Italian Talent Irama is a Rockstar at Heart
Photography by Valentin Hennequin
Styling by Simone Rutigliano
Born in Carrara, Italy, raised in Monza, and now based in Milan, Filippo Maria Fanti—better known as Irama—loves Aerosmith. The classic rock band blasts from the stereo upon his request, and just as Steven Tyler wails “I don’t want to miss a thing,” Irama slips out a heartfelt lip sync. The young musician, whose moniker means “rhythm” in Malay, is riding a high, and it’s not just from this performance. Earlier this summer he was declared the victor on Amici Speciali, a TV special that raised funds for Italy’s COVID-19 pandemic. The show was a spinoff of the original talent series Amici di Maria De Filippi, which first catapulted the artist to success in 2018. Since then he has topped the Italian Albums chart with several multi-platinum singles. Through it all, Irama’s lifelong love of rock has been in his heart: By the age of seven he had already written his first song, and at night he dreamed of becoming a professional drummer. “We are all born with a rhythm inside,” he tells L’OFFICIEL. “A heartbeat.”
Here, the artist speaks on his art and activism.
L’OFFICIEL: There’s clearly a point of view in your work. What are you trying to tell us or show us about yourself or others?
IRAMA: The greatness of song is that it’s able to convey the things that bind us to each other and make us all human. A friend of mine recently said to me, “We often point to the moon but people look at the finger.” I am interested in people’s opinions, otherwise I wouldn’t make art for other people. We’re all influenced by others’ judgments, and it’s formative to learn from them, but it’s also right to value your own ideas.
L’O: On the final episode of Amici Speciali, you made a heartfelt speech against racism and homophobia. Do you consider yourself an activist?
I: These are important issues that, unfortunately, we still have to address. They might seem surreal to our generation, but they are realities that still exist and that we must fight. The Amici Speciali speech was tough. It was the first time I wrote a monologue, and the experience of writing it felt like a punch in the stomach. It was the same emotion I tried to evoke when I recited it on TV.
L’O: How did the COVID-19 lockdown affect your work?
I: I continued making music, but I didn’t do much of anything during the day. I concentrate better in the silence of nighttime. I wrote in cramped places throughout the evenings and well into the mornings. At night, I realize how sentimental I am.
GROOMING Erisson Muesella Close Up Milano
PRODUCTION Ali Kiblawi Wasl Agency
STYLING ASSISTANT Giammarco Cingolani
LOCATION AND PROPS Etel Showroom Milano
L'OFFICIEL Hommes USA Fall 2020 is available on newsstands and online now.
