The Mirrors is a rock project founded in Milan in 2002 by Marco Ortensi.
The band's sound combines new wave elements with smooth pop melodies and a vintage psychedelic flavour with a rock energy.
The group was born out of its members' love for American and British music that influences its original repertoire.
Marco sponsored the band from 2002 releasing 7 albums that were very well-received by critics, who declared them among the best on the Italian independent scene (Time Beats Only Once was a RockSound album of the month in 2005, the band won a prize from InSound critics and excellent reviews in Rockstar, Rumore, Tribe Magazine, Corriere della Sera, etc). The songs played many times on Radio Rai 1, Jack FM 101.1 (CBS), RockFM, Radio Popolare and other networks.
Recently producer Andre Doucette (30 Seconds to Mars) selected a song for the American film Shred starring Tom Green (Road Trip, Charlie's Angels, Late show with David Letterman) published by Peace Arch/Movie Central.
During 2011 "Hit the sun" was placed in the Uk film "You Instead/Tonight you're mine" by BBC/Sony Pictures. With Natalia Tena (About a boy, Harry Potter), Al Green and Paolo Nutini. A film set on 'T in the park' appreciated from Sunday Mirror and New York Times, Heat Mag and awarded at Glasgow Film Festival, Scottish BAFTA and BIFA 2011.
At the beginning of 2012 "Hit the sun" is selected for the 17th episode of the mystery/thriller TV series"The lying game" (Warner) on ABC Family Usa. Soundtracks are written by Pieter A. Schlosser (Trasformers, Desperate housewifes, Sims 3).
Some of the best recognition to date came from abroad when in 2007 Steve Zuckerman - winner of two Grammy Awards for the production of Les Paul & Friends (with Keith Richards and Eric Clapton) - took note of "The Whole" and chose to include it in a charity project called Hope: Love is the Answer alongside Robert Fripp of King Crimson.
Marco recently produced also an international project of Awards & Festival involving Curt Smith (Tears for fears), Roger O'Donnell (The Cure), Jimmy Destri (Blondie), Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits), Morgan Fisher (Mott the Hoople), Richard Barbieri (Japan, Porcupine Tree), Martin Moscrop (A certain ratio), Mark Gardener (Ride), Mark Morriss (Bluetones), Blaine Leslie Reininger (Tuxedomoon) and Roger Joseph Manning Jr (Jhonny Cash, Ringo Starr, Morrisey, Beck).
The band has made many appearances at festivals and nightclubs, including: the Creativity Festival in Florence, the IPO Festival at Liverpool's Cavern Club, Milano Film Festival at Strehler Theatre, the Milano in Music Festival at the Castello Sforzesco, the Rai Demo Festival (before 25'000 concert-goers at Lamezia), and others. They shared the scene with artists such as Peter Hook (New Order/Joy Division), Andy Fletcher (Depeche Mode), Hinkel (Fools Garden side project), Velvet, L'Aura, Daniele Groff to name a few.
The band's first video "If", produced by Leone Balduzzi (Elisa, Planet Funk), also received many accolades for its well-researched adaptation of cinema's film noir style.
The well-known international magazine Shots also applauded the band's video. When the television networks MTV Brand New and Canada's CBC put the video on the air, 'The Great Illusion' Album reached fourth place in Italy's iTunes rock chart in March 2006.
Praise continues to rain upon the group, which received two PVI and PIVI 2006 nominations and invitations to the Creativity Festival, the Venice Airport Festival and O'Curt. The video was also inducted to All Music's Video History of Rock and included in Roxy Bar's dvd.
Some pieces, such as "If" and "The Whole" received special mentions from Billboard and the International Songwriting Competition, which features Robert Smith (The Cure), Peter Hook (Joy Division, New Order), Frank Black (The Pixies) and Chris Hillman (The Byrds) among its jury members.
The Mirror continue to work with both Italian and international musicians. In 2007, an encounter with Bluvertigo's Andy and his figurative art, and exposure to Fools Garden's international sound, led to collaboration and the resulting split The Big Eye.
A new EP called "Show Hunter" is coming out for the end of 2012, showcasing The Mirrors artistic maturity and continued musical growth.
