«Annalisa is unique, Morgan a provocateur. But that time I was wrong”

Linear like a perfect melody, simple in telling its story like “the harmonies that hit the mark in pop music”. Davide Simonetta, born in 1983, that’s how it is. And above all he is the man of notes and sounds behind Annalisa, star of Italian pop. Composer and producer (for many artists, including Tiziano Ferro, Nek, Emma Marrone, Francesco Renga), boy-next-door face, clear ideas: a mix that explains why he is the man everyone wants close to, at least if you’re an artist and you have to churn out a record.

He founded two bands, Karnea and Caponord – he has been on stage and knows what he’s talking about: explain to us what Annalisa’s secret is when she gets on it.
«It’s true, Annalisa has this charisma of her own when she goes on stage. The secret? What you can’t see: the apprenticeship. She has been grinding stages since she was very young. She screwed herself up. We have known each other all our lives and she has the same work culture that I have, who wake up every day at dawn in Milan to go to my studio in Cremona. I spent half my life in there.”

He has acted as an author and producer for many Italian music stars: what is unique about Annalisa?
«Automatisms come naturally with her. An album has to have a precise sound and vision, it means you have to work as a team, spend time together. Our method? Before going to the studio we go upstairs, where I have a kitchen. We have coffee, and there is room for outbursts and confidences. Themes and words start from there. Then maybe I have a harmonious design aside. In short, the cooking of songs begins. from the kitchen.”

“Bellissima”, “Mon Amour”, “Sincerably” by Annalisa. Disco Paradise by Annalisa, Fedez and Articolo31. At the last Sanremo, Geolier’s song also bore his signature. How do you understand, while writing, that you have a hit in your hands?
«The hit is a mystery.

But the beautiful song must stand on its own, piano and voice. Then it can also start from the right sound, but if it is valid it must stand naked, without superstructures. And since we’re talking about pop, it must have the magic of simplicity.”

Morgan on “X Factor” attacked her precisely on simplicity, she responded in kind: controversy archived?
«It’s the first time I’ve returned to the subject and said that perhaps I was wrong too. When I replied, I just wanted to defend my songs. Because there’s a lot of work. Then pop is not classical, obviously, and Dua Lipa is not the Beatles. But indifference is useless, and then…”.

And then?
«I have respect for Morgan. I’ve always loved Bluvertigo, I still remember when they opened David Bowie’s live show in Lucca in 2002. Morgan, of course, remains a great provocateur. With a cool head I think I shouldn’t even have answered.”

Projects?
«I’m working as a producer with Negramaro for the new album. I’ve wanted to interact with a band again for a long time.”

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