Review Fix Exclusive: Gasoline Tequila’s Massimo Lusardi Talks ‘Sonder’

Review Fix chats with Massimo Lusardi, musician, restaurateur and entrepreneur, who discusses Gasoline Tequila’s new single and video, “Sonder.”

Review Fix: What makes this song special

Massimo Lusardi: Something we all, for once, share. Sonder speaks to a time we all went through, worldwide, and it especially resonates with the New Yorkers who never left. It’s an ode to the desolate streets of Manhattan during the height of the pandemic, and a poignant tribute to the enduring spirit that has kept New Yorkers hopeful and connected. But it’s also something much bigger. Personally, it was how it was created, the first time I played it “publicly”, on my balcony during the 7 pm cheer, and the reaction it received from far-flung and invisible strangers, across rooftops and out of windows. That’s a feeling I will never forget, nor get to relive again. It was recorded raw, with basic equipment, quite literally in my bedroom. It’s a bare-bones expression, and I think you feel it.

Review Fix: How was the video filmed? Was it tougher because of COVID? 

Lusardi: It was pieced together from old works and new, the majority of it filmed on an iPhone while walking the New York City streets. There is so much to capture here on any ordinary stroll in New York City, so when you walk out in the midst of a pandemic, it’s like seeing that movie star, without hair and makeup, tearstained and at her most vulnerable. It’s hard to be unaffected by that. 

Review Fix: How do you feel about the end product? 

Lusardi: Proud, humbled and grateful. My future self is grateful. I documented something so powerful, and so personal, I don’t think it’s even fully soaked in yet because we are still in it. But there will be a point, 10 years down the line, 20 and then 30, when this will be the history we lived through, and I created something I can listen to and watch that will take you right back there, and believe in a city all over again, with hindsight being – no pun intended – 2020.

Review Fix: How does the video bring out the finer points of the song?

Lusardi: It puts very sobering visuals to the notes I think we all felt. It is a reminder of how real this was, how terrifying and tragic. It is also a humbling glimpse of change, and how anything can happen at any given time. I think it helps you process what It is that you are feeling. 

Review Fix: What are your goals for the video?

Lusardi: Just to touch people. To resonate with them and help them understand and feel understood. I think that’s a pretty huge goal.

Review Fix: What’s next? 

Lusardi: This is quite a busy year for me. I’ll be opening up a new restaurant very soon called Uva Next Door, a follow up to the original Uva, as well as a new bar. Musically, my next release will be a full album called The Bonnie Situation which will of course include Sonder. 

Review Fix: Anything else you’d like to add?

Lusardi: To borrow a line from the late John Lennon: Everything will be OK in the end. If it’s not OK, it’s not the end.
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About Patrick Hickey Jr. 13819 Articles
Patrick Hickey Jr. is a full-time Assistant Professor of Communication & Performing Arts and Director of the Journalism program at Kingsborough Community College and is the chairman of the City University of New York Journalism Council. He is the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of ReviewFix.com. He's also a former News Editor at NBC Local Integrated Media and National Video Games Writer at Examiner.com where his work was mentioned in National Ad campaigns by Disney, Nintendo and EA Sports. Hickey was also the Editor-In-Chief of two College Newspapers before he received his BA in Journalism from Brooklyn College. Hickey's work has been published in The New York Daily News, The New York Times, Complex, The Hockey Writers, Yahoo!, Broadway World, Examiner, NYSportScene Magazine, ProHockeyNews.com, GothamBaseball.com, The Syracuse Post-Standard, Scout.com and the official sites of the Brooklyn Aces and New York Islanders. His first book, The Minds Behind the Games: Interviews With Cult And Classic Video Game Developers was released in April 2018 and is chock full of interviews with legendary developers. His second book in the series, The Minds Behind Adventures Games, was released in December 2019. His third book, The Minds Behind Sports Games, was released in September 2020. His fourth book, The Minds Behind Shooter Games, was released in March 2021. The Minds Behind Sega Genesis Games and The Minds Behind PlayStation Games were released in 2022 and The Minds Behind PlayStation 2 was published in January 2023. Hickey is also a contracted comic book writer, currently penning his original series, "Condrey," as well as "The Job," "Brooklyn Bleeds" "Dem Gulls" and "KROOM" for Legacy Comix, where he serves as founder, owner and Editor-in-Chief. Hickey Jr. is also a voice actor, having starred in the 2018 indie hit and 2019 Switch, PS4 and Xbox One release, The Padre (also serving as English language Story Editor), from Shotgun With Glitters. The sequel, The Padre: One Shell Straight to Hell was released in February 2021- Hickey also served as a Story Editor and Lead Voiceover performer. He has also done narration and trailers for several other titles including The Kaiju Offensive, Relentless Rex and Roniu’s Tale. Hickey is also the lead voiceover performer on Mega Cat Studios’ upcoming title WrestleQuest, responsible for nearly 90 characters in the game, as well as Skybound's Renfield: Bring Your Own Blood, where he voices both Dracula and Renfield, as well as several other characters. He also stars in Ziggurat Interactive’s World Championship Boxing Manager 2, where he performs the VO of nearly every male character in the game. He also worked on the Atari VCS’s BPM Boy.

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