Francamente: Words power

Hi! I got into music almost as a game. My house was always filled with musical instruments, so the piano, the guitar, and the dreaded recorder from middle school were just like any other toys to me. I’d pick them up, bang on them, and every now and then, a sound would come out! Singing has always been something I loved, for as long as I can remember. The turning point came in high school when, at 14 or 15, I joined a rock band. That was my phase of Pink Floyd and Janis Joplin t-shirts, and that’s when I truly discovered myself as a singer. I started enjoying the feeling of being on stage with other people, performing together. That band experience led me to study classical singing for two years, which took me into a Puccini phase—basically, I was the new Madama Butterfly. But that journey hit a roadblock when I failed my audition at the Verdi Conservatory in Turin. I’ll never forget it! At that time, I was in my fourth year of high school, so in my final year, I threw myself into philosophy. I believe this mix of philosophy and music is what led me to step away from bands and, in 2019, start my own path as a singer-songwriter. That way, I combined the things I love the most: reading, writing, making music, and connecting with people. Then @xfactoritalia came along.

I always say that Fucina is the sister of Paracadute because they were both born in Berlin around the same time. One reflects on distance, while Fucina is about the sounds I kept hearing over and over, those graceful and delicate tones that define the German language. To me, it felt like the forge of a constantly working factory, and over time, those sounds became part of my everyday life.

I am glad that this comes across. I do not know if it is really being lost, but I do think there is a large group of people who insist on bringing attention back to words and who, in general, strive for a fairer and more just language and reality. They often come up against walls, but when you look closely, you realize that these walls are made of papier-mâché. People oppose certain things on principle, as if there is a kind of predetermined stance.

In Berlin, Kottbusser Tor, or Kotti as I call it, is a place I miss a lot because I have not been back since last October. I love going there alone when I have free time, sitting in one of its cafés, and just observing what happens around me. It is one of the most vibrant spots in the city, very chaotic but full of stimuli. I also love cycling around the area. In Palermo, I have not found a special place yet, except for the arms of my girlfriend.

The first time I went to Kraków, a city that played an important role in my historical education, was a journey I hold close to my heart. It was also meaningful because of the people I traveled with, who changed a lot in me. That was the moment I realized what I wanted to do in life: travel, meet people, and dedicate myself to history. Life then took a different path, but it was a beautiful moment of epiphany.

I might sound predictable, but I always recommend Stai Zitta by Michela Murgia. I think it is a book that, in its simplicity, can open up many perspectives and make us aware of everyday events that are actually microaggressions, even though we might not realize it.

Wow! My desk lamp, which follows me everywhere, is quite ungraceful, but it has always represented a moment of focus for me. Whenever I turned it on, it did not matter if it was hot or freezing, if there was noise, or if my family was around—it was a sign that it was time to concentrate and dedicate myself to studying. It always comes with me. It is one of those aluminum lamps with a metal body that bends. It is the one object I would save.