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Open the Paintbox' (Italy) - Neo Prog

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OpenThePaintbox View Drop Down
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    Posted: June 16 2025 at 15:59
Hello, my name is Giovanni Costantino, and I am the guitarist and bassist of an emerging Progressive Rock band called "Open the Paintbox". Alongside me are Angelica Esposito (vocals) and Fabrizio Tuzza (keyboards).
I would be happy to introduce you to our music. We are inspired by both the classics of the genre and more modern bands. All of our compositions are original.
In the summer of 2024, we released our debut album, "Lapse of Time", which includes a 27-minute title suite combining instrumental and vocal sections.
The main theme of the album is the rediscovery of a deep connection between man and nature, and between the human and the divine.
We are currently already working on a second album, while this past winter we released a new single, Identity, accompanied by a video entirely created with AI.

If you'd like to listen to our music and learn more about us, here are the links to our YouTube, Bandcamp, and official website:
https://www.youtube.com/@openthepaintbox4462
https://openthepaintbox.bandcamp.com/
https://gratis-5337131.webadorsite.com/

Edited by OpenThePaintbox - Yesterday at 04:50
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Hrychu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 16 2025 at 21:58
I'm a sucker for 20+ minute prog songs, so I checked out the title track off Lapse of Time.

The compositional ideas are really nice. I dig the choice of keyboard sounds you guys used, but sometimes they're maybe a bit too close to that cheesy ass 90s dollar bin Neo Prog sort of sound for my tastes (eg. the dated bell synth and choir pads at 19:10 mark).

The vocals are competent but sometimes it's difficult to understand what's being sung without the lyric sheet at hand (which is a common trait of Italians singing in English for some reason).
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote yam yam Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 16 2025 at 22:00
Welcome to Progarchives, Giovanni, and thank you for introducing us to your project. I have had a quick listen to the 'Lapse of Time' album, plus a few of your other uploads on YouTube, and there is no doubt whatsoever that the project deserves a place in the Archives, but I'm not sure at the moment which sub genre would be the most appropriate one.

I'm tending to lean towards Neo Prog after my first quick listen, but Symphonic Prog would also be a possibility. There is also Crossover Prog as a third option, but I think that would definitely be the least favoured of the three, since I don't really hear much in the way of 'mainstream' influences in your music.

What sub genre do you yourself consider would best categorise your music? Maybe you could add it to the topic title to help attract the attention of the team which looks after that sub genre - something like: 'Open the Paintbox' (Italy) - Symphonic or Neo Prog' (chose the one you favour the most, or leave both in the topic title if you like).

If you could also perhaps choose the band photo you would like us to use on your eventual page (just the link to it will be enough), and maybe a 'ready to go' biography that we could use (with permission of course, and which we would credit you for) - though we could always derive something from the information given on your website if you would rather not do this.

Thanks.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote OpenThePaintbox Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Yesterday at 04:40
Hi! I completely agree with what you said. We still need to gain experience, and we truly appreciate feedback and advice from listeners and enthusiasts to keep learning.
Let me suggest the first track we've released from our second album, which we're still working on. You'll probably find it closer to classic progressive rock in terms of sound.
If you're interested, I can send you the link.
As for the pronunciation, you're absolutely right—we're Italian, and Sicilian on top of that! Just think of us as the prog version of The Godfather.
Thanks again for your interest!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote OpenThePaintbox Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Yesterday at 04:44
So Hrychu, I'm sending you the link of this new song. Thanks again for everything.
https://youtu.be/oxX3wnU2NwI?si=jNTk4QeI9TMv9uKI

Edited by OpenThePaintbox - Yesterday at 04:45
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote OpenThePaintbox Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Yesterday at 05:26
Hi yam yam,
I’ve immediately corrected the thread title on the forum. You're right—Neo-Prog is definitely the most accurate subgenre for us.
This album includes elements we certainly plan to develop and refine over time. With our second album, which is currently in progress, we’re aiming to get closer to the more vintage and characteristic sounds of classic prog. At the same time, we’re also incorporating more experimental elements—such as sections with classical instruments—and a harder rock edge, which will feature in some of the upcoming tracks.
I'm really happy about your suggestion to be reviewed on this platform. Where exactly should I send the material? Is there a specific link?
As for the biography, the one on our website could work, but I can also prepare a more tailored version if needed. Unfortunately, we have very few “good” photos to share right now—we were actually planning to take new ones this summer.
Since we live in different cities, we can only work together during holidays, so I hope it will be possible to update the photos later on if necessary.
That said, I’m really glad that our music has caught your interest.
Thank you so much again! I’ll wait for your reply to know how to proceed.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote yam yam Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 hours 38 minutes ago at 10:07
No need to send any material, since the samples on YouTube, Bandcamp etc are all that we need. A more tailored biography written by yourself would be a big help in speeding up the evaluation, since our collaborators are only volunteers here, and don't always have the time to prepare one quickly from existing information available on an artist's website.

As for a band photo, we can use the one on your official website and Instagram for now, and if you acquire one that you would prefer us to use at a later date, then we can easily update the page.

I will now pass the suggestion on the Neo Prog team for an evaluation to be carried out.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote OpenThePaintbox Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 hours 48 minutes ago at 14:57
Hello yam yam, thank you.
This is a more concise and complete biography.

"Open the Paintbox" is a Neo Prog Rock band, inspired both by the great classics of the genre and its evolution over time.
Formed in Messina (Italy) in 2005 from the meeting of keyboardist Fabrizio Tuzza and guitarist/bassist Giovanni Costantino, the initial project focused on creating original instrumental music, blending vintage and modern sounds.
After meeting vocalist Angelica Esposito in 2013, the project shifted towards the creation of more elaborate and refined suites, alternating vocal and instrumental sections.
The lyrics, written alternately by the three members, explore philosophical themes aimed at rediscovering a deep connection between humanity and nature, between humankind and the divine, in an increasingly massified and skeptical society.
Starting with their first song, "Starlight", later included as a bonus track in the debut album Lapse of Time for thematic continuity, the band worked on numerous projects that they would later develop—before fully dedicating themselves to the creation of this album in 2024.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote yam yam Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 hours 10 minutes ago at 16:35
^ That will do nicely, thank you!
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