EEF (Early Ettringite Formation) is an Italian Marche-based quintet that fuses rock, funk, jazz and fusion into a unique mix of sound and groove. The band was formed from the meeting between Mattia Leoni (drums) and Umberto Ferretti (guitar), to which Edoardo Gili (vocals), Giovanni Golaschi (bass) and Leonardo Rosselli (saxophone) were added over time.
During their career, EEF have achieved prestigious milestones: from the final of the Tour Music Fest 2018, to the Forum Jazz Live in Forlì with legends such as Dave Weckl and Mike Stern, to the final of Una Voce per San Marino, a competition linked to the Eurovision Song Contest, where they reached the final and ranked ninth out of over a thousand participants. They have also obtained international recognition such as second place in the “On The Music Waves” contest with the song “Downtown” and in the “Music For the Next Generation” competition.
INTERVIEW WITH THE ARTISTS
1. If you had to describe “Live at MAF” in three words, what would they be?
Power. Quality. Cohesion.
2. What makes the atmosphere of your concerts special, and how do you think this album captures it?
I think we truly give our best when we’re on stage, especially at a festival like MAF. Right from the start, we all felt a special energy—maybe it was the massive, thrilled crowd, or perhaps the warm summer breeze. Plus, in all our shows, we love to be inspired by the moment, to improvise, and shake up our songs a little—basically, we never play the same thing twice. That’s what a rock concert should be, right? We see the studio and live performance as two separate worlds that require a totally different approach.
3. This live album marks a new phase for the band, especially with Edoardo Gili’s vocals. How has he influenced your sound and live energy?
Edoardo is the latest addition to the band, though it’s already been four years together. As our frontman, he not only nails the complex vocal lines with precision, but also keeps the audience engaged—always quick-witted, whether introducing a song or filling in the gaps during technical breaks for us instrumentalists.
4. How would you describe the evolution of your sound from the first album “Horror Vacui” to “Live at MAF”?
Hopefully, it’s an upward journey J. Over the years, we’ve worked hard to refine our songwriting and strengthen our cohesion as a band, constantly
pushing ourselves to reach new levels of expression and quality. You can really hear this growth between our first studio album and “What EEF?”, our second one. “Live at MAF” captures both records in a single performance, offering a powerful snapshot of our sound. We’re already working on our next studio album, and I think it’ll further confirm our musical evolution.
5. The press release talks about your “extraordinary musical chemistry.” What’s the secret behind your synergy on stage?
Before being musicians, we’re friends. Of course, each of us brings our own background, technical skills, and songwriting abilities to the table. But none of that truly shines without the magic of playing together, exchanging ideas, and going beyond the individual. We genuinely believe in the concept of a band—something that may feel a bit lost nowadays, but when it works, it creates something truly unique.