The Latin Heat in Italy
A summer heat wave has brought the hot rhythms of Latin music to Italy, deeply influencing the Italian youth music scene. More and more artists choose to follow the light-hearted drums of Latin America, finding a bigger audience throughout the years in our Mediterranean country.
Italy has always shared a lot of cultural traits with countries like Spain, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, and other Latin territories in general—from fashion to the mood of people. There is a long list of similarities, but music has never fully been the common ground between Italians and Latinos, which still showed some differences in genres and styles. In recent years, though, the Latin wave has slowly been shaping the radio hits landscape, becoming the style of choice for some of the freshest artists dominating the charts such as Angelina, Blanco, Gaia, and Tony Effe. A decade ago, iconic names like Laura Pausini and Eros Ramazzotti had already found fertile ground in Latin markets, but they struggled to mix Italian prose with the commercial sound that could gain enough streams in Italy within that genre. However, they paved the way for future generations with important collaborations such as Laura Pausini’s song “Roma” with Luis Fonsi (released in 2024) and Eros Ramazzotti’s collaboration with Ricky Martin.
Vogue Italia June Issue, 2024 via IG @laurapausini
In 2023, Laura Pausini triumphed at the Latin Grammy Awards, earning the title of “Person of The Year,” officially becoming the first Italian singer to receive such an important recognition in the international music industry. This achievement has inspired many artists from the current generation to explore opportunities in the Latin music dimension, which inevitably runs for the top spots of global charts. A striking example of this trend is the current summer hit in Italy, “Sesso e Samba”: the result of the embrace of two opposite worlds and dimensions—Gaia’s Brazilian roots with Tony Effe’s trap attitude. The duo rode several stages of major festivals this summer and conquered the rankings of Earone and Fimi, being one of the most listened-to songs on the radio this summer. Another example is “Come un tuono” by Rose Villain and Guè, which combines bachata and rap, proving that this new fusion of genres is invincible. Angelina is another noteworthy artist: with her single “Melodrama,” she follows in the steps of Rosalía, recalling the beats of “Saoko” and adding darker tones to the percussions. Her single “La Noia” also draws on the rhythms of Catalan music, through the metallic strings of a guitar that stand out during the chorus.
Blanco, a rising artist who became a mass phenomenon (especially after Sanremo 2022), initially introduced himself as a punk-pop rapper, known for his music full of emotional teenage intensity addressing important topics like grief, struggles, and the desire for freedom. Recently, after a long hiatus, he released a new song called “Desnuda,” marking a significant shift in the direction of his style, with Spanish lyrics set to a reggaeton soundtrack. The visuals of the music videos for these artists also reflect Latin American influences, recalling the typical landscapes of the “favelas” with eccentric colorful interior decorations, characters smoking in the heat, women busy in domestic activities, and playful street scenes, where raw youthful energy is tangible. Although commercial pop music keeps its sovereignty in Italy, Latin drums and beats are taking more and more space, opening doors for those who choose to ride this new wave toward international recognition. The curiosity about how this influence will evolve is high. Will it be seasonal and temporary like the blink of a summer, or will it find new deeper roots in the tricolor boot? Music will reveal the prophecy.
