Interview - GHEMON: "Una Cosetta Cosi" is a mix of lightness and depth

Four years after his last recording and with over 70 performances of the show of the same name, Ghemon returns with a new vision: “A little thing like that.”

A project that is not limited to an album, but becomes a total artistic experience, combining stand-up comedy, music and theatre.

A formula that breaks the mold and redefines the boundaries of the Italian musical and theater scene, born from the live energy of a tour that crossed theaters throughout Italy, culminating with the grand finale at Arcimboldi Theater in Milan. Each track is an open window on the daily challenges, relationships and contradictions of our time.

The album includes previously released singles, such as POV and STOCKHOLM SYNDROMEalong with unreleased songs such as DEAL WITH THE DEVIL, ALONG THE TUNNEL and THE END.

As Ghemon himself says:

I've always thought that rap and stand-up are two sides of the same coin. Both tell the truth, but with rhythm and irony.”

Ghemon takes us behind the scenes of this unique project, telling us about the creative process, the inspirations and the challenges that gave life to “Una Cosetta Cosi”.

THE INTERVIEW

I see you in your study. Always looking for the future?

Exactly, always with an eye to the future, perhaps even too much!

Let's talk about your latest creation “Una Cosetta Cosi”, a difficult project to define. A hybrid between an album and a live show. How would you describe it?

It's true that we tend to label everything, but here we are faced with something very alive. We could call it “hybrid”, but it sounds cold.
This project is a modern container, a way to be myself without rigid boundaries. It's a show that mixes music, storytelling and a comical part of me that previously was only seen in private contexts. A mix of lightness and depth.

I listened to the album and I must say that it has a nice narrative flow. The music fits your narrative perfectly, and I never felt the need to skip.

I tried to create tracks with a length that would keep your attention, like you would with a podcast. The music here was born differently: not thinking about singles for the radio, but to summarize the monologues of the show. I wanted everything to have narrative coherence.

In your stories you lay yourself bare, also talking about family and how your cousin “Maurizio” introduced you to rap music. What would make you listen to today?

Probably a stand-up comedy show. Stand-up is the art form closest to rap: improvisation, topicality and concreteness. Like rap in the 90s, it is revolutionizing Italian comedy.

You've always been a pioneer: you anticipated melodic rap, autotune, podcasts and now stand-up. What's the next step?

I don't know yet, but I'm curious and always try to anticipate what might be exciting in the future. At the moment, stand-up is a breath of fresh air that also enriches me in music. After years of routine, I found myself enjoying the creative process again.

In a post on social media you defined 2024 as a year of great satisfaction. You went vegan, had your biggest live show and made people laugh. How would you describe yourself today?

I would say self-deprecating, determined and with a passion for performance. Sure, the need for approval is there, but today I feel more comfortable making people laugh rather than receiving applause for a musical performance.

One of the golden rules of rap was: “Be yourself and don't copy.” Does it still work?

It works less. Today many look for the shortcut by imitating what is popular. In the 90s, however, the more different you were, the more you stood out. Personalities like Fabri Fibra, Guè, Fedez, Tony Effe and myself stand out precisely for this.