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Amnplify AU: The Spikes

  • 2 days ago
  • 5 min read


Interview withTHE SPIKES

(1st April 2026)

Interview by Dave Bruce



How did the band come together? Where did it all begin?


The Spikes is a solo venture. I had two different bands when I was younger, growing up in Rome. But when I came to the U.S. I set out on a solo career and called myself THE SPIKES.


Briefly describe your journey to date.


My journey since being in the U.S. has been a gradual rise. My songwriting, poetry, and art all contributed to and culminated in my first EP, FIRST LIGHT, which I released last year. This has been the best expression for me as an artist. The reviews, music videos, and attention from this album have opened opportunities I did not foresee.This month, I am featured in a new L.G.R. sunglass campaign, which also features my music from the album. These are the sunglasses I have worn for the last five years, so it was very cool to collaborate with them. I am now touring with live shows in different clubs.


How would you describe your sound? Why do you think fans resonate with your music?


My sound is very similar to artists like Nick Cave, Mark Lanegan, Leonard Cohen, or even Tom Waits. My songwriting is driven by poetic lyrics as opposed to catchy phrases or anthemic choruses. I never try to emulate what is popular on the music scene. My sound can vary between atmospheric rock to slower, minimal ballads.So, on one hand, being a twenty-two-year-old setting out on this path allows me to stand out from the wallpaper of the music scene and sort of blaze my own trail. But at the same time, this genre of music has less of an established fan base, so I am reaching fewer people, because there are not a lot of people pursuing this path as a new artist.But in the end, I prefer this road. I think the fan base I form will be stronger, because it will be people who recognize me and my sound as a different genre, not just another face in a giant genre of similar artists.



Your debut Album ‘First Light’ was released late last year! What’s it all about? Describe its origin and evolution.


First Light is an accumulation of myself as a poet, songwriter, and artist. A lot of the material is very personal and comes from many different sources and experiments. I keep a very complex journal of writings and artwork, so most of these songs manifest themselves from these pages of notes and visuals.DANCING was a song I wrote based on the novel The Great Gatsby. I was trying to step into the head of Jay Gatsby and understand who he was as a person, as opposed to what is written about him in the book, as a third-person observation.SAPLING TREE was something I wrote using the “Cut-Up Method” invented by Brion Gysin and William Burroughs as a “Beat Generation” tool. This is a way to take an entire page of writing, cut up each sentence, and then randomly reassemble these sentences in an unplanned order, something David Bowie also used when writing Life On Mars.



GARDEN SONG is more of a straightforward, positive love song, minus the clichés. It is almost like disarming someone who is pissed off at their world. This is evident in the opening lyrics: “Put down your gun. I don’t want you to hurt no one…” Then it segues into the chorus: “I don’t want to leave this world without you. Let’s sit back and enjoy the view.” It has a positive message for today’s world, which is: “The world can be a pretty dark and difficult place to negotiate today, but let’s go through this together and enjoy the moment. We’ll get through it.”


What are the signature tracks on the album, and which are your favorites to play live?


Dancing, Sapling Tree, Garden Song, and My Fair Love are my signature, or favorite, tracks. The songs I enjoy playing live are By The Moors, Set Me Free, Garden Song, and Dancing.


Any new music on the horizon?


Always new music on the horizon. At the moment, I am working on my next album and finishing an album of cover songs. These covers are mostly from the ’80s and ’90s, and it’s been a lot of fun to re-interpret them.


What tours/gigs are coming up? What are you looking forward to, and what can the fans expect?


We are playing a series of shows in Denver: Stone Cottage on April 3rd, Swallow Hill on May 17th, and Skylark Lounge on May 21st.


If you could perform with any music artist, Alive or Dead, who would you choose? And why?


I would have loved to tour with Mark Lanegan. Our music lives on the same planet but is still quite different. Juxtaposed with each other, it would make a great show. I would also love to play with PJ Harvey.



What are your long-term aspirations as a music artist and how are you progressing towards them?


My long-term aspirations as a musician and artist are to constantly evolve and change—that is the most important thing. I want to avoid getting stuck in the same groove, reach as many people as possible, and make a living doing this work so I don’t have to supplement my time with anything outside of this journey.


With that in mind, what piece of advice would you give to an artist starting out?


This goes for music, art, and writing: create only from your gut. Write and produce what truly represents you and your feelings. You cannot create for someone else or try to guess what others will like, it will only end up sounding or looking like a copy of what’s already out there. It will never be honest, and it will never reflect a distinct voice. A distinct voice is what will define you as an artist. Strive to make that voice as honest and authentic as possible.


What is the best thing about performing to a live audience? What’s been the career highlight so far?


I live for playing live. It is the most rewarding part of the entire process. When I am on stage, I become someone different, I go from Iago Haussman to The Spikes. It’s like an alter ego. Sometimes I’m not even aware of what I am doing. It’s definitely an out-of-body experience because you’re riding the energy of the audience, yet you can also shape and control that energy. I don’t have any single highlights because I enjoy all my shows.



Now for some quickfire questions to get a little personal:


What is the craziest thing you’ve ever done? Spoke to a mole.

What is the one topic you can talk about for hours? The life of a mole.

What is the thing you like most about yourself? I don’t take myself too seriously.

Finally, let’s find out what your current (or all time) favorites are –Album – I’m Your Man by Leonard Cohen

Artist – Nick Cave

Movie – Paris Texas

Place to visit – Tangier, Morrocco

Venue to play – Trident in Boulder

Food – Thai Patsu

Drink – A White Russian

Person in History – Che Guevara

Tattoo – (If you don’t have one, what would you get?) – Safety pin.



Follow THE SPIKES



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