This week we've been enchanted by the first single of the young Italian singer-songwriter Martina Bartoli: "Che culo!". An autobiographical Italian pop song that is a real hymn to love and a reminder to love relentlessly! We asked Martina a few questions to find out more about her.
Tell us a little about who you are, how your musical career began, and how "Che culo!" was born?
I'm an 18 years old girl born and raised in Romagna, in Imola; the guitar has been my great companion since I was 8, then at 12 I added singing. My uncle is an exceptional jazz double bass player and he transmitted to me the passion for that musical genre, even if it is not the only one I listen to... I love Italian music, especially singer-songwriters: from Lucio Dalla to Daniele Silvestri, Elisa, Samuele Bersani, Levante, Gazzelle... in short, a nice mix!
"Che culo" was actually born a bit by chance, one evening at the end of summer when I picked up the guitar and threw down some chords on the spot; then I met Fabio Mazzini, a very good musician who encouraged me to finish the half piece I had done and publish it. They often ask me what the lyrics mean: it might seem countercultural while everyone always celebrates love, but in fact many of my peers have identified with my words and I'm very pleased!
Certainly the song is a bit cynical and at times autobiographical but in reality it is a hymn to loving each other, to loving each other incessantly without destroying oneself for another person, to maintaining one's individuality without clinging to one's soul mate as if it were a life preserver. The song was born in a moment of flat, melancholy, like Baudelaire's spleen, after yet another emotionless first date, but I'm actually a sunny girl and I like being that way.
I keep smiling and laughing out loud!
What does it mean to you to be a young independent artist today?
Honestly, just hearing myself called a "young independent artist" has a real effect on me, I can hardly believe it. It makes me so excited! Even downloading Spotify for Artists gave me the chills.
How has your relationship with streaming platforms such as Spotify and others been so far?
Spotify is my every day, I listen to music from pretty much every genre and at all times, from brushing my teeth, getting dressed, to going to bed, on a loop! I also listen to music on YouTube, but mostly Spotify.
What are your plans for 2021?
For 2021 I would like to write more singles but only following my inspiration, I would like above all to be authentic. Obviously, I hope to be able to do what I want to do and I also hope that people will like it at the same time. One important thing is that I would like to pursue my current goals: writing songs and passing the medical school test :-)
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