Damiano David Explained
Damiano David |
Birth Date: | 8 January 1999 |
Birth Place: | Rome, Italy |
Instrument: | Vocals, guitar |
Years Active: | 2016–present |
Current Member Of: | Måneskin |
Damiano David (pronounced as /it/; born 8 January 1999)[1] is an Italian singer and songwriter. He is the frontman of the rock band Måneskin, which won the Sanremo Music Festival 2021 and subsequently the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 representing Italy with the song "".
Career
David was born in Rome to Daniele David and Rosa Scognamiglio, both flight attendants.[2] Due to the nature of his parents' work, he and his older brother Jacopo travelled worldwide from an early age, introducing them to various cultures.[3] Until he was 17, he showed some talent playing basketball as a point guard at the local club Eurobasket Roma. He recalls that the basketball experience gave him fundamental discipline to succeed in his life.[4] [5] [6]
David started singing when he was six years old.[7] He met Victoria De Angelis and Thomas Raggi, whom he would eventually go on to form Måneskin with, during his high school days. He studied at the liceo linguistico Eugenio Montale in Rome, but he did not complete high school and instead devoted himself to his music career,[8] for which he had the support of his parents. When introduced for the position of a vocalist for their local band, he was initially rejected because his style was considered "too pop", but his insistence to be in the band eventually got him accepted.[9] David soon changed his demeanor and style, especially his stage persona,[10] because he learned how to freely express himself. The band was formed in 2016 and initially played as buskers in the streets of the city of Rome,[11] but in 2017 they soon rose to prominence when they finished second in the eleventh season of the Italian talent show X Factor. The band had a breakthrough debut with the studio album Italian: [[Il ballo della vita]] and tour in 2018 and 2019. In 2021, their second studio album was released.[12]
After their victory at the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 he was falsely accused of drug use during the final. After the contest David, by his own initiative, underwent a drug test, which came back negative.[13] [14] [15] David says that he has never used hard drugs[16] and, along with his bandmates, is an anti-drug advocate.[17] David himself stated in his Vogue Italia interview, "we are not falling into the stereotype of the alcoholic and drugged rock star". He states that he only drinks alcohol on special events. He believes that creativity comes from a "healthy, trained and lucid" mind and it is contradicting trying to truly express "our own self by binding ourselves to something that instead makes us dependent, slaves", also referring to the 27 Club.
David sang a cover version of the song "I Wanna Be Your Dog", by the Stooges, as well as voicing the character of Jeffrey, assistant of the main antagonist, for the Italian dub of the 2021 film Cruella.[18]
David appeared in the music video for the song "Mil Veces" by singer Anitta in 2023. In 2017 X-factor judge Fedez commented that David is a real frontman.[19] In 2021 Manuel Agnelli praised him in similar words to have a "natural charisma of the great frontmen".[20] His vocal style in 2017 was described as having a "reggae vocal timbre that allows him to masterfully deal with the rock repertoire, given that the band's musical influences range from indie rock to glam rock to pop rock".[21] His characteristic androgynous look and fashion style on stage is seen as a mixture of hippie, vintage, and glam rock from the 1970s,[22] because of which, he has been labeled an Italian fashion icon.
Personal life
David was in a relationship with Italian model and influencer Giorgia Soleri for nearly six years.[23] [24] [25] The pair split up in June 2023.[26]
In November 2023 he was reported in a relationship with American actress and singer Dove Cameron, who he made his first public appearance with in February 2024.[27] [28]
In addition to Italian, David is fluent in English and can speak some Spanish and French. He is an advocate for racial and LGBT+ rights.[29] David said he is against drugs and that he never consumed them, stating: "Creativity comes from a healthy, trained, lucid mind. The brain is a machine that has to have its gears in place and drugs are just a huge filth … The message we want to spread with our music is the exaltation of man through his freedom, and how could we talk about the expression of his own self by binding ourselves to something that instead makes us dependent, slaves?".[30] He is also a fan of association football club AS Roma.
David is fond of the symbolism of the Greek mythological character Icarus, having a tattoo of wings and a quote referring to Icarus on his hip, as well as formerly using "Ykaaar" as his username on the social media platform Instagram.[31]
Filmography
Commercials
Notes and References
- News: 23 January 2011. Damiano, 22 anni da rockstar per il cantante dei Maneskin. La Repubblica. 2 June 2021. Lupini. Anna. ...è nato a Roma l'8 gennaio del 1999. it. 29 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210829213421/https://www.repubblica.it/moda-e-beauty/dossier/i-compleanni-dei-vip/2021/01/08/news/damiano_david_compleanno_22_anni_cantante_maneskin-291105416/. live.
- News: La foto vintage dei genitori di Damiano dei Maneskin svela a chi assomiglia di più (e perché è così bello) . Vintage photo of parents of Damiano from Maneskin reveals who he looks most like (and why he's so handsome) . . it . Milan . Hearst Magazine Italia . 18 June 2021 . 27 June 2021 . 27 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210627115649/https://www.elle.com/it/showbiz/celebrities/a36760296/damiano-maneskin-foto-genitori/ . live .
- Web site: 24 May 2021 . Caprotti . Elisabetta . Damiano David: "La droga è una grandissima zozzeria" . . 27 May 2021 . 26 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210526155317/https://www.vogue.it/news/article/damiano-david-maneskin-chi-e-cocaina-storia . live .
- Web site: Il Basket Prima Dei Maneskin . 2 June 2021 . 2 June 2021 . . Antonio Lepone . it . 2 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210602215847/https://www.ilmessaggero.it/pay/latina_pay/il_basket_prima_dei_maneskin-5996811.html . live .
- Web site: Damiano dei Maneskin, passato da play nell'Eurobasket e presente da grande tifoso della Roma . 7 March 2021 . 2 June 2021 . . it . 26 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210526152549/https://www.corriere.it/sport/festival-sanremo/notizie/damiano-maneskin-passato-play-eurobasket-presente-grande-tifoso-roma-f9597e24-7f5c-11eb-b700-62d4180eb118.shtml . live .
- Web site: Damiano dei Måneskin: "Sesso, droga? Preferiamo la disciplina" . 22 February 2019 . 2 June 2021 . . Maria Elena Barnabi . it . 2 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210602214522/https://www.cosmopolitan.com/it/lifestyle/musica/a26426488/damiano-maneskin-intervista/ . live .
- Web site: Eurovision 2021, vincono i Maneskin: il rock d'Italia conquista l'arena di Rotterdam Video. 3 June 2021. Le Iene. it. 17 March 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220317180950/https://www.iene.mediaset.it/2021/news/eurovision-2021-vincono-maneskin_1058446.shtml. live.
- Web site: Tutto quello che c'è da sapere sui Maneskin. Agenzia Giornalistica Italia. it. 16 June 2021. 24 November 2017. Sonia Montrella. 27 June 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210627011417/https://www.agi.it/spettacolo/musica/maneskinxfactordamiano_daviditunes-3158308/news/2017-11-24/. live.
- News: Damiano dei Maneskin, la sua storia: dalla strada all'Eurovision, "Con le monetine raccolte il primo singolo" . 26 May 2021 . . Andrea . Laffranchi . 24 May 2021 . it . 25 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210525231835/https://www.corriere.it/spettacoli/21_maggio_24/damiano-maneskin-sua-storia-strada-all-eurovision-con-monetine-raccolte-primo-singolo-6e5a3c0c-bbe6-11eb-822f-b2d049d46202.shtml . live .
- Web site: X Factor 11, Maneskin: "Siamo rock, ma con un'anima da secchioni" . 15 December 2017 . 2 June 2021 . . Mario Manca . it . 2 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210602220054/https://www.vanityfair.it/music/storie-music/2017/12/15/x-factor-11-maneskin-damiano-david-intervista-finale-secondi-classificati-band-manuel-agnelli?refresh_ce= . live .
- Web site: Maneskin. Sky Italia. it. 2 November 2018. 19 October 2017. 21 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180821011912/http://xfactor.sky.it/2017/10/19/maneskin-x-factor-2017. live. Anno in cui si è costituito il Gruppo: 2016.
- Web site: Mastrantonio. Luca. 11 February 2021. Måneskin, trionfo a Eurovision: "La rabbia dei ventenni è di nuovo forza creativa". live. 2 June 2021. Corriere della Sera. it. https://web.archive.org/web/20210304223112/https://www.corriere.it/sette/incontri/7-web-rep-interv-maneskin/ . 4 March 2021 .
- Web site: Damiano David: Eurovision winner cleared of drug use by broadcaster . . 25 May 2021 . 26 May 2021 . 25 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210525234908/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-57234821 . live .
- News: Eurovision: Måneskin lead singer cleared of taking drugs at final . 24 May 2021 . 26 May 2021 . . Campbell . Lucy . 25 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210525075444/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/may/24/eurovision-maneskin-lead-singer-cleared-of-taking-drugs-at-final . live .
- Web site: Eurovision Winners Måneskin Talk 'Offensive' Drug Accusations, and Bringing Italian Rock to the World . 25 May 2021 . 26 May 2021 . . Nick Vivarelli . 26 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210526001056/https://variety.com/2021/music/news/eurovision-maneskin-talk-drug-accusations-cocaine-1234981251/ . live .
- News: Perché i Måneskin fanno ballare anche le mamme delle fan . 29 March 2018 . 16 June 2021 . . Luca . Mastrantonio . it . 27 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210627011212/https://www.corriere.it/sette/18_marzo_29/maneskin-cea76b6c-31b4-11e8-a935-2154f7b1bc02.shtml . live .
- News: Maneskin, ritorno a casa dopo il trionfo tra gioia e polemiche sull'uso di droga . 24 May 2021 . 16 June 2021 . . it . 13 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210613110511/https://www.repubblica.it/spettacoli/musica/2021/05/24/news/maneskin_il_giorno_dopo_tra_gioia_per_la_vittoria_e_le_polemiche_sull_uso_di_droghe-302492655/ . live .
- Web site: Maneskin doppiatori per Crudelia: "Siamo come Lei". Sky TG24. 25 May 2021. 16 June 2021. it. 31 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210531030221/https://tg24.sky.it/spettacolo/cinema/2021/05/25/crudelia-maneskin-video. live.
- Web site: Maneskin X Factor audition with judges' comments. . 26 October 2017. 16 August 2021. en. 17 March 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220317180932/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0Qa1Vt5l6k. live.
- News: Manuel Agnelli: 'I Maneskin hanno vinto perché hanno risvegliato il pubblico. Ma non possono salvare il rock italiano da soli' . 8 March 2021 . 26 May 2021 . . Matteo . Cruccu . it . 25 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210525231837/https://www.corriere.it/spettacoli/festival-sanremo/notizie/manuel-agnelli-maneskin-hanno-vinto-perche-hanno-risvegliato-pubblico-ma-non-possono-salvare-rock-italiano-soli-1ccd547e-7f59-11eb-b700-62d4180eb118.shtml . live .
- Web site: Damiano dei Maneskin conquista tutti. La fan Alba Parietti: "Vorrei essere lui". Berti. Barbara. Quotidiano.net. 2 December 2017. 16 June 2021. it. 2 June 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210602215907/https://www.quotidiano.net/magazine/damiano-maneskin-1.3576181. live.
- News: Elisabetta. Povoledo. 16 June 2021. They Won Eurovision. Can They Conquer the World?. The New York Times. 16 June 2021. 16 June 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210616140111/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/16/arts/music/maneskin-eurovision.html. live.
- Web site: Vulvodinia, cosa è: Giorgia Soleri, la fidanzata di Damiano dei Maneskin racconta la sua malattia. Pini. Valeria. La Repubblica. 11 May 2021. 25 May 2021. it. 24 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210524233916/https://www.repubblica.it/salute/2021/05/11/news/vulvodinia_la_fidanzata_di_damiano_dei_mannskin_racconta_la_sua_malattia-300446967/. live.
- Web site: 'Eurovision 2021' : cette maladie dont souffre la compagne du chanteur de Måneskin. 26 May 2021. Femme Actuelle. fr. 26 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210526141905/https://www.femmeactuelle.fr/actu/news-actu/eurovision-2021-cette-maladie-dont-souffre-la-compagne-du-chanteur-de-maneskin-2113689. live.
- Web site: Giorgia Soleri sul fidanzato Damiano dei Maneskin: "Sarei stupida a pensare che la mia visibilità non venga anche da qui ma resto una persona con una identità, irrispettoso togliermela". Q.. F.. il Fatto Quotidiano. 2 June 2021. 4 June 2021. it. 3 June 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210603184020/https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2021/06/02/giorgia-soleri-sul-fidanzato-damiano-dei-maneskin-sarei-stupida-a-pensare-che-la-mia-visibilita-non-venga-anche-da-qui-ma-resto-una-persone-con-una-identita-irrispettoso-togliermela/6218016/. live.
- News: Damiano dei Maneskin e Giorgia Soleri si sono lasciati: in un video lui bacia un’altra . 8 June 2023 . . 8 June 2023 . it . 3 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230903080033/https://www.corriere.it/spettacoli/23_giugno_08/damiano-giorgia-soleri-lasciati-a2531a4c-05f9-11ee-8ac3-5e75c6f27793.shtml . live .
- Web site: 2024-01-26 . All About Damiano David, Dove Cameron’s Rockstar Boyfriend . 2024-01-27 . ELLE . en-US . 27 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240127162433/https://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/a46551836/all-about-damiano-david-dove-cameron-boyfriend/ . live .
- Web site: Spotify . 2024-02-22 . open.spotify.com . 22 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240222080628/https://open.spotify.com/episode/0W7KZzyN6JP2DE1MUeit0h?si=zPTdQgl-SLCVkcVnGDmJgw . live .
- Web site: "We Are Just Four Friends Doing What We Love": Eurovision Breakout Star Måneskin's Damiano David Plans On Staying Humble . 3 June 2021 . 3 June 2021 . . Scarlett Conlon . 3 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210603105046/https://www.vogue.co.uk/miss-vogue/article/maneskin-interview . live .
- Web site: Damiano David: “La droga è una grandissima zozzeria” . Elisabetta Caprotti . 24 May 2021 . Vogue . Italian . 27 May 2021 . 26 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210526155317/https://www.vogue.it/news/article/damiano-david-maneskin-chi-e-cocaina-storia . live .
- Web site: Maneskin: ecco cosa significa Ykaaar, il nickname di Damiano su Instagram. Muraro. Alberto. GingerGeneration.it. 22 March 2018. 16 June 2021. it. 24 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210524102029/https://www.gingergeneration.it/n/maneskin-ykaaar-damiano-significato-309827-n.htm. live.
- Web site: Damiano dei Måneskin attore nel film Maserati 'It turns you on' . ANSA . 16 April 2024 . 15 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240415235340/https://www.ansa.it/canale_motori/notizie/mondo_motori/2024/04/15/damiano-dei-maneskin-attore-nel-film-maserati-it-turns-you-on_d680941e-b1dc-4f36-a9c5-49eca9331f7a.html . live .
- Web site: Måneskin, Damiano diventa attore: protagonista del nuovo spot Maserati . tg24.sky.it . 16 April 2024 . it . 16 April 2024 . 16 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240416163949/https://tg24.sky.it/spettacolo/2024/04/16/damiano-maneskin-attore-spot-maserati . live .