed on them. I also remember the actual joy of tuning my father's classical guitar together with him and a funny-sounding tuning whistle.

What was some of your favorite music to sing along to growing up?

Since I'm not a native, English speaker I used to invent a lot of weird sounds and pretty much non-existent words until I started studying the language properly; but then it was soon the turn of the Spice Girls and MTV. Back in my teenage years, my all-time faves were Alanis Morissette and Rage Against The Machine. I sang along to every bloody word and played every single riff off their albums from start to finish, jumping furiously on my bed.

When did you first start singing and writing your own music?

I started taking guitar lessons when I was twelve and soon was into making my own music, too. So, I started recording stuff on tape in my bedroom all the time; I wasn't that aware of what I was doing, it just happened. I used to write both English and Italian lyrics, but I can't really remember a word, apart from a few melodies.

Was this music different than what you sing/ write today?

Well, at first, it was an almost completely unconscious process, especially because nobody was allowed to enter my own secret world. Now I have a much clearer idea of my direction music-wise, thus the result is very different. And still I like to think that my spirit and attitude are just the same. In a way, I am still that leave-me-alone kid.

When did you start performing/ writing under the moniker GIUNGLA? How did you settle with this name and what is its significance?

I went on stage as GIUNGLA for the very first time last November, supporting Unknown Mortal Orchestra. I thought a lot about my stage name. I wanted it to be an Italian word, one that really meant something to me but could also sound familiar to any non-Italian speaker out there. Then one day I bumped into the word "GIUNGLA" written on the pages of an old atlas, and - boom! - that was it. It's the Italian word for "jungle". I like the fact that it is mostly used as a metaphor for pure chaos and modern times, and still embodies something very natural and instinctive. I like to think of GIUNGLA as my tangled, yet-to-discover, happy place.

Your single 'Sand' is atmospheric while 'Forest' has distortion and has a more solid back beat. These are both on your debut EP. What is your approach when it comes to writing two very distinct sounding songs?

Once I decided to be a solo performer, I plunged into a very focused research on the sound I wanted to achieve. That's how 'Forest' came out, while 'Sand' is one of the first songs I ever put my hands on at a time when I still thought I'd have a band; now the song sounds basically the same, maybe slightly less edgy, for it didn't feel right to me to completely change it - after all, it is me behind it anyway. I mainly focus on songwriting, so it's crucial for me to stay true to one track's emotional texture and translate it musically. I believe these two songs are just two sides of the same coin, and of the journey that brought me here. Today we tend to label everything, we kind of know what to expect in every situation and it's so hard to really get taken aback. So I guess I just felt the need to surprise myself.

What current day artists do you draw inspiration from when it comes to writing your own music?

I couldn't mention any particular artist that has a direct influence on my own work. I admire musicians like PJ Harvey and Grimes, 'cause they have such a unique style, and also love music acts like Ibeyi and Christine and The Queens for their very unusual approach and the fact they both mix their own native language with English words in their lyrics (I have written a few tracks in Italian too that sooner or later will see the light). I like this idea of pure freedom - it's a truly modern way of thinking about music, something that can lead to very fresh solutions.

Over the millennia, Italy has been known for its contributions to the arts, but it may not be on everyone's radar when it comes to modern music. Is there anything in particular about Italy that inspires your music?

I think Italy has instilled in me some innate manual inclination, a sort of spontaneous DIY sensibility. There's something reassuring and maternal about this country, a warm sparkle that makes you fall in love with it; and still, at times it can feel like a frozen place that leaves you with very few alternatives and not really allows for broader ambitions. You might live in an Italian metropolis and still feel like nothing is really happening nor changing for the better. Of course my country is part of who I am, but I believe making music is also a way to escape from it, too.

How are the local art and music communities where you are at? Is there anything particularly different they bring to the table than say music communities in New York or London?

There are a lot of music scenes around, cool festivals, many amazing bands, DIY labels and great events, but the global scenario is pretty fragmented and suffers a huge void when it comes to alternative pop music.

It's a very complex topic, actually. Except for all those songs aired on the radio or released by major labels, it's very hard to reach a larger audience. The majority of people here are not really curious about new music acts and don't attend gigs until some artist is "blessed" by the TV or foreign blogs, or even legitimated by years and years of tireless activity.

That's probably why many bands have the absurd-but-true idea of joining talent shows and see that as the only possible way to get more fans in the Bel Paese ("even only for a few episodes", "just for promotion", "just to get some visibility" before going back to the ordinary and rougher touring life). And this probably explains why Italy never had its own Mø or Christine and The Queens or someone that debuted internationally with a bang. And of course it's a snowball effect: seeing that Italian people are not that interested in what they are not already familiar with, very few members of the music trade are willing to take risks or invest in emerging acts. Furthermore, institutions and bureaucracy are not particularly making the life easy for anyone who dreams to work in the field. So, if you're not making some peculiar Italian pop music or electronica, if you're not a member of the niche, if you don't feel like entering a contest, if you're not signed to any major, well, the whole affair can be somewhat depressing in this country. On the bright side, I think we have the best gig locations in the world and so much potential. Some people behind festivals boasting challenging line-ups are already proving that we can play a role on a bigger stage, and hopefully more and more Italian musicians will soon start thinking on a world basis too.

What is your specific process when it comes to writing a song- do you start with lyrics first? Music first? Or is each song different?

First thing I deal with is the melody. Normally I just sing undefined sounds, not actual words, while playing the track. I shape the words according to the specific instrumental arrangement, and they kind of pour out spontaneously. It's quite rare, but there are times when I come up with part of the lyrics, so I sing them in loop and start from there.

You described your sound as Camouflage and your upcoming EP is titled, Camo. What is it about the idea of hiding in plain sight that inspired you on this album?

While recording these songs, I had this image of a camouflage pattern running through my head. I like the idea of simple elements involved in different combinations, and I later realized that's the way these tracks have dressed up so as to go anywhere. They hold dear the very idea of hiding (pop songs hiding behind minimal sounds and essential arrangements), of something vulnerable that's almost vanishing, along with an aggressive impulse too, a survival attitude, a basic need.

Do any other mediums of art inspire your music?

I studied graphic design and every time I visit a new city I venture out in search of art galleries and zine-shops trying not to miss one. What's interesting about modern art and contemporary performances is that you can actually experience them. Sometimes music is seen as a merely immaterial content and that's a shame, as music should be all about experience too.

I also try to read as much as I can, being fond of literature, philosophy and comics.

If you could collaborate with one musician today, who would it be and why?

My dream producer is hands down Ariel Rechtshaid. I love his ability to work freely with utterly different music styles and give every record such a bold and iconic touch. - The 405

by GIUNGLA

Here are two facts about me:

1) I kind of hate September (the idea of it, at least)

2) I love the sand in my shoes.

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve never liked that moment of the year when you just think “here we go again” and stuff like that. And since in my heart and soul I’m still that kid, I’ll probably never get used to seasons changing and time passing by.
My natural element is the sea. I was born in a little town a few miles from the Adriatic Riviera, a place that brings back pretty good memories for me. Beaches are not that great, the summerish weather is hot and wet and if you look around your eyes might bump into the occasional industrial chimneys, and yet it’s a very fascinating and somewhat healing place.

Now that I moved to Bologna, those shores are just a one hour drive away and I never miss a chance to go there and enjoy the sunset (and sure, get stung by mosquitos).

GUEST BLOG POST
GIUNGLA RETURNS TO HER NATURAL ELEMENT IN “SAND”
Posted on April 13, 2016
By: GIUNGLA

Here are two facts about me:

1) I kind of hate September (the idea of it, at least)

2) I love the sand in my shoes.

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve never liked that moment of the year when you just think “here we go again” and stuff like that. And since in my heart and soul I’m still that kid, I’ll probably never get used to seasons changing and time passing by.

GIUNGLA_5

My natural element is the sea. I was born in a little town a few miles from the Adriatic Riviera, a place that brings back pretty good memories for me. Beaches are not that great, the summerish weather is hot and wet and if you look around your eyes might bump into the occasional industrial chimneys, and yet it’s a very fascinating and somewhat healing place.

Now that I moved to Bologna, those shores are just a one hour drive away and I never miss a chance to go there and enjoy the sunset (and sure, get stung by mosquitos).



“Sand” is one of the first songs I wrote for this “project” (I’m not that fond of such a word) even if back then the thought of Giungla still had to cross my mind. Anyway, it felt like a very different and intimate song from the beginning.

I came up with the riff in the blink of an eye, but it took me quite long to put down the lyrics and get closer to what I really wanted to say.

It started as a simple love song about an ordinary moment becoming special, about how you can’t force nor filter things, about expectations and fantasies, but it’s like it has grown up with me to become so much more a bunch of years later.

Right, I might speak of things fading away, still I like to think of “Sand” as a totally positive ode to life changes and freedom.

If you hold some sand in your fist, sooner or later it’ll slip away. And the moment you look at things from an outside point of view, well, you’ve already lost them. So maybe this is just my way to slowly start getting familiar with all this, or a reminder of how grateful I should be for the magic and mystery of it. - Play Too Much

In a world of tired google-bothering, thank Christ for Giungla. The rising singer-songwriter is a doddle to find… well, she would be if there were any more information on her other than the music. Which is all we need really, as this no-frills talent comes to us with the excellent Sand, an understated little jangle of downtempo pop and a strong sign of her talent. Check her out below. - Press Play Ok

While a good portion of the world is moving swiftly into the Spring and basking in the sunshine, my hometown of Glasgow is still firmly stuck in the rain swept winter. Luckily, GIUNGLA arrived this week with her debut track “Sand” to help soothe my winter blues. The Italian born songwriter laments about her love of the beach and summer, while minimal guitar lines and reverb tinged production float atop effortlessly, transporting you to the closing month of an Italian summer. The sound is akin to what The xx would release had they been lived by the sea rather than inner city London — so in other words, it’s pretty damn lovely. “Sand” is the first taste of GIUNGLA’s debut Camo EP, which is currently available for pre-order via Factory Flaws. - The Wild Honey Pie - Stephen Archibald

You already know her work playing bass with Jonathan Clancy in His Clancyness, and now Emanuela Drei presents with the world premiere of “Cold” that kicks up a storm of granulated digital beat diamonds and dust-devil disco whirlwinds. The Bologna, Italy based artist arms herself with a guitar, a drum machine, and pedals aplenty to creates sounds that extend beyond the reaches of control and reason with an attitude that allows these ecstatic happy places to spring to existence. Choosing a moniker that means ‘jungle’, Drei delves into the Italian word’s metaphoric connotations that revolve around chaotic situations of confusions as they pertain to living within the scope of society and the modern world at large.

Delivering the first listen from Emanuela’s recent Giungla recordings, “Cold” breaks out of the binary mode in a tight knit assemblage of loops, uncompromising beat slams, and plenty of blistering distortion everywhere that makes every decibel sound electric. Drei begins with the “why are you so cold?” inquiry that begins the song’s switched-on tour of snark, sass, and conquering attitude that shakes up the squares in an amplified universe that is the entrance into the world of Giungla. Emanuela’s economic prestige allows her to a handful of rudimentary instrumental essentials to create something that is in your in face that spins dance like components of drum and bass rhythm physics into new mutations and syntheses that crowns Emanuela as the queen of her own jungle. The song’s investigative line of questioning and fast paced progressions is executed at an accelerated rate as Drei creates a well timed sequence of glitching electrical notes, percussion, and chopped vocal edits that exist in a snow globe of chaos that is completely under her command and control. Join as after the following debut listen to “Cold” for our interview with Giungla’s Emanuela Drei.

Give us all the details on all the particulars in forming Giungla.

At first, I wanted to put a band together. Long story short, things didn’t work out as I expected and that just made me feel bummed ’cause I was simply trying to make something I love, and instead I felt like the whole thing was no longer about the music, but more about bad timing, logistics and being money-less.

And yet, the moment I felt I was wasting time I also discovered the chance to improve and question myself about what I really wanted.

Finally I decided to move on and trashed almost everything I had recorded. I borrowed a drum machine, bought a cheap synth and decided to cut it off and play with the only stuff I could handle with my two hands and feet: a few pedals and a guitar. That was it. Federico Dragogna, a dear friend of mine, recorded and produced the tracks and really helped me out trough the whole process. It has always been in front of my eyes: I needed limits and make the best out of what I had in order to kick off somewhere.
So here I am. And I feel that this is something that might take so many directions and turns. I like the idea of traveling light and hopefully touring a lot. I could even move to a different city or country one day, and maybe go for another instrument. I have always played in bands, and maybe, sooner or later, Giungla will be a band, too, and I miss being with my friends like hell, with all those “roles” and stuff, and yet I sort of love this sense of freedom as it is totally new to me and also scares me a bit.

How have your adventures playing bass with His Clanyness impacted or informed your solo work?

I have been playing with His Clancyness for a whole year and everything was so intense. I had the chance to tour a good deal of Europe (sharing the stage with some amazing bands like Deerhunter and Widowspeak) and play the US too, while seeing what’s really like out there, meeting a lot of great people, and growing up day by day. The greatest lesson I learned is that to make music is a choice of life.

Describe how the metaphor of your chosen moniker, ‘Giungla’, or jungle, impacts your vision of the sound, and instruments of audio chaos and more.

I like the fact that this word is mostly used as a metaphor for chaotic situations, and commonly addressed to modern times, but also reflects something very natural and wild.
My music is at times distorted or tangled with riffs and textures, but still everything goes to the point pretty fast in a simple, very instinctive way. I believe Giungla hides a sort of double nature and its core is all about finding the balance between the apparent chaos and sharp rhythm, between loops and diversity.

Please describe further the creative methods that you employ as Giungla.

Basically I try to focus on songwriting before anything else. So when a song sounds OK with just vocals and guitar in it, it usually means it’s a good point to start with. I enjoy writing with bass and synths too, as it kind of keep my mind open.

But there are times when it all starts with a riff, and in such cases I have already found the arrangement the very moment I write.

Then, I come up with tons of ideas when speeding up behind the wheel. My phone is full of funny recordings of me beat-boxing and imitating instrument sounds.

What are a few of the most obsessive things you’re reading, listening to, watching, etc, right now?

My favorite is Simone De Beauvoir at the moment. After ‘Memoirs of a Dutiful Daughter’, I’m now reading ‘Prime of Life’ and planning to put my hands on pretty much everything she wrote.

Lately I’ve been listening to El Perro Del Mar, Warpaint, Beach House and Empress Of.
My one true obsession is trying to go out for a run at least three times a week, but I can’t do that without my guilty-pleasure-pop-music playlist that there’s no way I’m gonna share with you!

2016 hopes and wishes?

Touring and traveling the world, meeting great people to work with, snatching a green card.

Giungla’s tour is being planned for early 2016, check out Emanuela’s site for further details. - Sjmon Gompers - Goldmine Sacks

Italy's Giungla has been making waves for a short while, but those waves have been strong enough for our ears to take notice. Now teaming up with our friends at Factory Flaws, Giungla is ready to launch herself to new heights with her latest release "Sand". Pulling on those mysterious echoes of the guitars, Giungla lets her lyrics come front and center as her vocals glaze over the production in a ominous sense as the sands of time tick away. There's hints of Daughter laced in the haunting aspects of this track, but fully manages to land itself into the pop sphere at the same time. Giungla has arrived ready to break the mold that's been set by the indie scene over these past few years. She takes steps away from the expected synth sound and is showcasing that indie rock is truly timeless. Drop yourself into this one below. - Oblivious Pop

Care for some italian downtempo-pop from Bologna (sung in English) ? Dive-indulge-bask in this next track pronto ! Giungla, aka Emanuela Drei just released her newest solo endeavour with the single “Sand”, as part of her upcoming debut EP Camo, out on May 20th via our good friends M&M’s (Mattia & Marco) new imprint Factory Flaws.

Giungla means ‘jungle’ in Italian. As a metaphor to a world in stuck in confusing situations, entangled in chaotic surroundings yet holding on to that survival instinct. This feeling transpires aggressively on B-side “Cold”, a high-octane number by the rising singer-songwriter :

However, you could totally picture yourself lost in the thick freakness of a jungle and not finding your way out, only to find the light at the end of the said jungle. Another feeling well transcribed in the beautiful track “Sand”. An ode to summery vibes, sunshine and lust as the hesitant guitar-work comes to emphasize that precise ‘feel good’ impression in the best way. And Emanuela Drei isn’t new to guitar or strings. Indeed, she was part of the band His Clancyness, played bass for them as well as leading a pop-punk band called Heike Has The Giggles… She has is still touring extensively around Italy and is a rising figure on the local scene. With this release we have the living proof she’s bound to make huge things happen beyond her homeland’s borders. And we can only wish her the best. Giungla is not your average artist. She’s above that entirely and a very nice person IRL. - Sodwee (France)

When it comes to export its music abroad, Italy doesn’t certainly arise on the top of the European music industry. To be fair we have to say that we’ve a decent electronic scene, but when it comes to talk about alternative bands or songwriters, no one seems really know what the hell is going on here. Musically speaking ofc.

So when a new Italian act, out of the blue, appears on the scene carrying a great sound, we get excited like little kids in a candy shop. It is precisely the case of GIUNGLA, aka Emanuela Drei, an experimental singer/songwriter based in Bologna. Her moniker is the Italian word for “jungle”, a term “mostly used as a metaphor for chaotic situations, and commonly addressed to modern times, but that also reflects something very natural and wild“, as she explained to Impose which held the premiere of her debut single Cold. Indeed, the song grows nervously, frantically extricating itself from savage lashes of synth and electronica that frames Emanuela’s choked vocals.

We’ve been lucky enough to attend her first ever show, an opening slot for Unknown Mortal Orchestra, and take it on trust when we assure you that she’s something else. - Going Solo - Mattia Villa

An Italian solo artist, Giungla shows that you only need a drum machine, a guitar and some foot pedals to make cryptic electro-rock.

Giungla is the moniker of Emanuela Drei (which means Jungle in Italian), Bologna born singer-songwriter. Her debut track Cold comes to us in the form of cryptic electronics, that sound as if someone made a collage of Sleigh Bells, Jupiter-C and Blood Red Shoes. Drei’s guitar work creates the essence of bass where Blood Red Shoes Laura-Mary Carter does the same, while her drum machine forms inventive electronic that rivals Sleigh Bells at their best and of course the link to Jupiter-C is the futuristic, muffled bizarre nature to Cold as a whole.

It may be Drei’s first track, but then to say Cold is a debut is alarming as even with her past work, Drei lives up to her moniker, creating a jungle of chaotic sound that falls in between alien and futuristic electro-experimental. - Velvet Independent - Doyle Antony Smith

Y aquí lo tenemos. Otra chica que ha venido a ponerle ritmo al Verano con un EP debut titulado Camo, a editarse el 20 de mayo vía Factory Flaws. Se trata de GIUNGLA, proyecto de Emanuela Drei, artista italiana con base en Bolonia que inspira su música en esas vibraciones que agitan moléculas y sacuden el ADN. Es decir, el pop. Pop para chicas.

Su música suena como cereal crujiente matutino servido con miel y leche fría. Ese tipo de desayuno que también puedes cenar. O comer. Da igual, esta chica debuta con buen ritmo -a veces oscuro, divertido- y promete más pop bailable para el Verano. Síguele la pista, y baila. - One Heap Wonder