For four years they disappeared from the radar, the last concert just before the lockdown (it was February 15, 2020 in Genoa), then nothing more. Challenging a market that wants artists to always be present. It was the opportunity for each of the members of the band (which went from 5 to 4 with the exit of Francesco Bacci) to come to terms with themselves, with their lives, their ambitions: there are those who have started a family , those who dedicated themselves to something else, those who attempted the solo path. A silence that is now interrupted with the publication of Auguri, the new album by Ex-Otago (for Capitol Records Italy/INRI). "We went through many phases - says the Genoese band led by Maurizio Carucci, with Simone Bertuccini, Olmo Martellacci and Rachid Bouchabla - even those of an internal crisis, for disparate reasons. We had to understand what to do when we grew up and it wasn't trivial. Sometimes we it loses the magic of everyday life as in couples, but the distance helped. Covid sawed off everyone's legs, but once the wounds were healed we looked at each other and realized that we still wanted to be together and above all that we still had something to say. This was the reason that pushed us to move forward. There was still petrol in the tank and these songs are proof of this."
The choice of the title of the new work, Auguri, has a double meaning: Auguri resonates as a passionate toast to authentic life as well as a sarcastic comment that anticipates circumstances with an uncertain outcome. A total of 10 tracks which include the group's latest hits (Con te, La puzza della città, Mondo Panico) and seven unreleased songs, with collaborations from Fabri Fibra, Olly and Coma_cose. "For the title we also bothered with Latin, meaning to increase, or in our case to become great and aware, in this moment of great complexity. It is an album of stories, intimate, which talks about us and strips us of our barriers and at the same time very reassuring, as we delve into the social issues that have always been dear to us. And finally the word best wishes is dear to us, it reminds us of our grandparents, of trips with our parents, it throws us directly into relationships with people". An album to be free to "say what we want. Even the feats were genuine, uncontrolled encounters. Collaborations with artists with whom there is mutual respect and friendship". In 2019 they participated in the Sanremo festival, making themselves known to the general public, but perhaps without obtaining the desired results. "Opportunity exploited or opportunity that exploited us? We could say that it was mutual. You get into that grip and give what you can. Today, if it happened again, we would go there in a more relaxed and aware way. The over 1500 concerts we have under our belt they allowed us to get to that stage, but every stage, and every audience, deserves the same commitment and energy." Ex-Otago are also ready to return live with the Auguri Tour Estate 2024, 11 summer events starting on May 25th from Milan at the Mi Ami Festival and with the special date of July 12th scheduled in Genoa. "A dedication to our city which is changing and points to a future that does not always represent us".