Alessandro Cortini

Instruments:Keyboards, Guitar, Backing Vocals

Active:2005-2008, 2013-

Tours:Live: With Teeth-Lights In The Sky

Alessandro Cortini (born May 24, 1976, in Bologna, Italy) was the keyboardist during live performances by Nine Inch Nails from 2005 through 2008. He also occasionally plays guitar, for example, on "Getting Smaller," "Mr. Self Destruct," and "Echoplex."

Alessandro has been confirmed as a touring member of Nine Inch Nails on their 2013-2014 tour. He is also part of the current How To Destroy Angels live lineup, contributing bass, synthesisers and vocals.

Biography

Cortini was born in the Italian city of Bologna and raised in Forlì. Sometime around 1998, Cortini moved to the United States to study guitar at the Musicians Institute, where he met Swedish guitarist Pelle Hillström. After graduating he began focusing on keyboards and synths.

While briefly teaching at the Musicians Institute, he saw an ad for open auditions for Nine Inch Nails; after impressing Trent Reznor in his audition, he was brought on board to form the live band for the 2005 Live: With Teeth tour and has been a member of the band ever since. On December 13th, 2008, Cortini posted a blog on Modwheelmood's MySpace account stating that he is leaving the band and that the other members had known of his decision for some time. Cortini has shared songwriting credits for several songs on Ghosts I-IV and appears in the NIN music videos for "The Hand That Feeds" and "Survivalism".

Cortini is also the frontman of Los Angeles-area band modwheelmood, which he leads with Hillstrom. The band is signed to fellow NIN bandmate Aaron North and Travis Keller's record label, Buddyhead. Prior to forming modwheelmood, Cortini acted as touring guitarist for The Mayfield Four.

Cortini currently resides in the Los Angeles area with his dog and three cats.

In 2010, Alessandro started his solo-project called SONOIO (from "sono io", which is the Italian for "it's me"). Its first album, Blue, was released in 2010 and was followed by a remix album. The second album, Red, was released in 2011 and again followed by a remix album.

Trent Reznor on hiring Cortini

"My first thought when Alessandro walked in was that he didn't look like what I had in mind. His presence was intense but gentle, not the 'I'm gonna attack you' energy fans might associate with NIN. Then he started, and within 30 seconds I was like 'That's the guy!' I never once regretted it. Without taking anything away from Charlie, Alessandro is really into playing the studio parts as much as humanly possible." [1]

Body of Work

Blindoldfreak

1 (2009)

Modwheelmood

? (2003)
Enemies & Immigrants (2006)
Things Will Change (2007) - Remixes of Enemies & Immigrants
Pearls to Pigs, Vol.1 EP (2007)
Pearls to Pigs, Vol.2 EP (2008)
Pearls to Pigs, Vol.3 EP (2008)
Pearls to Pigs (2009)

Remixes

"The Great Destroyer" by Nine Inch Nails for Y34RZ3R0R3M1X3D

Nine Inch Nails

Beside You In Time (2007)
Ghosts I–IV (2008)
The Slip (2008)
Hesitation Marks (2013)

How To Destroy Angels

"We Fade Away" - co-written/performed (2013)

Ladytron

Velocifero - collaboration & production. EP (2008)

Yoav

Charmed & Strange (2008)

SONOIO

Blue (2010)
Non Blue (2010)
Red (2011)
Non Red (2011)
Scientist (limited edition 7" vinyl single, 2011)

Films

Righteous Kill (2008)
Tropic Thunder (2008)