WHAT EVERYONE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT THIS WEEK
The Italian rock icon trades leather for luxury in a stunning solo transformation.
Words: Ciaran Picker.
Photos: Barbara Oizmud.
When they won Eurovision in 2021, Måneskin became global superstars overnight. After four years of non-stop touring, an MTV VMA victory, and even a Grammy Award nomination, Damiano David has stepped out of his frontman persona and into a daunting solo project, shifting into a new introspective era as he looks to make sense of the fame-induced whirlwind that surrounds him.
From what we already know about this new Damiano David project, there’s plenty to be excited about. Swerving away from the arena-sized glam rock that took Måneskin to the top of the scene, he’s softened the edges, swapped the skin-tight leather for sharp suits, and created a theatrical world that allows him to exaggerate his style and really explore his own vulnerabilities.
Damiano’s debut single, ‘Silverlines’, was a soft launch, sneaking out into the public domain as a hint that something was happening behind the scenes. Produced by world-renowned artist Labrinth, it was a statement of intent, with the ominous yet expansive soundscape all about building tension, lighting a fuse that would subsequently explode into the second single, ‘Born With A Broken Heart’.
Looking back to the very start of the project, Damiano underlines why these two songs were the obvious choice to kick off his solo career: “‘Silverlines’ was a message for future me, and it’s the first song on the record. Also, to have Labrinth feature on my debut song was really meaningful for me.”
He continues: “Then ‘Born With A Broken Heart’ is the blueprint for the rest of the record, in terms of the language and the music that we used. It really defined the sound and the atmosphere that we created.”
That ‘big’ sound set Damiano’s solo career on fire, with his ability to write stadium-sized choruses resulting in an appearance on Jimmy Fallon in the States and a sold-out New York City show that sent fans into raptures. Alongside it came a video that perfectly encompasses not only this new music but also Damiano’s whole vibe.
A throwback to the glory days of Hollywood, all feathers, sparkly dresses, and a cameo from Damiano’s superstar other half, Dove Cameron, it turned up the theatricality and proved that this is no flash in the pan. “The aesthetic is very close to who I am; I always wear shirts and suits when I’m in the house. The theatrically came organically, and it really resonated with me. It was also the first song that I wrote where I said, ‘OK, this is going to be big!’”
When talking about this project, Damiano comes to life. His eyes sparkle, there’s a permanent grin on his devilishly handsome face, and his tone changes to embody the sun-drenched room from which he, and his black cat, Peanut, have dialled in. The cornerstone of this new chapter in his life is health, putting his mind, body, and soul ahead of bright lights and red carpets, allowing him to really showcase his true self.
“With the band, I always felt like there was this part of myself that I wasn’t expressing,” Damiano recalls, “so with this project, I got time to do some research into my own self and my own sound.” This journey to the centre of his being gave the project unique perspective on Damiano’s life, mirroring the way he was feeling over the seven-month period that it took to write the album.
“I view the album as a diary or a journal during a really difficult part of my life,” he reveals, “but it’s split into two very different phases. One part of it was written during my healing phase, so it’s in the present tense and about how I was feeling in that exact moment. The other half is where I am today, in almost a third person perspective, looking back knowing that it got better.”
What’s clear from the two songs already released, as well as from hearing him speak about the project with such reverence, is that Damiano is an incredibly emotional songwriter, only focussing on songs that he felt had the potential to go the distance. Working with other songwriters and musicians to create a bit of lyrical and sonic variety, it was only the tracks that everyone felt excited about that made their way into Damiano’s huge song bank.
“I have these little obsessions that make recording sessions really efficient. The main one is that, if everyone loves a song, nobody is leaving that room until it’s done. If we’re working on an idea and people are looking at the clock, yawning, and desperate to leave, then they’re not excited about the song, and there’s no point trying to work on it when nobody has any enthusiasm for it.”
He continues: “We would always work on the skeleton of the song first instead of working on details; you need to have the verse, pre-chorus, chorus, etcetera before you focus on what guitar you use or where the vocal goes. We ended up with 70 songs by the end of the process. Then, when we listened back, there were some songs that were just bad, so we managed to get it down to about 40 that would work with the style, the message, or songs that I could imagine playing live. Now, we’re at about 21 songs that are ready to go; it was like mining for diamonds; you have to dig through mud and ugly songs to get to the shiny, golden songs that don’t come around very often.”
“The aesthetic is very close to who I am; I always wear shirts and suits when I’m in the house”
The key difference between writing as a solo artist or in a band is that every decision ultimately comes down to you, making the process intimately personal and removing the possibility of indecision and delays. Whilst Damiano utilised the talents of his writing partners, part of the joy of this project is the fact that it feels like an authentic and honest representation of Damiano at his most raw.
“I always write with songwriters because just constantly writing from your own voice can become redundant, repetitive, and just too ego-centric,” Damiano states, “but it was definitely easier to get to the heart of the subject with this because it’s only me, I don’t have to run ideas past the rest of the band or play through other ideas that don’t go anywhere.”
“I was working with talented people who made the room feel really healthy and comfortable, which gave me a friendly environment to express myself and let them into my world. By the end, I didn’t even have to express myself; they were coming to me saying, ‘Damiano, you mentioned this yesterday, which made me think of this sentence. Does this mean anything to you?’ And if it sparked something inside me, we’d fit it into a track. Songwriting is like unlocking valves; you find the right combination to get it to click, and then just let it flow.”
Damiano has clearly found this winning formula, not just musically but also with respect to his own sanity and settled spirit. Since bursting onto the scene with Måneskin, Damiano hasn’t had a chance to breathe, culminating in the foggy haze that descended and formed the central theme of this new project.
“We won Eurovision when I was 22,” Damiano reminisces, “and at that age, you just run at everything; you take every opportunity that’s thrown at you. We’re a Grammy-nominated band from Italy; we’ve played with the Rolling Stones and Iggy Pop. I’ll remember all those amazing things for the rest of my life.”
“You have to dig through mud to get to the shiny, golden songs”
All of the hype and subsequent success that surrounded Måneskin understandably consumed all aspects of Damiano’s life, with youthful exuberance eventually becoming detrimental to his mental and physical well-being.
“Obviously, it’s amazing to be nominated for awards, to win Eurovision and VMAs and play shows all around the world, but my ambition ended up overtaking my health. My life was just aeroplane, stage, aeroplane, stage for three years. With this project, I don’t ever want to lose the fun. It might mean less success, and I might have to give things up, but my main goal now is to be happy and healthy. Awards and Number 1 records are great, but pursuing them can’t overstep my health.”
“Now,” he continues, “I’ve got a different energy and different priorities. I want to spend time with my family and with my partner; I want to take care of myself and do all the little things that make life normal. I remember being so excited just to go to the grocery store; I don’t want to lose that enthusiasm for life.”
It’s this mantra that Damiano is taking with him as he heads further into this new solo era. Taking the reins and riding at full speed into his debut album cycle, his steely-eyed determination has never been more focused.
“I work better under pressure or when I have something to work towards – if I don’t see the point in something, I lose interest. I can see the purpose with this; I did it for me and my own satisfaction.”
For Damiano’s fans everywhere, the news that new music equals new shows will be very welcome news. His hot-off-the-press, literally-just-announced new tour that takes him all around the world and back again, including a quick stop-off at Camden’s Roundhouse, is a chance for Damiano to show off his suave, sophisticated new sound to thousands of fans globally.
“People assume that because I’m not with the band, I’m up there on my own, but I actually have more people behind me now than I did before, so there’s always people there with me, which is very reassuring! I’m looking forward to playing a bunch of shows, but I don’t want to fall into the trap of getting distracted by parties and cool stuff. I want to stay centred and stay healthy.”
Damiano is playing his cards close to his chest when it comes to next steps for this project, keeping it under his control and waiting until he’s ready. What is clear, though, is that this is a record that Damiano needed to create to relieve some pressure and recalibrate his mind. When asked about what comes next, the words Damiano uses are telling: “It’s all about freedom, having fun, and being organic and authentic.”
Standing alone, staring his future down, Damiano David knows what he wants. One thing’s for sure: he won’t stop until he gets it.
Damiano David will play London’s Roundhouse on 28th September. Tickets go on general sale from Monday, 16th December.
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