Dimartino
Antonio Di Martino (born 1 December 1982), known professionally as Dimartino, is an Italian singer-songwriter from Palermo, Sicily.[1][2] The son of a philosophy teacher and a carpenter, he began his musical career in 1998 as the founder, singer, and guitarist of the band Famelica 40.[1][3] Di Martino launched his solo career in 2010 with the EP E già come se fosse domani, followed by his debut album Cara maestra abbiamo perso in 2012.[2] His subsequent solo albums include Un mondo raro (2014), Fango e stelle (2016), and Afrodite (2018), blending indie pop and pop rock with influences from Sicilian folk traditions.[1][3] Since 2020, Di Martino has collaborated extensively with fellow Sicilian singer-songwriter Colapesce, releasing the joint album I mortali that year, which was certified gold in Italy.[2] The duo represented Italy at the Sanremo Music Festival in 2021 with "Musica leggerissima", which won the Critics' Award, achieved fivefold platinum status, and garnered over 82 million Spotify streams.[2] They returned to Sanremo in 2023 with "Splash", earning double platinum certification, ahead of their second collaborative album Lux Eterna Beach in 2024.[2] Di Martino has also written songs for artists such as Brunori Sas, Arisa, and Elisa, and composed soundtracks including for the film La primavera della mia vita (2023).[4][2] Beyond music, Di Martino co-authored the book Un mondo raro (2017) with Fabrizio Cammarata, a biographical novel about Mexican singer Chavela Vargas, published by La Nave di Teseo.[5] As of 2025, he continues to perform and develop new projects within the Italian indie music scene.[3]Early life and career beginnings
Childhood and family background
Antonio Di Martino, professionally known as Dimartino, was born on December 1, 1982, in Misilmeri, a small town in the province of Palermo, Sicily, Italy.[6] Growing up in this Sicilian locale provided him with deep roots in the island's traditions, fostering an early appreciation for its cultural and literary heritage through everyday family life and community surroundings.[3] Dimartino was raised in a modest household as the son of a carpenter, whose trade instilled in him a grounded worldview and an understanding of manual craftsmanship that later influenced his creative outlook.[7] His early years in the 1990s were marked by familial exposure to music, particularly when his father acquired one of the first CD players available and purchased a John Lennon album as a key album in their home collection, sparking his initial interest in sounds beyond local folk traditions.[8] This Sicilian upbringing, immersed in the region's vibrant yet intimate cultural fabric, shaped Dimartino's personal identity and laid the groundwork for his artistic sensibilities. During adolescence, he began transitioning toward musical explorations, drawing from these foundational influences.[8]Musical influences and early bands
Dimartino's primary musical influences during his formative years stemmed from Sicilian folk music, which infused his work with regional rhythms and storytelling traditions, alongside indie pop sensibilities and the introspective songwriting of international artists like Bob Dylan and Nick Drake.[9][10] In 1998, at age 16, Antonio Di Martino founded the band Famelika in Misilmeri, near Palermo, Sicily, where he served as guitarist and lead vocalist. Joined by Enrico Orlando on guitar, Giusto Correnti on drums, and Pippo Guagliardo on bass, the group crafted original songs blending indie rock with cantautorial elements and a strong anti-mafia stance, as seen in tracks like "Giovà." Famelika released their debut demo, Davanti al plenilunio, in 1999, followed by the album Storie poco normali in 2002 and Maschere felici in 2006, the latter mixed in Genoa and earning acclaim for its video "Cenere spose," which won best independent clip at Spaziogiovani in Foggia in 2007.[11][12] Throughout the 2000s, Famelika immersed themselves in Sicily's vibrant local music scene, performing at regional festivals and contests that highlighted emerging indie talent. They opened for prominent Italian acts, including Afterhours, Persiana Jones, and Caparezza during his Sicilian tour dates from 2004 to 2006, and shared stages with groups like Meganoidi and Bisca. Key milestones included winning the Suoni dal Sud contest in 2002, the XVII Festival in Caltanissetta in 2007, and performing at the Jack Daniel’s Live Tour with Giuliano Palma & the Bluebeaters in 2008, building a dedicated following through energetic live shows across the island.[11][13][14] The band's dissolution in 2009, after clinching the Arezzo Wave Sicilia prize—which led to a performance at Rome's Concerto del Primo Maggio—prompted Di Martino to transition to a solo career under the Dimartino moniker, seeking greater personal expression in his songwriting.[14][11]Solo career
Debut and initial releases
Dimartino's solo career began with the release of his debut album, Cara maestra abbiamo perso, on November 11, 2010, through the independent label Pippola Music.[15] The album was artistically produced by Cesare Basile, with mixing and mastering handled by Guido Andreani, and featured contributions from notable Italian indie artists including Le Luci della Centrale Elettrica on the track "Parto," as well as Alessandro Fiori and Enrico Gabrielli.[16] Thematically, it explores youthful introspection through motifs of generational defeat and the liberating acceptance of loss, drawing on personal narratives of disillusionment and fleeting freedoms.[17] Tracks like "Cercasi anima" and "Ho sparato a Vinicio Capossela" blend raw emotional urgency with sarcastic wit, reflecting a post-adolescent search for identity amid uncertainty.[18] Following the debut, Dimartino issued his second album, Sarebbe bello non lasciarsi mai, ma abbandonarsi ogni tanto è utile, on May 21, 2012, via Picicca Dischi.[19] This release marked a stylistic evolution toward indie pop, characterized by softer arrangements, orchestral elements like strings and brass, and a more introspective lyricism compared to the rawer edges of his first work.[20] Key tracks such as the lead single "Non siamo gli alberi" and "Non ho più voglia di imparare" highlight this shift, with acoustic guitars and subtle rhythms underscoring themes of relational fragility and quiet resignation.[21] The album's production emphasized melodic accessibility while retaining Dimartino's poetic depth, building on influences from his earlier band Famelika in a more polished solo context.[22] To promote these initial releases, Dimartino embarked on his first major solo tour from February 4 to May 14, 2011, performing across various Italian venues to cultivate a dedicated niche audience in the indie scene. He further gained visibility through live appearances, including opening for the band Mogwai at the Ypsigrock Festival in Castelbuono, Sicily, in August 2011, where his intimate stage presence resonated with festival-goers.[23] These early tours focused on small clubs and regional events, allowing him to refine his performative style rooted in storytelling and audience connection. Early critical reception praised Dimartino's work for its evocative Sicilian storytelling elements, weaving personal anecdotes with cultural references to Palermo's landscapes and social undercurrents.[2] Reviews highlighted the debut's blend of disenchanted lyricism and musical vitality, with outlets like Rockol noting its lucid sarcasm in addressing youthful malaise, while SentireAscoltare commended the "no future" narratives delivered with graceful restraint.[17] For the follow-up, critics such as those from OndaRock appreciated the evolution to a more breathy, word-rich indie pop that amplified his narrative voice, solidifying his reputation as a fresh voice in Italian cantautorato.[24]Mid-career developments and songwriting
In the mid-2010s, Dimartino's solo career marked a period of artistic evolution, characterized by deeper explorations of personal and cultural themes through his album releases. His third studio album, Un paese ci vuole (2015), released on Picicca Dischi, delved into motifs of rural Italian existence, evoking the sense of community and the impulse to depart from familiar settings, as inspired by Italo Calvino's writings on provincial life.[25] This work represented a shift toward more introspective songwriting, blending folk-infused melodies with narrative reflections on belonging and transience.[26] Following this, Dimartino collaborated with Fabrizio Cammarata on Un mondo raro (2017), also under Picicca Dischi, which served as a musical and literary homage to the Mexican singer Chavela Vargas. The album reinterpreted Vargas's ranchera repertoire, fusing it with original compositions that highlighted themes of passion, exile, and resilience, while accompanying a biographical book co-authored by the pair that chronicled her life of artistic defiance and personal struggles.[27] This project underscored Dimartino's growing interest in cross-cultural storytelling, merging Sicilian sensibilities with Latin American traditions to create a hybrid sound that emphasized emotional rawness over conventional pop structures.[28] By 2019, with Afrodite on 42 Records, Dimartino demonstrated further maturation, incorporating electronic and pop elements into his arrangements to achieve a more dynamic, contemporary texture. Tracks like "Giorni buoni" and "Pesce d'aprile" featured sparkling synth layers and rhythmic pulses that contrasted with his earlier acoustic leanings, signaling a deliberate expansion of his sonic palette while retaining lyrical focus on everyday joys and vulnerabilities.[29] The album received widespread critical praise for its confident evolution, with reviewers noting its ability to refresh Italian cantautariato traditions through innovative production and poignant observations on modern relationships.[30][31] Parallel to his solo output, Dimartino established himself as a prolific songwriter for other artists, contributing to the landscape of Italian pop during this era. He co-wrote "Diego e io" with Brunori Sas for the 2017 album A casa tutto bene, a track that explored themes of friendship and introspection through collaborative lyricism, enhancing the album's emotional depth.[3] For Arisa, Dimartino penned several songs for her 2014 self-titled album, including "Sinceramente" and "L'ultima volta," which infused her repertoire with poetic vulnerability and melodic subtlety, helping to broaden her appeal in the pop genre.[32] In 2019, he co-authored "Bravi a cadere" for Marracash's Persona, a introspective piece on personal growth amid adversity that integrated Dimartino's narrative style into hip-hop, contributing to the track's resonance within contemporary Italian music scenes. These collaborations highlighted Dimartino's versatility, as he adapted his evocative prose to diverse artists, influencing the evolution of Italian songwriting by bridging indie and mainstream expressions.[2]Collaboration with Colapesce
Formation and joint projects
Antonio Di Martino, known as Dimartino, and Lorenzo Urciullo, known as Colapesce, first connected within the Sicilian indie music scene during the late 2010s, forging a friendship rooted in their shared island heritage and mutual admiration for each other's songwriting. Both hailing from Sicily—Urciullo from Solarino near Syracuse and Di Martino from Palermo—they had previously pursued solo paths, with Urciullo exploring electronic-infused indie pop and Di Martino focusing on introspective folk narratives, styles that complemented each other when they began collaborating more closely around 2018–2019. Their bond deepened through informal exchanges and shared performances, setting the stage for a formal partnership.[33] The duo officially formed in 2020, spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, which provided an opportunity to channel their complementary aesthetics into a unified project amid isolation and uncertainty. Motivated by their common Sicilian identity and the desire to blend Urciullo's experimental edge with Di Martino's poetic lyricism, they retreated to create music that reflected personal and collective vulnerabilities. This period of lockdown fostered a creative intimacy, transforming their longstanding acquaintance into a dedicated artistic alliance.[33][34] Their debut collaborative album, I Mortali, was released on June 5, 2020, under the independent label 42 Records, marking the duo's first full-length joint effort. Produced by the artists themselves with contributions from Federico Nardelli and Giordano Colombo, the record delves into themes of mortality, human fragility, and resilience, portraying life's impermanence as a source of uniqueness and strength—"La mortalità è la condizione delle creature terrene e dell'uomo, ma è anche ciò che ci rende unici, fragili e capaci di resilienza," as the duo explained. The album's ten tracks weave Sicilian folklore with modern introspection, featuring orchestral elements and guest appearances like Carmen Consoli on "Luna araba." The lead single, "Musica leggerissima," later became a cornerstone of their catalog, embodying the album's light yet profound exploration of endurance.[34][35] In the wake of the pandemic's restrictions, Colapesce Dimartino adapted their live presentations for safety, launching an abbreviated summer tour in August 2020 after postponing an earlier spring theater run. The itinerary included outdoor venues and reduced-capacity shows across Italy, such as Lamezia Terme on August 12 and Rome's Auditorium Parco della Musica on September 5, where they performed reimagined tracks from I Mortali alongside solo material in a minimalist setup with polistrumentist KWSK Ningia. These intimate adaptations emphasized acoustic arrangements and emotional directness, allowing the duo to connect with audiences despite social distancing measures and canceled dates in cities like Naples and Turin.[36][37]Key achievements and Sanremo participations
Colapesce and Dimartino achieved significant recognition through their participation in the Sanremo Music Festival in 2021, where they performed the song "Musica leggerissima," securing fourth place in the final standings.[38] The track, a poignant commentary on contemporary Italian society, resonated widely, earning double platinum certification from FIMI for over 140,000 units sold shortly after release and contributing to the duo's rising prominence in the indie pop scene.[39] During the festival's third night, they delivered a acclaimed cover of Franco Battiato's "Povera patria," highlighting their interpretive depth and amplifying the song's cultural impact amid national discussions on social issues.[40] Building on this momentum, the duo released an expanded edition of their debut album, I Mortali², on March 19, 2021, featuring 21 tracks including additional material and re-recordings, which further solidified their artistic partnership. In 2023, they returned to Sanremo with "Splash," placing tenth overall but winning the prestigious Mia Martini Critics' Award for its innovative blend of irony and melody, as well as the Lucio Dalla Press Room Award.[41][42] On the cover night, they joined forces with Carla Bruni for a reinterpretation of Adriano Celentano's "Azzurro," infusing the classic with a modern, bilingual twist that captivated audiences.[43] "Splash" served as the lead single for their second studio album, Lux Eterna Beach, released on November 3, 2023, which embraced a sun-drenched, beach-pop aesthetic evoking Sicilian coastal landscapes and dreamy introspection.[44] The album's themes of fleeting joy and existential reflection marked a evolution in their sound, earning critical praise for its atmospheric production. In 2024, they captured the grandeur of their orchestral tours in the live album Archi, ottoni e preoccupazioni. Colapesce Dimartino dal vivo con l'orchestra, released on December 6, featuring reimagined tracks that showcased their dynamic stage presence.[45] Following the conclusion of their Lux Eterna Beach Estate 2024 tour in September, the duo announced a pause in their collaboration in July 2024, citing the need to rest after four intense years and pursue individual projects, while emphasizing that future joint work remained possible.[46] Despite the hiatus, they made select appearances in 2025, including performances at Teatro Politeama in Palermo on January 4 and Teatro dal Verme in Milan on January 17, signaling ongoing duo engagements without a full return to new collaborative activities as of November 2025.[47][48]Other works
Literary contributions
Dimartino, whose real name is Antonio Di Martino, made his literary debut in 2017 with the novel Un mondo raro: Vita e incanto di Chavela Vargas, co-authored with musician Fabrizio Cammarata and published by La Nave di Teseo. The book presents a fictionalized biography of the renowned Mexican singer Chavela Vargas, born Isabel Vargas Lizano in Costa Rica in 1919, chronicling her escape to Mexico at age 17, her ascent in the ranchera music scene, and her complex relationships with figures like Frida Kahlo and José Alfredo Jiménez. It also covers her battles with alcoholism, a 15-year period of seclusion, and her resurgence as a performer until her death in 2012.[49][50] The narrative draws heavily from the authors' travels from Palermo to Mexico City, where they immersed themselves in Vargas's world and the cultural landscapes that shaped her life, infusing the story with authentic details of mid-20th-century Mexican society. Key themes include identity and exile, reflecting Vargas's experiences as a Costa Rican immigrant and openly homosexual artist in a conservative era; resilience amid personal turmoil; and the vibrant interplay of Mexican traditions, magic, passion, and music. These elements evoke a suspended realm between reality and enchantment, marked by tequila-fueled adventures and emotional depth.[51][49] The novel received positive critical reception for its empathetic storytelling and seamless blend of historical facts with imaginative fiction, transporting readers into an unforgettable portrait of Vargas's adventurous existence and the golden age of Mexican ranchera. Reviewers praised its vivid evocation of 1950s and 1960s Mexico, noting the narrative's stylistic shifts and immersive imagery, such as depictions of Vargas in her iconic red poncho. Spanning about 200 pages, the work has been highlighted for making lesser-known aspects of Vargas's life accessible and compelling. Its exploration of identity and exile parallels themes in Dimartino's songwriting, enriching his artistic output.[51][49]Soundtracks and additional collaborations
In 2023, Dimartino collaborated with Colapesce to compose the original soundtrack for the film La primavera della mia vita, a Sicilian road movie directed by Carlo D'Amicis in which the duo also starred as protagonists.[52] The score blends acoustic elements, 12-string guitar, and choral arrangements to underscore the film's themes of self-discovery and unconventional relationships, with standout tracks including "Il Coro Degli Albini (Prologo)," "Stanco Stanco Stanco," and the single "Splash," which was released ahead of the film's premiere.[53] The full soundtrack album, produced by Federico Nardelli and Giordano Colombo, was issued on February 24, 2023, by CAM Sugar in formats including limited-edition signed vinyl.[54] This project represented Dimartino's expansion into multimedia composition, integrating his songwriting with cinematic storytelling to create narrative-driven pieces that enhance visual and emotional depth.[55] Beyond the duo's core partnership, Dimartino contributed to guest features on tracks like "Forse domani" from the 2023 album Lux Eterna Beach, where he shared vocals with Colapesce and Joan Thiele, exploring introspective themes through layered harmonies.[56] His 2025 activities included a high-profile duet at the Sanremo Music Festival with Riccardo Sinigallia and Brunori Sas, performing a cover of Lucio Dalla's "L'anno che verrà" during the covers night, highlighting his versatility in ensemble reinterpretations.[57] No dedicated theater or television soundtracks have been credited to Dimartino as of late 2025, though his film work underscores a continued focus on audio-visual narratives.[4]Discography
Solo studio albums
Dimartino's solo studio discography spans four albums, each showcasing his evolution as a singer-songwriter rooted in Italian indie pop and rock traditions. His debut album, Cara maestra abbiamo perso, was released on November 26, 2010, by Pippola Music.[16][58] The record features 10 tracks, including "Cercasi anima," "Ho sparato a Vinicio Capossela," "Cara maestra," and "Parto" (featuring Le Luci della Centrale Elettrica), blending introspective lyrics with acoustic and folk influences as a homage to Luigi Tenco.[16][15] No significant chart performance was recorded for the album.[16] The follow-up, Sarebbe bello non lasciarsi mai, ma abbandonarsi ogni tanto è utile, arrived on May 21, 2012, via Picicca Dischi.[21] This 11-track effort highlights key singles like "Non siamo gli alberi" and explores themes of relational fragility, social disconnection, and cultural nostalgia, incorporating postmodern references to figures such as Domenico Modugno and Mario Monicelli.[59][60] The album's indie rock style received positive critical attention for its lyrical depth.[21] In 2015, Dimartino issued Un paese ci vuole on April 21 through Picicca Dischi, marking a maturation in production with contributions from various collaborators.[61] The album, comprising tracks like "Un paese ci vuole" and "L'estate del 1983," was praised for its coherent yet versatile sound, serving as an evocative soundtrack for personal narratives and earning acclaim for its emotional resonance.[61] Dimartino's fourth solo album, Afrodite, came out on January 25, 2019, via 42 Records (distributed by Picicca), shifting toward a more polished indie rock style across 10 tracks including "Cuoreintero," "Giorni buoni," and "Pesce d'aprile."[62] The record explores love and vulnerability without notable awards or certifications.[62]Collaborative studio albums
I Mortali is the debut collaborative studio album by the Italian duo Colapesce Dimartino, released on June 5, 2020, by 42 Records and Sony Music Italy. The album blends traditional Italian pop with experimental elements, featuring existential lyrics centered on themes of mortality, relationships, and fleeting moments, often delivered through memorable, anthemic choruses.[63] It includes 10 tracks, with standout singles like "Musica leggerissima," which earned five platinum certifications in Italy for over 350,000 units sold and topped the Italian singles chart for seven weeks, amassing over 82 million streams on Spotify.[63] The album itself received a gold certification from FIMI for 25,000 equivalent units.[64] The tracklist for I Mortali is as follows:- "Il prossimo semestre" (2:55)
- "Rosa e Olindo" (3:41)
- "Luna araba" (feat. Carmen Consoli) (3:19)
- "Cicale" (3:45)
- "Parole d'acqua" (3:05)
- "Raramente" (3:28)
- "L'eternità" (3:50)
- "Toy Boy" (2:48)
- "Musica leggerissima" (3:57)
- "Il ballo di Peppe" (4:12)
- "La luce che sfiora di taglio la spiaggia mise tutti d'accordo" (6:20)
- "Sesso e architettura" (3:30)
- "Ragazzo di destra" (3:51)
- "Splash" (3:29)
- "Forse" (3:45)
- "30.000 euro" (feat. Joan Thiele) (3:12)
- "Cose da pazzi" (3:28)
- "Innamorarsi perdutamente non è mai un affare" (3:55)
- "Lux Eterna Beach" (4:10)
- "Estate 2005" (3:40)
- "Ombre di città" (3:22)
- "Buio" (4:05)
Extended plays and live albums
Dimartino released his debut extended play, Non vengo più mamma, on June 17, 2013, through Picicca Dischi as a limited-edition vinyl release.[71] The EP, consisting of six tracks, blends songs from various periods of his early career, including previously released material like "No autobus" from 2008 and a cover of "Come fanno le stelle" originally by Simona Norato. It was accompanied by an illustrated comic book by artist Igor Scalisi Palminteri, which narrates a story of two young people contemplating suicide using a "sweet death" kit inspired by real-life euthanasia advocate Philip Nitschke, thematically tying into the EP's existential and introspective tone.[72] Dimartino described the project as a transitional piece rather than a direct precursor to future works, emphasizing its narrative-driven approach over conventional musical progression.[71] The tracklist for Non vengo più mamma is as follows:| Track | Title | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No autobus | 2:58 |
| 2 | Il corpo non esiste | 1:58 |
| 3 | Piangi Maria | 3:51 |
| 4 | Scompariranno i falchi dai paesi | 2:10 |
| 5 | Come fanno le stelle | 3:02 |
| 6 | Non torneremo più | 4:39 |
| Track | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | 30.000 euro (feat. Ariete) |
| 2 | L'ultimo giorno (feat. Elisa) |
| 3 | Splash |
| 4 | Nati per vivere / Born to live (feat. Joan Thiele) |
| 5 | Cose da pazzi |
| 6 | La luce che sfiora di taglio la spiaggia mise tutti d'accordo |
| 7 | Sesso e architettura |
| 8 | Luna araba |
| 9 | Musica (feat. Carmen Consoli) |
| 10 | Majorana |