Fabio Cicala blends classical guitar and personal reflection in "The Words I Didn't Say"

London-based classical guitarist Fabio Cicala recently released his latest instrumental single, "The Words I Didn't Say", on Valentine's Day 2025. This original composition, entirely self-composed and performed by Cicala, offers a captivating blend of baroque, neoclassical, and psychedelic rock influences. It's a musical expression of Cicala's life since moving to the UK from Italy in 2014.

Speaking about the inspiration behind the track, Cicala shares, "I was practicing my set of cover songs before a gig, and while I was starting to play 'Careless Whisper', I was thinking of my crush at the same time, so my fingers jumped into a baroque and neoclassical solo." The song's dramatic melody is enriched with virtuoso phrases and minimalistic chords, which Cicala then infuses with elements of progressive rock from the '70s, creating a lively, chromatic shift that gives the song its contemplative touch.

For Cicala, "The Words I Didn't Say" represents more than just a composition—it's a window into his personal experiences. He explains, "This song was born after I got a crush on a girl I met on a film set. Her aura was so powerful, I was nearly dazzled at once, but though there was a mutual fascination, I didn't allow myself to go any further, as at that time, I was already in a relationship."

The track is part of Cicala's larger project, Rude Awakening, which consists of nine songs that reflect his musical and spiritual evolution over the years. He notes, "This song is part of a music project called Rude Awakening, a collection of tunes for classical guitar, which is a kaleidoscope of sounds, encompassing several genres and styles. I called it Rude Awakening because it's about the unique event each of us go through at least once in a lifetime, which triggers us to dig into ourself and to restart our life in a more empowered way."

Musically, "The Words I Didn't Say" stands out with its harmonious fusion of classical guitar and raw acoustic sounds. The entire Rude Awakening project is crafted to aid in personal reflection, recorded at Abbey Road and Soho Sonic Studios. Cicala adds, "It's music for meditation with A tuned at 432 Hz. By coincidence the day, month, and year of my birth, reduced in single digit numbers, comes just to 432!"

Stream "The Words I Didn't Say" below.

Reese Senin

Reese is a freelance creative with a passion for music blogging, diving deep into the sounds that shape her world. Her musical tastes span from the raw energy of post-punk to the storytelling charm of folk rock, but it's Echo & the Bunnymen who reign as her ultimate heroes.

"The Words I Didn't Say"
Single
Fabio Cicala
Released February 14, 2025