Ilenia Filippo, aka Lolita. A stage name that comes straight from the novel – actually read, which is not a completely obvious concept today – by Vladimir Vladimirovič Nabokov, an inspiration called Lana Del Rey and the attitude to tell reality and the world without superstructures. As demonstrated by the last two singles ‘Daddy italiano’ and ‘Popstar’.
His production changed throughout the songs. How much is personal and how much character in Lolita?
“Now it’s 80% me, my character has very personal connotations. Before I wasn’t mature enough to present myself as the person I am.”
How much of your work is autobiographical?
“Lately I’ve written a lot of songs that are also very emotional, I feel everything is very close to my life.”
‘Popstar’ is about a toxic attitude within a relationship. Is it a topic you are familiar with?
“Yes, it has happened to people I know. Often in the music of the past, toxic relationships have been idealized by music, now the trend is being reversed a bit, fortunately.”
How does one of your songs come to be?
“The more intimate and difficult the theme is to bring out, the more the song is born alone. I go to the studio when I already know what I want. The lighter a song, however, the more I can create it with others”.
For the productions he is working with Federico Secondomè, a true talent on an international level.
“Federico gave me a spark. He has a philosophy that he really applies, he makes sure that I can imagine the song and bring it out. He managed to bring out a world of sound that I wouldn’t even have imagined having.”
What music do you listen to?
“Growing up, my tastes have become younger (laughs, ed.). I had an excellent basis with singer-songwriters, namely Francesco Guccini, Lucio Dalla, Francesco De Gregori. Now I also listen to Lana Del Rey, Italian rap, the urban genre is one of the more sincere, I like its exponents because they manage to get to the core of emotions”.
The dream collaboration?
“There are two: Gazzelle and Achille Lauro”.
If you could have someone on stage with you, a guest, who would you want it to be?
“If I can dream big, I say Geolier”.
Future projects?
“I’ll do some live dates this summer and then an album will arrive later.”
