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!'"
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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.
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.
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 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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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