Saverio Principini

Saverio "Sage" Principini

Saverio Principini
Nationality Italian
Occupation Record Producer, Songwriter

Saverio Principini (better known as "Sage") is a certified multi-platinum Italian-American producer and songwriter active in the Los Angeles music scene since 1987.[1]

Early Life and Career

Sage began his musical career in Italy as bassist for cult heavy metal band, Astaroth.[2] At age 16, he recorded his first record, The Long Loud Silence,[3] for Dutch label, Rave-On Records,[4] and toured[5] extensively throughout Europe with the band.[6]

In 1991, Sage began collaborating with Italian singer-songwriter, Vasco Rossi, casting session musicians for ongoing recording sessions. Sage's castings and executive productions soon became widely acclaimed in the Italian music scene, as they featured world-renowned musicians such as Vinnie Colaiuta, Michael Landau, Randy Jackson, Greg Bissonette, Neil Stubenhaus, Michael Thompson, and many more. Also spotlighted in Sage's productions were musical legends, Slash, and Steve Vai. Throughout the '90s, Sage remained extremely active musically, producing sessions at A&M Studios, Record Plant Studios, and Capitol Studios by day, and performing with his band, WORD, by night.

WORD's crossover funk rock style piqued the interest of music supervisor, David Ari Leon, who consequently implemented WORD's music in the CBS TV series, Valley of the Dolls. WORD eventually landed a deal with Virgin Records Italy, and a tour with singer, Alberto Fortis, soon followed. WORD and Fortis collaborated on one studio album, Dentro Il Giardino, which culminated in a televised concert performed live on MTV.

During the late 1990s, Sage founded Sage Studio in Sherman Oaks, CA, where he composed a fresh catalog of original music, as well as music for Fox Family. Amid this time, he also produced sessions for a diverse range of artists including Adriano Celentano, Diego Torres, Divididos, and Myriam Hernández, and co-wrote with the entirety of Desmond Child's publishing company, Deston Songs. Especially significant from this period is the co-production Sage lent to Laura Pausini's Grammy-winning album, Yo Canto.

Shortly thereafter, Sage opened Speakeasy Studios in the Hollywood Hills, where both American and international artists such as Elisa, Negrita, Doyle Bramhall II, Amaia Montero, Tiromancino, The Lonely Island, and Sage's partner, Vasco Rossi, have written and recorded.

Musical Stylings

Sage's songwriting encompasses mainly rock, pop, soul, and world musicality. He has also collaborated with Canadian artist, Gino Vannelli, co-writing the song "Canto" on a crossover opera album for BMG.

Operating since 1991, Sage Studio has also functioned as an executive production firm connecting many European and South American musicians - namely, Eros Ramazzotti, Diego Torres, Myriam Hernández, Adriano Celentano, Divididos, Tiziano Ferro, and Jovanotti.

Television and Film

Sage composes frequently for both television and film. In 2009, he co-wrote the title track for Sony's The Lodger[7] (starring Alfred Molina) with composer John Frizzel, featuring vocals by classical singer, Sasha Lazard. Sage's music was likewise featured in NBC's Surrender Dorothy[8] (Diane Keaton), and Marvel's Dr. Strange. Sage also provided music for The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Dr. Oz Show, and subsequently produced music for the CW network show The Search for the Next Doll for the band The Pussycat Dolls.[9] In 2011, Sage composed additional music for the documentary film, Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest. Beyond the United States, Sage's music can be heard in Italy's most-watched TV series, I Cesaroni, as well as other shows such as Un medico in famiglia, and Valley of the Dolls.[10]

The song "I soliti", co-written with Vasco Rossi, was featured in the closing scene and credits of the film, Questa storia qua, which was presented as a special selection at the 2010 Venice International Film Festival. "I soliti" was also number one for two consecutive weeks on F.I.M.I.'s singles charts. Sage also recently scored music for the documentary films Una su tre and Get Together Girls.

Musical Partnerships

Sage has produced prominent duets featuring Cristina Scabbia of Lacuna Coil alongside Italian music icon Franco Battiato, and also Leona Lewis with Biagio Antonacci. Both duets debuted at the top of the charts in Italy. Sage wrote and produced music with crossover Opera soprano Filippa Giordano[11] for Sony Mexico as well.

Along with engineer Michael Tacci, Sage produced The Tigers, an LA indie band appearing on Thrive Records' compilation His Hers by Amanda Scheer,[12] which spotlighted such talents as Oasis, Daft Punk, and Ryan Adams.

Sage has also worked with many international producers including Humberto Gatica, Patrick Leonard, Geoff Westley, Joe Vannelli, Celso Valli, Lee Curreri, and more recently, Joe Chiccarelli, and Claudio Guidetti. Sage has also conducted international musical collaborations with John Shanks, Wyclef Jean, and Sergio Mendez.

Recent Years

In 2011, Sage entered a worldwide publishing deal with EMI Music. For the past two years, Sage has also acted as the musical director of Hit Week, a two-week live event in New York and Los Angeles that showcases notable Italian musicians in the United States.[13]

Recently, four of Sage's and Rossi's songs, "I soliti," "Sto pensado a te," "Manifesto futurista della nuova umanitá" and "Cambia-menti" went #1 in Italy, all achieving multi-platinum status. Further, a selection of songs that Sage co-wrote with Rossi are all-time Top 10 in sales for Rossi on iTunes.

Sage also owns Savana Records in Los Angeles, an indie label originally distributed by Whole Foods that focuses on the promotion of less exposed music. Several recordings are currently active under Savana, including neo-soul / reggae singer, Amana Melome,[14] guitarist Fabio Mittino (with the recordings of music of G.I.Gurdjieff-T. DeHartmann) and an eclectic project called SOUP together with drummer Vinnie Colaiuta and guitarist Marcello Cosenza and guests John Beasley, Chad Fischer, Simone Sello and Alex Alessandroni, Jr.[15]

In 2012, Sage reunited his original band, Astaroth, and produced a full-length album entitled The End of Silence. Sage also recently collaborated at Speakeasy Studios with The Lonely Island, a project by Saturday Night Live comics Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, and Jorma Taccone.

In 2007, Sage launched Rootdown Radio,[16] a commercial-free, internet radio station. He also co-founded the web-based production company sessionrecording.com, which offers international collaboration to independent productions with budget restrictions.

Sage is a voting member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Science (NARAS) and the Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (LARAS). He currently resides in Los Angeles, California.

References

  1. ↑ "Artist Direct". Retrieved 2011-08-23.
  2. ↑ "Myspace". Retrieved 2011-08-23.
  3. ↑ "Metallized". Retrieved 2011-08-23.
  4. ↑ "Rave-On Records". Retrieved 2011-08-23.
  5. ↑ "Metalkeir". Retrieved 2011-08-23.
  6. ↑ "Ganzo Mag". Retrieved 2011-08-23.
  7. ↑ "The Lodger". Retrieved 2011-08-23.
  8. ↑ "Surrender Dorothy". Retrieved 2011-08-23.
  9. ↑ "Pussycat Dolls". Retrieved 2011-08-23.
  10. ↑ "IMDB". Retrieved 2011-08-23.
  11. ↑ "Filippa Giordano".
  12. ↑ "His and Hers". Retrieved 2011-08-23.
  13. ↑ "Music Reporters". Retrieved 2011-08-23.
  14. ↑ "Amana Bella Farfalla". Retrieved 2011-08-23.
  15. ↑ "Vasco Brothers". Retrieved 2011-08-23.
  16. ↑ "Rootdown Radio". Retrieved 2011-08-23.
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