Maltese language 'versatile enough' for song writing

Although the recording of Walter Micallef's second CD starts next month he is still looking for sponsors.

While in his first CD the music was mostly computerised, no computers will be used this time round and the music will be provided by a live band. Rehearsals have been in full swing during the past two months.

The CD will include 14 new songs. Some have been performed in Mr Micallef's concerts at St James Cavalier, in Valletta and his concert in Marsalforn last Friday featured all the numbers planned for the CD.

In an interview, Mr Micallef said he had received a positive response to his songs during the concert, including those intended for the CD, the fact that many were based on a social theme was commended.

He started writing one of the love songs Min Hi? 16 years ago but finished it only recently.

The songs come in several styles of music including bossa nova, rock, soft rock, country rock and folk.

With his new CD he wants to prove how versatile the Maltese language is. "Many believe Maltese does not fit certain styles of music. I don't agree and through my songs I believe I prove this," he said.

The CD will be recorded at Manolito Galea's Wave Studio. Recording is planned to last at least two weeks, at a minimum eight hours a day.

The problem, especially for songs in Maltese, is the size of the market. Mr Micallef estimated that the Maltese market was able to take about 500 CDs, including some 150 that had to be given out free of charge, rather than sold.

There had been some sales in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States of his first CD but there had not been any specific marketing initiatives to promote his CD in those countries. It was perhaps time to consider this but one had to see whether it was best to market the CD or else visit and perform in such countries and elsewhere.

The real problem when coming up with a CD, Mr Micallef said, was its cost, which ran up to about Lm3,000. The Malta Council for Culture and the Arts had agreed to partly sponsor the CD but this was not enough and the search was on for companies wishing to sponsor the project.

Without sponsorship to cover the expenses involved, CDs would have to be sold at Lm8 each, the singer said.

Asked whether he had considered having his songs translated into other languages so that they could be more easily exported, Mr Micallef said that although this was a possibility the social themes prevailing in his compositions might not be so well understood in other countries.

Mr Micallef is accompanied by a band that includes percussionist Renzo Spiteri; Jesmond Psaila on the electric and acoustic guitar; Eric Wedge, electric and acoustic base player; Albert Garcia, accordion and piano and Pawlu Camilleri, l-Bibi, on the harmonica.

Mr Micallef has been writing poetry since his school days. As soon as he learned his first three guitar chords when he was 14 he wrote his first song Black.

He wrote his first song in Maltese when he was 18/19 after listening to the song Hondoq ir-Rummien. It was called Willie, a trapper, and the song spoke of his dedication to the pastime.

He stopped singing the song after someone pointed out to him that they could not understand how something so cruel could be described so beautifully.

Recently, Mr Micallef had the opportunity of singing in Maltese as two German girls accompanied him on the oboe and the bassoon. He played the guitar. The song, he said, came out beautifully and the trio will be trying to come up with more Maltese songs accompanied by classical instruments when the Germans, who do not live Malta, returned next year.

Anyone wishing to sponsor Mr Micallef's CD may contact Steve Borg on 7963 6543 or at steveborg24@yahoo.com