Fati Fehmiju, Luigi Bruti and the KORG FISA SUPREMA – Chapter 3

August 8th 2025
Holda Paoletti-Kampl

Editors Note:

Through this Celebrity Interview, readers will gain insight into the start of the KORG FISA SUPREMA project – how the concept evolved from initial discussions and ideas into a cutting-edge technological instrument, designed with intuitive features and advanced options to accommodate accordionists of all skill levels. This Celebrity Interview also includes links to previously published accordion history of Fati Fehmiju and Luigi Bruti. https://www.fatifehmiju.com/ and https://accordions.com/interviews/bruti/bruti2.htm

Link to Chapter 1, Link to Chapter 2

Chapter 3: The Journey Beyond Launch

Luigi Bruti: It was a truly unique opportunity to present the FISA SUPREMA in Castelfidardo, the birthplace of all accordions, during the Coupe Mondiale organized by the CIA. The setting – the historic “Soprani Terrace” (picture below) was filled with both history and emotion. In a single event, the entire accordion world was introduced to this new instrument.

waiting for the Korg Fisa Suprema presentation
waiting for the presentation

Fati Fehmiju: For me, this was a dream come true. Even now, when I think back to that day, I can almost smell the atmosphere. I attended the event alongside Luigi, right in the heart of the accordion world. From the very beginning, I had dreamed of this moment – and thanks to Luigi, Accordions WorldWide, CIA members, accordion teachers, AlgamEko, Dexibell, and KORG, we were able to introduce our accordion to the global accordion community.

Luigi Bruti: The FISA SUPREMA C was created to meet the need for an even smaller and more compact instrument – without any compromise in performance.
Unlike other digital accordions, a teenager, a woman, or anyone who prefers a more lightweight instrument is no longer penalized with lower-quality sounds, a limited sound library, or reduced programming options.
None of that applies here – the FISA SUPREMA C is simply smaller. That’s it.

Fati Fehmiju: At the start of development, our plan was to create a mid-size accordion with fewer features, focusing primarily on its compact size. But as our discussions progressed, we naturally came to a different conclusion: every player deserves to experience uncompromised performance.

So, we made hardware modifications and transformed the smaller model into what we now call the Suprema Compact. While it isn’t exactly the same as its larger sibling, players won’t feel shortchanged by the design – no features were sacrificed simply because of its smaller dimensions. Thanks to digital technology, this was entirely possible. The name SUPREMA C is simply an abbreviation for Suprema Compact.

Luigi Bruti: Time is limited due to my ongoing commitments to development, but with the help of modern technologies like video calls, I would be honored to present and explain this instrument for events of particular importance.

Fati Fehimiju and Luigi Bruti
Fati Fehmiju and Luigi Bruti demonstrating

Fati Fehmiju: Absolutely yes. I would be very happy and honored to lead demonstrations, workshops, seminars, and masterclasses for the digital accordion. If we can coordinate the time zones, it would be great fun to do these sessions together with Luigi.

Luigi Bruti: My advice is to explore new musical horizons. The FISA SUPREMA can faithfully represent any genre traditionally played on the accordion, but it also opens the door to styles that have never before been explored with this instrument.

Fati Fehmiju: My first piece of advice would be to focus on studying the sound and bellows movement. I firmly believe that with FISA, accordion players will develop even better control over their acoustic bellows expression. The digital and acoustic worlds can truly support and enhance each other.

Building on that foundation, once players enter the digital realm, they can explore new sounds and genres through bellows control – opening exciting possibilities for expanding their repertoire.

Luigi Bruti: Thanks to its versatility, it fits perfectly not only in traditional accordion genres, but also in modern pop bands, large-scale concerts, and outdoor events. One key advantage is that the instrument can be easily connected to professional sound systems, allowing front-of-house engineers to control its volume with great precision and without the risk of feedback – something that has historically been a challenge for acoustic accordions in amplified environments.

The Korg FISA SUPREMA is a natural successor for the electronium instrument widely used by accordion orchestras. The FISA SUPREMA very expressive bellows, huge range of reed and orchestral sounds, volume control without feedback, visibility of the player, are all reasons that the Korg FISA SUPREMA is suitable for all types of music and an ideal musical evolution/next-gen sound expansion for accordion orchestras.

Another important aspect is the visual presence of the FISA SUPREMA. Unlike a piano or keyboard, where the player is often hidden behind the instrument, the design and position of the accordion make it much more engaging for the audience to watch (right hand keyboard, bellows, bass buttons all being active and visible to the audience) during live performances. It brings both sound and showmanship to the stage.

In addition, the instrument is an excellent controller for computer-based music production. Thanks to the expressive power of the bellows, musicians can create complex MIDI sequences with real-time control over sound parameters — including orchestral layering, dynamics, and modulation. This opens up exciting possibilities for studio work, film scoring, and electronic music.

With all these qualities, I believe the FISA SUPREMA can truly help bring the accordion into new musical landscapes that were once out of reach.

Fati Fehmiju: I believe that FISA SUPREMA will be a strong supporter of acoustic accordions. It opens the door for traditional musicians to step into the digital realm without sacrificing playability or expression. At the same time, it serves as an invitation for new musicians to discover and join the accordion world.

Thanks to our advanced bellows technology and the connectivity options of this digital instrument, home recording sessions have never been easier or more efficient. With just a single USB-B to USB-A cable, you can simultaneously record both MIDI and audio tracks directly into your DAW—no extra equipment needed.

Additionally, if you’re not an accordion player but need to compose or arrange music for the instrument, FISA can be a fantastic controller. For film composers, the bellows provide nuanced expression, allowing them to simulate strings, brass, or woodwinds with greater realism during their sessions.

I strongly believe that FISA Suprema represents the first step toward exciting future opportunities. Together with acoustic manufacturers, teachers, academies, the CIA, musicians, and everyone who loves the accordion, we need to collaborate, engage in open dialogue, and expand this vibrant culture.

I’m truly looking forward to making music, being part of the accordion world, and sharing the joy of this beautiful culture with everyone.

Fati Fehmiju and Luigi Bruti: Unfortunately, during the development of this project, the presidents of both companies passed away. We want to express our deepest gratitude to Mr. Seiki Kato and Fabrizio Sorbi. Their passion for the accordion and unwavering support were invaluable to this dream project. While we deeply mourn their loss, we remain committed to continuing our work and improving the accordion in their memory.

Link to Chapter 1, Link to Chapter 2

Celebrity Interviews heading