Olly will compete at the 75th edition of the Sanremo Festival with Balorda nostalgia.
Written by Olly together with Pierfrancesco Pasini and Jvli, who also took care of its production, the song is an emotional journey between acoustic guitars and piano, a hymn to the nostalgia “balorda”, the one that hurts but that, after all, reminds us to be alive.
We spoke with Olly of his participation in Sanremo, of the choice to bring a classic like The fisherman by Fabrizio De André, and his artistic path, between experimentation and research of truth.
An artist who is not afraid to show himself in all its facets, from the light -heartedness of the hits rhythmic to the introspection of the ballads, always keeping a look facing the future.
The interview
Sanremo is often a turning point for an artist. What does this participation represent for you?
Certainly a great opportunity, but I don't want to see it as an arrival point. It is a moment of the path, an opportunity to make my music better known to those who perhaps do not follow it yet. Compared to last year, I arrive with more experience and with a piece that I feel my hundred percent.
“Balorda Nostalgia” is a different ballad from your most carefree hits. How did this song come about?
It arises from the desire to tell an emotion that we all try: that mixture of melancholy and affection towards something that will no longer return.
It is a beautiful and painful feeling at the same time, so I call him “fool”.
Musically it is a ballad, but always “in my way”, with a sound that remains fresh and contemporary.
How much of this song is there?
A lot. I believe that every artist always puts something of himself in what he writes, even when he is not a 100%autobiographical story.
“Balorda nostalgia” was born from an emotion that I lived and that I wanted to express in the most sincere way possible.
What does it represent for your generation?
I feel completely out in some ways from my generation. Often with friends it is joked that I am old inside and I don't feel like disagreement with this statement.
I think I sometimes move carefree, which does not mean stupidity, but means a choice of light -heartedness, so as I said before, being able to decide to talk about something in one way or another is a freedom that I feel like keeping close …Probably my constancy represents me more than the songs I write, but the fact of having continued to write them even when I was the only one to believe it shows my desire to have a dream and not to stop chasing it.
What do you think of the controversies on violent texts in rap?
I've always listened to rap, but I've never been a violent person. I believe that the way a song is perceived depends on the listener. Some focus on words, others on music and energy it transmits. It is a complex question, but I am against any form of censorship.
You have chosen Fabrizio De AndrĂ©'s “Il Pescatore” for the Cover evening. Why this piece?
Fabrizio De AndrĂ© is a symbol of my city, but above all he is an artist who has marked Italian music. “The fisherman” is a song that I have always heard close, because he speaks of humanity without judgments. In addition, with Goran Bregović and his band we will give him a new and overwhelming energy.
How did the meeting with Goran Bregović took place?
The idea was born naturally: we wanted to give the cover a strong imprint, and who better than him to bring that mix of folk and energy. When we felt, unfortunately until today only on the phone, there was immediately harmony. It gives us the opportunity to celebrate on a deep song that tells of solidarity, tells the beauty of giving the second opportunity. It will be a nice evening!
Compared to a year ago, how much do you feel you grew up artistically?
Very. The stage and the experience change you. I understood better who I am as an artist, what I want to tell and how to do it. Now I feel more free to experience without fear of getting out of the box.
I want the public to see my growth. I don't look for perfection, but the truth in what I do.
What does it mean for you to be an artist of the new generation?
It means having less barriers between genres and more freedom expressive. Today music is contamination, there is no longer the rigid concept of “pop”, “rap” or “indie”. I try to get the best from all world to create something that is mine alone.
The audience met you with more rhythmic and light songs. Are you afraid that with a ballad they can see you differently?
No, indeed, it's something I want. I think an artist should show all its facets. If one listens only to “dust” it might think that I am only that, but there is much more. With “Balorda Nostalgia” I want to show a more intimate side than me.
After Sanremo, what should we expect from you?
New music, certainly. I have many ready -made pieces and I want to continue experimenting. And then the live: I can't wait to return to the stage and share all this with those who follow me.
The evening of the covers
On Friday evening, dedicated to the covers, Olly will perform on the stage of the Ariston Theater with the song the fisherman of the singer -songwriter Fabrizio De André, accompanied by the musician and composer Goran Bregović and his wedding & funeral band, renowned for the extraordinary ability to merge Traditions and musical genres such as Bulgarian vocality, Slavic folklore, the Orthodox Sacred Polyphony and the pulsations of modern rock.
Great admirer of the Genoese songwriting school with which he has shared the roots and who has always loved to tell and sing, Olly for some time pays homage to Faber and during the last tour he did it with the fisherman, before intoning his perhaps more “Genoese” song : Menomal that there is the sea.
The tour
I will do it again, we will redo it Tour 2025
Sunday 4 May – Venaria Reale (TO) @ Teatro Concordia – Sold out
Monday 5 May Venaria Reale (TO) @ Teatro Concordia – Sold out
Wednesday 7 May – Bologna @ Estragon – Sold out
Thursday 8 May Bologna @ Estragon – Sold out
Tuesday 13 May – Rome @ Atlantico – Sold out
Wednesday 14 May – Rome @ Atlantico – Sold out
Friday 16 May – Molfetta (Ba) Eremo Club – Sold out
Saturday 17 May – Molfetta (Ba) Eremo Club – Sold out
Monday 19 May – Florence @ Teatro Cartiere Carrara – Sold out
Tuesday 20 May – Florence @ Teatro Cartiere Carrara Sold Out
Thursday 22 May – Padua @ Gran Teatro Geox – Sold out
Friday 23 May – Padua @ Gran Teatro Geox – Sold out
All life tour 2025
Saturday 4 October – Genoa @ Stadium Genova – Sold out
Sunday 5 October – Genoa @ Stadium Genova – Sold out
Friday 10 October – Milan @ Unipol Forum – Sold out
Wednesday 15 October – Rome @ Palazzo dello Sport Sold out
Friday 17 October – Naples @ Palapartenope
All life tour 2026
Saturday 7 March 2026 – Jesolo (VE) @ Palazzo del Tourismo – Zero Date
Wednesday 11 March 2026 – Florence @ Nelson Mandela Forum
Monday 16 March 2026 – Bologna @ Unipol Arena
Wednesday 18 March 2026 – Turin @ Inalpi Arena
Friday 20 March 2026 – Milan @ Unipol Forum
Thursday 26 March 2026 – Rome @ Palazzo dello Sport
Monday 30 March 2026 – Bari @ Palaflorio
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Web & Social
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