Lazza, From the Piano to the Top: The Story Behind Italy’s Best-Selling Rapper

Billboard Italy met Lazza one morning in early September at his press office, so he could speak quietly in private. He wore wide sunglasses and often ran his hand through his hair, which has been dyed blonde for some time.

He was visibly tired. The day before, he was at the Venice Film Festival and at night he was clubbing in Milan. “I needed to see with my own eyes. I no longer remembered what my city was like,” he says.

He has been touring Italy for months, except for a few days of vacation in Ibiza, and at the time of the interview he still hadn’t performed at the special final concert in Milan. But he never complained of tiredness, not even for a second. “For me, it’s like being on holiday. When I go on stage, I feel good,” he says.

Among singles and albums, he has amassed 70 platinum records, 37 gold records, and 21 weeks atop the Italian albums chart with Sirio, his third album, released in 2022. He also felt like apologizing to the legendary Italian rocker Vasco Rossi for beating his record (19 weeks in 2011). This year, he finished second at the 2023 Sanremo Festival, something truly unexpected.

Despite his success, Lazza has never forgotten his musical origins, namely the academic study of the piano. He also created a special version of Sirio for piano and voice.

The interview began precisely with his love for classical music.

Lazza, you started your musical journey with the piano and you always say you love classical music. But seeing you in a tank top in front of the piano might irritate some people.

I did it on purpose. I couldn’t wear a shirt. It would have been obvious. I couldn’t decide what to wear and in the end I thought: “You know what? I’m wearing a tank top! So I’m really comfortable.”

Why did you decide to study piano as a child?

I couldn’t explain it. I was fascinated by the idea of ​​being able to become a virtuoso. Also, I was excited by the idea of ​​everyone looking at me. A healthy bit of exhibitionism, let’s say.

Did your parents push you?

No, it was my decision when I was 9 or 10 years old. I wanted to stand out. I didn’t want to end up playing soccer like everyone else.

How much did it help you?

Classical training always helps me. First of all, I developed an incredible memory.

Do you remember everything?

Well, I remember what interests me. Also, classical music helped me a lot because it is able to change my mood. If I listen to Mozart, I calm my anxiety.

For example, does Debussy also help you?

For me, it’s too far ahead as a historical period. I like him, but it’s not my cup of tea, or at least not all of it. There’s not much I like after Romanticism. I like everything by Chopin, however.

Speaking of Chopin, of whom you have a beautiful tattoo on your calf, you said you love him because he is able to describe true suffering.

I’m sure he was a very emotional person. You can feel it. In my opinion, it is with him that the piano as we know it today was born. Before then, it was all about the harpsichord and the fortepiano. With Chopin, you sense an incredible richness of phrasing. My piano teacher, Alex, is Polish. He’s the one who made me love him. I went to his father’s funeral, and on that occasion he played Chopin’s “Nocturne”: It gave me goosebumps, also because it was one of the pieces he made me practice the most. He told me: “At my funeral you will be the one who plays it.” I don’t know if I could do it, it would be too much of an emotional burden.

Is it banal to say that true art comes from suffering?

It is true. It’s the same reason why artists don’t come from downtown Milan. I always thought that if you are born without money, maybe money will solve your problems. But if you are born with it, what will solve your problems? Probably if you have a negative mood you also need to feel the approval of others, whatever your art is. I do what I do because I had the need to communicate.

Do you still think money solves problems?

You know, it simply allows me to do what I like and to make the people around me feel good. It doesn’t interest me in itself. I don’t know what problems it solved.

When you achieve such sensational results, do you ever think about what to expect next?

The results of this album scared me a little. I tend not to have expectations, but after these numbers I sometimes think with a bit of fear: “What will I do next?”. I had an obsession, which was to reach everyone and let them know what I think. I was happy that others liked what I had to say. But I didn’t want to become famous.

Do you have any other obsessions?

I would like to actually collaborate with the international artists I like. And by “actually” I mean without involving the record company that pays 100,000 euros for a single verse.

Could Italian rap break through abroad?

There are artists who respect you, others who see you as an ATM, others who can’t stand you because they think they invented rap. But I happened to go to dinner with some huge rappers — unfortunately I can’t name them — and their managers, and they told me they had never heard anything like what I did. For them, an album, not a single, that stays atop the chart for 21 weeks and gets seven platinum records just doesn’t exist. Only Drake, Post Malone, The Weeknd, Beyoncé, Rihanna achieve those results.

Well, they also have different parameters.

Absolutely, but my figures impressed them.

What about becoming famous abroad?

I think Italian is an obstacle, because I don’t know how many people want to translate my songs. But I’m planning to study English well.

Why did Måneskin make it so big?

Because they rock! There are some of their songs that I really like, for example “The Loneliest.” They are young, nice, they are rock stars, they have everything it takes. I’m so happy for them. Could you imagine that Damiano wrote to me as a fan in 2017? Recently I proposed to him to do some writing sessions together.

In these last two incredible years, did you also face any difficult moments?

More than one, but all for personal reasons. It wasn’t easy because of the stress and too many things to do. I try to carry on with a smile but I’m human, too. Yes, 2022 and 2023 were crazy. Maybe in 2024 I’ll let the others play, too.

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