Operatic tenor Jonathan Cilia Faro began his solo career at the age of sixteen and sold over 100,000 copies of his first album. He has continued to build his career moving from Sicily to America. Now in Nashville, Jonathan calls himself a “citizen of the world.”
Natasha Barbieri: Giramondo was your latest single. Tell us a little bit about that story and how you started writing music.
Jonathan Cilia Faro: Giramondo means world traveler and that describes exactly who I am. I have been traveling from a young age in one form or another. I have lived in so many countries and cities and I plan to continue my journey around our world. There is so much to be learned from new places, people, and cultures, these things inspire me and leave a mark on my life. I started writing music as a way to process personal issues and to express myself in a way that was both personal and at the same time allowed me to hide myself in my music and lyrics. Writing is a release for me, it’s how I share myself with the world.
Natasha Barbieri: Jonathan, when CCM last spoke with you, you were moving to Tennessee. Tell us a little bit about moving during covid and some things you love about your new home?
Jonathan Cilia Faro: Yes I am now an official Tennessee resident and I truly love it here. From day one I felt very at home here. Nashville is beautiful, I love its open-air feeling and the friendliness of the people I have met here. Also being Italian I am naturally more partial to warm climates. Moving during Covid was extremely stressful and Covid related disruptions had to be dealt with. There were many scheduling hurdles to overcome.
Natasha Barbieri: With more things being closed do you have your own at-home recording studio? If so, is that something you put together yourself, or did you have another professional assist?
Jonathan Cilia Faro: I have always had some type of home studio and of course my favorite piano, but now with the way things are I have definitely improved my home studio and find myself really enjoying the process of setting it all up to fit my specifics. It’s a special project for me to customize it and I find myself spending a lot of time in that space.
Where I am recording I have a sound engineer at the controls to help and guide the process.
I think one of the main parts of setting up your own home studio is to really think about the space you have for the studio and the goal you want to accomplish in that space.
Natasha Barbieri: Although you are a classical crossover singer, your voice is very much an operatic instrument. What would you say is the main difference for you when singing opera or crossover?
Jonathan Cilia Faro: Opera definitely requires more emotion, you sing opera with your whole body you need to tell the story with not only words but body language.
In Crossover the stories are usually less dramatic and more modern so therefore more relatable to the modern audience.
Natasha Barbieri: Over the years how has your voice changed and how do you continue to keep it fresh and healthy?
Jonathan Cilia Faro: Over time my voice has grown deeper and I can hold the notes longer, for me and I know this is a cliche but being as healthy as I can has been the key. Good food, exercise,and sleep are the things I think my voice needs to stay healthy.
Natasha Barbieri: Once covid is over and we can travel again where is the first place you plan to visit?
Jonathan Cilia Faro: Someplace tropical and where cell phones, laptops, etc are not allowed.
Natasha Barbieri: What are some of your musical goals in 2021?
Jonathan Cilia Faro: My top musical goal for 2021 is to perform live once again, as most artists I miss the live audience. The thrill of engaging others with my music is very important to me. Another goal is to duet with other artists across multiple genres, to show that opera can work in many different forms of music.
Natasha Barbieri: What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions?
Jonathan Cilia Faro: Definitely, all the Christmas related baking is a favorite for me. We bake as a family and that leads to all kinds of fun and the sweets are nice too.
Having my family and close friends over for a big dinner, playing the piano and everyone singing,and just enjoying being together and reflecting on the past year.
Natasha Barbieri: Tell us about the piece you were featured on in “A Thrill of Hope” and what this particular track means to you.
Jonathan Cilia Faro: For me,the word Hope means a great deal. I have lived through many hardships and I try to have hope no matter what, without hope,this world can break you but as long as there is hope in your heart you can overcome many things.
A new day is a new beginning for all of us to be better, to be stronger, to be more than we were the day before.
“A Thrill of Hope” is now available on Spotify and Apple Music
To learn more about Jonathan Cilia Faro visit his official website.
