Gianni Carrera- With both feet on the ground and the head full of dreams
- katharinaaronis
- Sep 21
- 5 min read
This time, I’m happy to introduce you to Gianni Carrera, singer & guitarist of the band I Dolci Signori. Gianni grew up in Calabria and moved to Germany 25 years ago to advance his music career. In our interview, he tells me about the beginnings of music in his hometown of Luzzi, how he built his career, and what has shaped him. It’s a story in which it was worth staying grounded while never giving up on his dreams.
Gianni on one of his shows in the summer of 2025
Gianni, thank you for taking a moment to talk with me about your career. You've had great success with your band I Dolci Signori in Germany for 25 years. Why did you decide to leave Calabria?
I left Calabria because I was dissatisfied with my musical prospects there. I couldn't make music on a professional level. My brother was already in Germany, so I thought I could move in with him for a while and at the same time try to launch a music career. In the first few months, I worked in other jobs and was still commuting between Calabria and Germany. But over time, music became more and more important. I started getting more gigs and soon after, I met my future bandmates from I Dolci Signori. That’s when I decided to stay here permanently.
When did your love for music begin? What role did music play in your childhood?
My mother always tried to convince me to start making music, but I didn’t want to. However, all of my friends were involved in music somehow, and in the village where I grew up, there was a brass band—it was impossible to escape music. So I started playing trumpet and flugelhorn in the village band. But I only truly felt a passion for music when my nonna Rosina, out of the blue, gave me a guitar as a gift (laughs). That was the moment I realized I wanted to dedicate myself to music. After that, my friends and I formed a band—just for fun, not professionally. We were very curious, listened to a lot of international artists, and played in a fusion style—a mix of pop and jazz.
From top to bottom: Gianni at the De Bonis guitar-making school, with his guitars, and with friends from Calabria.
Soon after, you wanted to pursue music professionally and went to the conservatory in Cosenza...
Yes, I wanted to study guitar, but admission for guitar at the conservatory was very limited—there were only 10 spots, and it helped a lot to have connections, which I didn’t have. Since I also played trumpet, I enrolled in that program and thought I could later switch to guitar. Unfortunately, that didn’t work out. So I completed the theory part of the trumpet studies and then stopped to continue studying guitar privately.
But just playing guitar wasn’t enough for you, so you attended the renowned De Bonis school of guitar making...
Exactly. I thought, if I can't study guitar, then I’ll just build them! (laughs)
Was that really your train of thought?
Yes, that was honestly the thought I had when I started the apprenticeship in guitar making. I also quickly realized that I had a certain talent and dexterity when it came to working with wood, so I completed the apprenticeship. I was lucky because the guitar-making school was not only in Bisignano, the town next to mine, but also had a great reputation. The De Bonis family is a family of luthiers who have passed this craft down from generation to generation for over 200 years.
What was special about the De Bonis school for you?
It was just wonderful to attend that school, especially because our teacher gave us so much more than "just" the technical skills to build guitars. A lot of what I learned from him still helps me today in many different areas of life. So I would say the De Bonis school was a very formative time for me.
In Germany, you even opened a small workshop...
Yes, that passion stayed with me. At the same time, I continued making music. But after a while, I had to choose between guitar building and making music, because they are two very different professions. Guitar building is almost a meditative activity: you get up early, listen to classical music, and focus. Making music and playing concerts, on the other hand, is something completely different: you travel to different places, come home late, sometimes at 2 or 3 in the morning. Imagine trying to get up early after that and focus on building instruments! At least for me, it wasn’t possible to do both at the same time. But who knows, maybe one day I’ll return to guitar building...
Why is the art of guitar making special? And why do you think it should be preserved?
Guitar making means working with your hands. I remember our teacher at the De Bonis school was against using any kind of machines and always said: "Ideally, not even a lamp should be used!" (laughs)—meaning you should do everything without electricity if possible. He also primarily spoke to us in dialect, not Italian. That helped me stay true to the tradition and to carry out the craft as it was done in the past.
Undeniably, your professional success has come through music. You perform solo and are part of the band I Dolci Signori. What's the secret to staying successful in this profession for 25 years?
I was lucky to meet musicians who thought like I did, who shared the same goals. We were open to doing both our own music and cover versions, in order to see what resonated better with the audience. We were also fortunate to produce two musicals. But above all, we always stayed grounded. This profession can quickly make you feel like you’re being seen as a "superstar." But if you want to last, you have to approach it as a job, as a craft, and keep your focus on the music.
Impressions from I DOLCI SIGNORI from the early beginnings, 25 years ago, till today.
In addition to the band, you also compose your own music — for example, on your album Armonia. What is this album about?
The title refers to the harmony we carry within ourselves. Often, we search for harmony outside of us, but in reality, it's much closer than we think.
You’re also working on a new album. Where do you find your inspiration?
Definitely in Calabria. When I’m in Germany, I focus more on cover songs and live performances. But when I’m in Calabria, creativity for new things comes to me naturally.
How would you describe Calabria to someone who has never been there?
Calabria gives you calm, peace, and harmony — and that’s no small thing. These are the things we’re all searching for nowadays, in a world that revolves around money. Often, you try to earn money in order to achieve harmony, but peace and harmony can’t be bought. You go to Calabria, and you find everything you're looking for — for free.
What are your plans for the future?
Right now, I feel like I’ve spent enough years in a foreign country that isn’t my own. I’ve now been in Germany for 25 years. It’s been a long, beautiful, and very enriching time, but to be honest, at some point I’d like to return to my homeland. Maybe not immediately. My partner and I are thinking about how we can balance life between Germany and Calabria in the future — we’re currently in a transitional phase.
And during this transition, there’s also a new album coming?
Yes, if we can find peace and quiet in Italy, we should definitely use it — for the album, and also for building guitars.
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