Interview: Arianna Chirico

Photography: Luigi Sgambato

Styling: Andrea Sangiorgi

Hair: Piera Berdicchia

Makeup: Carolina Antonini

**sweater** Grifoni **jeans** Sandro **sneakers** Golden Goose

Before becoming Dama, who was Andrea Damante? Did you have different dreams or did you imagine your future just like that?

The passion for music has always been inside me. Since I was little, I loved to organize and participate as a protagonist in parties. And I believe that there is not much difference between the old Andrea and the Dama, because I am still doing what I like, with the good fortune of having transformed a hobby into a job. Television has certainly given me visibility and I will always be grateful.

2.5 million followers is a very large number. You are a role model for many and live life in the spotlight. How much did becoming a public figure affect your way of life?

I believe that Instagram and social networks in general represent the fundamental means for strong and international communication. Those who manage to identify the right ways to interact with people are able to gain a loyal audience that begins to love who is on the other side of the screen, to imitate them, to draw inspiration from them. Initially I felt the weight of such a high number, while now I manage my profile with more freedom, sharing my daily life and my family without asking myself too many doubts. Instead, I pay a lot of attention to sharing my music, which represents my work and my professional investment, for which I take care of the communication and of the visual part in the best possible approach.

You are born as a DJ. Then life puts you in front of other experiences, but music always remains an important part of your career. How was this passion born? What is the project that is closest to your heart?

Music has always been part of my family. My father and his brothers have always played the drums, the guitar, the piano and the bass and therefore I grew up with the image of these four guys who play continuously, so much so that they pushed me to study music since I was in middle school. With the launch of the first consoles, I began to be intrigued and to approach the world of DJing. Party after party, my interest in music was growing, just at that moment when we moved from analogue to digital, corroborating my thesis that technological changes strongly affect the generations who live there. So since I was about 14, I have been performing and playing at parties. My heart project is always the same: the possibility of living on music, playing all over the world. For now I am very focused, in fact three singles will soon be released and an album is planned.

Was there a moment when you would have liked to abandon everything, giving up your dream? What made you believe it even more?

One of the moments during which I felt a little bit of my determination lost dates back to when I was 17 or 18: at that time I had played in a very important venue and after the first performance which had to be followed by many others, the club was closed for several problems. I was disappointed and even a little dejected. I think that moments of discouragement happen to everyone, but you just need to know how to deal with them by remembering how important what you do is and by feeling how much passion there is. Then from my music I have always had satisfactory results that have made me happy with what I was working on.

**suit and shoes** Canaku **leather shirt** Hugo Boss **trousers and belt** Acne Studios

Would you have any advice for young artists who want to follow your path?

I think the secret lies in spending a lot of time on the console rehearsing and playing and on the computer producing for hours and hours. A lot of constancy and perseverance is needed and we must not break down in the face of obstacles, but overcome them with tenacity. Building your own identity and style is very important to communicate through music with your audience.

Do you believe in the power of collaborations or are you more individualistic?

I believe that building your character is essential. It is necessary to let others know about your history, your personality, your interests in order to have a following and a success that can also work through collaboration. When you have a strong identity as an artist, it can be crucial to bond with other artists or brands for collaborations, because in that case you can grow together while maintaining your own defined peculiarities.

On the other hand, in your personal life, how important is it to surround yourself with people? Do you believe in love and friendship?

It is essential. For a long time, I struggled to figure out which were the right people to kin my life and which ones to turn away, but now I know very well what makes me feel good and what I need. If I ever have children, I will advise them to necessarily surround themselves with the right friends, people they can trust and have fun with.

What is the relationship you have with Milan? You were born in Verona, but you have been living in this city for years now, right?

Yes, Milan is my city par excellence, it has been waiting for me since I was born. I couldn't live anywhere else in the world. It is a city that races and I feel a bit like it, always in a rush and superactive.

Does this hyperactivity lead you to face life in a thoughtful and pragmatic way or with more rebellion and irrationality?

I definitely feel very pragmatic. Sometimes I would like to be more rebellious, but I believe that in this period of my life, I have learned to manage situations more rationally and to ponder things before facing them.

How did you experience the pandemic? What do you think this experience left to the world?

In general it was a tragedy and it does not help in any way. The first few months of lockdown were lived with hope and we had also learned to connect with others more deeply. However, the situation has been badly managed by governments: although I have always agreed on the utmost caution, they forced us into such long periods of lockdown that we came out tired and stressed. Slowing down, I worked better. I was more focused and initially it was more challenging to produce at a less hectic pace. But if I think back to that period, if I talk about it with friends, a sadness and anguish assail us that is almost difficult to explain. Now it is necessary to get back on track and start working on all the lost time.

Do you have a faith or a safe haven to take refuge in during hardship?

I believe in myself. In the most difficult moments it helps me not to get discouraged, to feel strong and not to break down. I feel I have qualities that I invest in on a daily basis, and they are the same ones that allow me to move forward if something goes wrong. You have to work a lot on yourself.

Andrea Damante French Fries interview

© French Fries Magazine