Raissa Pardini

^{Photograph by Fletch Fletcher}

Name, where are you from?
Raissa Pardini. Born in Italy, Glasgow based.

What do you do?
I’m a Visual Designer. I launched my studio a year ago and started to focus on music, subcultures, brand and art stuff ever since.

Describe your style in three words?
Old meets new.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
My answer changes every other day : )
Haiku Hands at SXSW this year were mind-blowing. Late-night gig at the big stage in Hotel Vegas. I felt powerful, inspired and proud to represent the female creative community somehow.

If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
My music taste varies quite a lot, my choices would probably make a very weird line up. I’d have loved to play with Todd Rundgren because he made pop music cool and gentle, warm and fun. Followed by The Replacements.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
My love for music started growing in me when I moved to London at 14. Everything sounded new to me, it was very frustrating trying to find my own taste between so many subcultures. I would go to Trash for some indie on a Monday and attend a punk gig the night after. But I was also very attached to the Mod Scene. I loved the sweet sound of Rhythm’n’Blues, Calypso and Northern Soul. Northern Soul is probably the answer for me. Dancing to those tunes really made me feel so great. I felt myself on the dance floor, I remember those nights very vividly.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
I’d love to spend an hour with artist and master Bruno Munari, the man that pushed design into a dangerous zone, tried, tested and succeeded.

Of all the independent venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
My favourite venue I’ve played with my old band was probably DIY Thursday. Not a venue, not a club but a real Turkish bath gem in Chatsworth Road (London), covered in carpets to pad the sound and full of little theme rooms.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
I always end up saying Big Star.

Raissa Pardini is a visual designer who has worked with bands such as Idles, Squid, The Orielles and many more.

raissapardini.com