Denise Mangiardi
In this interview, Denise Mangiardi discusses Apparitions, her ninth album, exploring its orchestral richness, jazz influences, creative collaborations, and the personal stories behind this remarkable new chapter.
1. Apparitions is your ninth album and represents a culmination of your musical journey. What makes this particular record different from your previous releases, both personally and creatively?
Apparitions in a way, a returning to my roots regarding, simplicity of style and genre. More specifically it is a move towards the art behind story telling, which I think I have lost from time to time. However, with this release, I have put together everything that I have excelled in and pushed that together with my attempt to tell my story but from a different perspective. In that way, I have disregarded a tendency to worry about what the style and or genre is. In that way , I have let go of these kinds of concerns. It is also the first time in my life I have worked with a co-producer.
2. Your career has taken you from New York jazz clubs to orchestral concert halls, embracing jazz, classical music, and songwriting along the way. How have these different musical worlds influenced the sound and identity of Apparitions?
I have brought all these elements together in an album that is a bit of all those things combined. I have strings, I have used my experience as an orchestrator and as a jazz artist. Of course the songwriting is the thing that brought it all together. I like to think of it as painting with different colours and layers as a painter would do a canvas, but with a combination of different mediums. The object being to create the most colourful and inspiring landscape.
3. You collaborated with producer Chris Hyson on this album. What did he bring to the creative process, and how did his approach influence your arrangements and artistic vision?
Chris added things that I would never have thought about. He is a specialist in creating atmospheres of different landscapes. He took what I had , and brought them to life in the way that he knows how. It is ambient, and even electronic sounding. I have always been very traditional so that is what I lacked and now he has helped make this come alive in an extremely fruitful collaboration. The thing that is most interesting, neither of us stepped in each others’ way.
4. Three tracks on the album were recorded with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra in Glasgow. What was that experience like, and how did working with a full orchestra transform those compositions?
There are no words to describe the sound and feeling of being in such an incredible venue as the RSNO. I was obviously elated and incredibly honored. But most of all, I felt the most amazing support from the entire team as well as the orchestra. I felt extremely welcome there and it felt like I belonged. It is without doubt a highlight of any composer’s musical journey to be hear your music played by such an incredible orchestra and team.
5. You’ve mentioned a memorable encounter with Gil Evans, who encouraged you never to give up on music. Looking back on your remarkable career, how has that advice influenced your determination and artistic choices?
I often look back at that experience and I always wondered why me? It was so random at the time, and I did not believe the guys in the band when they said that Miles was upstairs. It was just one of those really magical moments. I do always keep that line in my head when I am down, and believe me, I have been down many times. So, it is a life saver for me when I am in a dark place. I am also grateful. But interestingly, it has shaped my musical journey because I have always, since then wanted to combine orchestration and jazz. I did not know it at the time, as I was just singing jazz gigs in NYC and writing songs but that experience has really influenced me in more ways that I probably realise. Plus, Miles was one of my heroes at the time so that helped too.
6. With Apparitions arriving in November and a special album launch performance scheduled for January 17, 2027, what do you hope listeners will take away from this new chapter of your musical journey?
My 1st single Thursday’s Child is released as I write this. My 2nd release will be a song featuring also RSNO entitled Stars will be released in late December/Early January and my album release Apparitions will be the 9th of January.
I believe that people will be inspired by the music because it is about normal every day events. It is a statement saying “Everything will be ok”. Not just for me but for others too. I hope that people are moved by the music from Apparitions.