BIOGRAPHY

Frank Rizzi

The Early Years
Frank’s musical journey began with a youthful creative burst that led to the production of five homemade demo tapes released under his own name. Though originally conceived as solo works, several of these tracks later became part of the repertoire of his longtime band, Deb.on.Air.

A New Chapter (2014–present)
A more prolific and collaborative phase began in 2014, marked by the creation of numerous demos. Many of these songs have recently been reimagined through artistic partnerships with fellow musicians.

First Official Release – 2021
The EP Il tempo di fermarsi marked Frank’s official debut, produced by Paolo Prati and Emanuele Greco (both members of Deb.on.Air). Blending pop, rock, blues, and Italian cantautorato, it includes:

  • Il viaggio – Winner of the “Sanremo New Talent” (Senior Category, March 2021)
  • La capocciata – Finalist at “Je so’ pazzo” 2021
  • Il tempo di fermarsi – Finalist at “Premio Lucio Dalla”

Backtrack (2022)
Frank’s entrance onto digital platforms came with the double album Backtrack Vol. 1 & 2:

  • Vol. 1 – Synth-pop direction (produced with Thomas Sbaglio)
  • Vol. 2 – Soul-infused sound (produced with Felopy)

Play it! (2023)
Their collaboration extended to Play it! (Oct 30, 2023), featuring:

3 new songs co-written with Thomas Sbaglio
1 track composed with Danny Plourde (Toxic Drive)

IV (2024) & Recent Works (2025)

In 2024, Frank released IV, combining older reworked material with new collaborations with Felopy. In 2025:

  • As Long as I Can – A declaration of intent and love for music
  • Frank Rizzi ft. Thomas Sbaglio – A 12-track collection written in close partnership with Sbaglio

Frank’s solo path is still unfolding—a vibrant future yet to be written.

Toxic Drive

An unexpected encounter online led to the creation of Toxic Drive. Canadian keyboardist Daniel Plourde invited Frank to write lyrics and a melody over one of his instrumentals. Sorry It’s Me was born, soon followed by other collaborations following the same process. Mutual respect grew, and their musical output multiplied, culminating in the release of Toxic, their debut album, in 2022.
In 2023, they followed up with the Space Legacy EP and the album Hexing, whose tracks explore various corners of electronic music: synthwave, darkwave, EBM, and synth-pop. With a wealth of unreleased material still on hand, more albums are in the works.

Cover Art

Frankie Wanna Play

While seeking musicians to form a new band that could broaden his creative horizons, Frank met keyboardist Francesco Brigo from Verona. Both share a background in synth-pop, a fondness for dark atmospheres, and a passion for soul and funk. They began arranging some of Frank’s more recent compositions, resulting in a hybrid sound that nods to the past while reimagining it in a modern light. 
After about a year with a five-piece lineup, Frank and Francesco chose to continue as a duo, drawn together by their stronger musical affinity and shared hunger for experimentation. Francesco focuses on meticulous sound design, while Frank chases intricate metrics, harmonies, and refined lyrics. 
Their music caught the attention of the label Azzurra, leading to a record deal and the release of several singles ahead of an album planned for 2025. They also released a cover of Survivor by Mike Francis.

Cover Art

Deb.on.Air

Frank’s original band, Deb.on.Air, was born from a collaboration with keyboardist Stefano Del Gaudio and bassist Luca Plangger. Initially immersed in late-’80s synth-pop, the band gradually shifted toward rock in the early ‘90s. After Luca’s tragic passing, the group ceased activity for many years, though they never formally disbanded.
In 2013, following an impromptu jam session, the band was reborn, this time with new members including GMA on bass and Paolo Prati and Emanuele Greco on horns. This resurgence led to two albums: Esci dalla mia testa (2018) and Lascia a casa il fidanzato (2023). Tireless, though at their own pace, a third project is already taking shape.

Cover Art

FM EXPERIENCE

Frank’s close friendship with GMA, the bassist from Deb.on.Air, led to his inclusion in the five-member lineup of Frankie Wanna Play. When FWP was reduced to a duo, the desire to keep making music together sparked a more intense collaboration. GMA would provide instrumental tracks, over which Frank developed melodies and lyrics.
The result was a highly satisfying creative process—fast and fruitful—blending genres from jazz to pop, inevitably passing through American-style ‘80s dance music.
But if you’re reading these lines, you already know that…