An Immersive and Genre-Blending New Release from Damiano
A single release from Damiano delivers a lush and sort of edgy blend of synth, electro, and alternative pop, blended with some indie elements to really give it its own atmosphere, and what an atmosphere it is. Once you step into it, you don't want to leave, and this is mainly because the soundscape that is built is very immersive.
It only took me this one song to realize that Damiano is a bit of a sound sculptor. He takes his time to put tracks together and build them up so that they come through a bit driving, with those edgy overtones, but there are layers in depth to everything.
What's cool about this track in particular is that although it does have punch, it's also elegant at the same time.
There's lots of melodic drive lurking beneath its surface that comes through as the song opens up.
The production approach is absolutely wild but makes perfect sense. It is definitely riddled with pop sensibility, and this is something you can hear throughout the entire track; however, it's also experimental and a bit outside the box.
It doesn't lock itself into any particular genre, per se. It branches off and blends genres instead. I love this about the track because I feel like this is part of what the future of music is going to be like.
As I mentioned before, this is someone who's into sculpting sounds. The synthesizers and keys that you hear throughout the track aren't just natural. He is able to create particular textures and tones that end up wrapping themselves around you.
What you get is something that feels kind of intense, sonically thriving, and still has this vast undertone that pulls you in.
The vocals are beautifully done and bring a certain kind of gracefulness to the track as well. The vocals feel a little distant. They use some kind of in-room reverb that makes it sound like he's standing a few feet away from the microphone or performing in a smaller space, which makes the song feel more personal.
This effect works amazingly for this song in particular. Some of that has to do with what the song reflects and is about.
Lyrically, the track has to do with seeing someone for what they are. Not just seeing their outside, but rather being able to see what's inside as well, to an extent.
Sometimes what people showcase on the forefront has little to do with what's really going on inside or what they've been through as a person.
The song displays a lot of messaging about how what's beautiful on the outside can still be hurting or scarred on the inside. This is something you can take in a few different ways.
You can look at this as though he's speaking of someone else. Seeing someone else that looks a certain way on the outside, but has clearly been through a lot of pain on the inside.
You can also look at it as though he's speaking about himself.
It can be about coming to an understanding that it's okay to be hurt, scarred, or having gone through loads of struggles. These are the kinds of things that make you who you are as a person.
Don't be ashamed of the pain you've been through. It has strengthened you.
Even those scars can make you more beautiful.
Everyone is special, in their own way. Never run away from who you are. Instead, embrace it.
Now, this is how I interpreted the song. Others may take it in a little differently than I did. I feel like it depends on who's listening.
It also depends on what they've been through or are going through in their lives when they are listening to the song.
One thing is for sure: if you are feeling any of these things, this is a song that lets you feel a little less alone. Even though it's a song that comes from a very personal perspective and has a purpose, it's connective to certain people that are hearing it.
I'm not sure if the artist knows the kind of effect the song might have on certain people, but it's also quite a beautiful thing.
As I mentioned earlier, this song has a lot of drive to it. It is upbeat, but it does have those layers coming through that give it a lot of depth and let you sort of swim through it at the same time. Although it is upbeat and has that edginess to it, it is also smooth and flowing simultaneously.
The song is called "Violet Topaz", and is absolutely gorgeous in terms of its production and approach. The songwriting and arrangement had a lot of attention paid to them, and the coolest part about it is that Damiano writes, composes, and even produces his own stuff.
This is particularly cool, simply because he's able to have an idea and bring that into full fruition somehow.
This was an impactful track. It's very engulfing, but in the best ways.
As far as we can tell, the artist and producer is already working on a larger LP as we speak, so hopefully we'll get to dive into more of his material soon enough, but for now, this will keep me at bay.
Upon listening to the track, I knew I wanted to have a chat with him, simply so I can find out where this song came from, how he does his thing, and what may actually be coming up next.
So, while you listen to this single, have a read through of our interview with Damiano below, and remember where you heard it first.
Hey Damiano, and thanks so much for doing this with us! Let’s kick it off with Violet Topaz.
What is the song about and where did it come from?
In all honesty, it happened quite unintentionally while I was playing around with different sounds. I started making it in March while I was in LA, around the same time I shot the music video for my first single, Little White Lies. It wasn’t officially summer, but the LA heat definitely put me in that mindset, and I thought, “Why not try making something that feels like summer?” The way the production builds throughout the song actually mirrors how I created it - layer by layer, step by step.
Although it’s upbeat, I still wanted the lyrics to have meaning. Violet Topaz suddenly came to mind and, beyond sounding interesting, it came to represent self-reflection, self-acceptance and recognising that you’re one of a kind. A rare gem, something unique and impossible to replicate.
So, how did it all start for you as an artist?
I’ve always aspired to be a musician. From a young age, music has always been an emotional anchor for me. Looking back, every stage of my life has a soundtrack attached to it. I’ve been self-producing since I was a teenager, but I’d never released anything.
I decided 2026 was the year to finally get my act together. Over the last few months I’ve released three singles, with Violet Topaz being the third, and there are plenty more currently in the making before I release my self-produced debut album.
This single had a bit of a genre-bending feel to me! Who are your biggest musical influences?
I have so many! I genuinely love all kinds of music, and that’s probably why my songs naturally blend genres together. If it feels right, I don’t like forcing a song into one category.
Some of my biggest influences include Lana Del Rey, The Weeknd, BANKS, Artemas, Mareux, FKA twigs and James Blake, to name a few. But I listen to everything from dark pop and indie to rap, R&B, rock, electronic and reggaeton. I think every genre has something to teach you, and those influences naturally find their way into my music.
I know you write your own music! What are you performing on this?
I produced the majority of the instrumental, played the piano parts that became the synths and bass lines, wrote the lyrics and melody, and handled a lot of the vocal production. I’m very hands-on throughout the whole creative process because every little detail helps shape the final song. Every release teaches me something new, and that’s one of the things I love most about producing my own music.
Do you perform live at all, or is this a recording project?
Performing live is definitely part of the plan. It’s still early days, but the response to the releases has been really encouraging. Once I’ve built up more of a catalogue, I’d love to bring these songs to the stage and create a live show that does them justice.
When you write songs, is it lyrics first? Did you have these lyrics written before the full song came to fruition?
There isn’t really a set process. I have over 400 notes on my phone - some are complete lyrics, others are just ideas waiting to become songs. Sometimes I’ll write lyrics first and wait for the right instrumental. Other times I’ll spend hours producing and create an instrumental that’s waiting for vocals.
I just love turning something that only I can hear in my head into something audible, maybe something people may even connect with.
Did you record this at a bigger studio, or a home DAW setup?
Most of the production happens in my home setup using Logic Pro and the Macbook. I usually start everything on piano before building the rest of the production around it.
For Violet Topaz, we recorded the vocals in Copenhagen, where my co-producer added a few elements that really elevated the track while I tweaked a few things myself. When I got home, I still felt like something was missing, so I added the female vocal textures and the bell-like pluck that you hear throughout the choruses. Those little finishing touches ended up becoming some of my favourite parts of the song.
What would you say people can expect from this track?
I call this track a hot mess because there’s a lot going on, but that was intentional. I wanted it to be energetic, danceable and full of feel-good summer vibes while still carrying an emotional message underneath.
Whether you’re dancing because you’re happy or dancing to forget about life’s troubles for a few minutes, I hope it gives people a sense of escape. I like to think of it as a sonic plaster for a broken soul - a reminder that sometimes you’re the one who’s going to save yourself.
I hear you are pretty close in on the mixing process as well! How long did this track take for you to completely finish?
I worked on it on and off throughout spring and was determined to have it finished in time for summer. From the initial idea to the final master, I’d say it took around four to five months.
Is there anything you are working on next?
I’m currently working on my next single, alongside a couple of other potential singles, while finishing the remaining tracks for my debut album. There’s a lot of music on the way, and I’m excited for people to hear where the project goes next.
Before we go, is there anything you would like to express to fans of the music?
I’d just like to say thank you. If you’re listening to my music, I genuinely appreciate you taking the time because supporting independent artists really does make a difference.
This is only the beginning. There’s so much more music on the way, and I can’t wait to share it with you all.
Peace!
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