Walk of Muses: Hugo Race and New Candys on Art and Music

The Italian art magazine Artribune launched a new column called Walk of Muses, created by artist Samantha Stella, which profiles musicians through their favorite visual artwork. The first installment features Australian musician Hugo Race and Italian band New Candys. Hugo Race (born 1963 in Melbourne) is a guitarist, composer, and producer who was an early member of Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds and has led projects like The Wreckery, True Spirits, Dirtmusic, and Hugo Race Fatalists. He defines art as the human attempt to understand consciousness and transcendence, and music as the alchemy of frequencies and rhythm. His chosen artwork is Caravaggio's Narcissus (1597-1599, oil on canvas, Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica, Palazzo Barberini, Rome). New Candys formed in Veneto in 2008, blending dark modern, rock'n'roll, and neo-psychedelia, with albums on Fuzz Club and Little Cloud Records. They have performed in Europe, Mexico, Australia, and the US, supported by Italia Music Export. Their current lineup includes Fernando Nuti (vocals, guitar), Andrea Volpato (guitar, backing vocals), Alessandro Boschiero (bass), and Dario Lucchesi (drums). Nuti defines art as communication between conscious and subconscious, and music as the invisible, most introspective art. The band's chosen visual work is Stanley Kubrick's film Eyes Wide Shut (1999), appreciating its themes, symbolism, and use of Venetian masks.