Raccoon Music Award: Make It One triumph. All the results from the final night of the contest promoted by OndaRock

June 12, 2026: final of the second edition of the Raccoon Music Award at Monk

Rome's underground scene is hiding emerging talents just waiting to be discovered. These are young artists united by a common attitude: the drive to tell their own story and, in a world where social media has left us drowning in music, to put themselves to the test on stage. This is the atmosphere at Monk for the final of the Raccoon Music Award, the contest that showcases the best of Rome's emerging under-30 scene, in partnership with OndaRock.

The evening was structured like a full-blown festival. Starting at 6:30 pm, Monk's courtyard was set up with various stands, turning into a stage for strictly under-30 live music, followed by a DJ set from Paolo Chemnitz before the final kicked off at 9 pm.

The start of the evening

Before the competition gets underway, Monk's theatre welcomes FlowHertz, who warm up the crowd and get them dancing with their pop-funk sound. But the surprises don't end there: taking the stage is Ventidue, winner of last year's edition of the contest, already interviewed on our webzine as part of last year's prize.

At this point the competition begins. The seven acts in the running - who fought their way through starting in November, clearing two rounds at Let it Beer and the semifinals at Wishlist - now prepare to face an even bigger stage, each performing a two-song set in front of an audience of more than 300 people. Alongside the audience, the winners are decided by a technical jury made up of:

• Claudio Fabretti: founder and editor of the webzine OndaRock;
• Paolo Chemnitz: writer for OndaRock, in charge of the dark section and DJ;
• Emanuele Forte: presenter on Radio Rock (where he hosts the show Anti-pop), DJ and drummer for The Pischellis;
• Alessandro Guardia: founder and director of the record label Alpha Musicwhich has produced more than 350 albums across jazz, pop and rock.

The live sets, blow by blow

Opening the show is Corpoceleste, who tackles generational and existential themes through a delicate yet striking voice, set to a contemporary pop sound. Next up are Mind Your Step, a band bringing urban pop to the stage and standing out for their tightness and interplay (they're also the only act to perform a cover, specifically one by Tony Pitony).

The stage then welcomes Hibiscus, who blend hip-hop and R&B and show off a well-defined musical identity, backed by five musicians (including a saxophonist) who give the sound a distinctly jazzy edge. Surprisingly, during Hibiscus's set, rapper UPNEA - another of the competing acts - shows up for a brief featuring, proof of the friendships and collaborations forged over the year among the young artists who took part in the Raccoon Music Award.

Fourth to perform is BEABI, a pop/R&B act that moves with elegance through warm, enveloping sounds.

After a short break, the evening continues with the final three projects, which will also turn out to be the most awarded. Wild Mint take the Monk into darker, more introspective territory, layering experimental rock with trip-hop and shoegaze elements.

The baton then passes to Make it One, whose sound blends demented rock with singer-songwriter sensibilities. Between playful riffs and surreal lyrics, the band unleashes a genuine, acidic, distorted energy; the three musicians get the crowd going wild, with some even breaking into a pogo pit.
The last act to perform is rapper Upnea, who combines an urban mood with experimentation, unleashing a punk energy while backed on stage by guitar and drums.

The final verdicts

At the end of the contest, the guys from Febbra Rock take the stage to award their favorite project, Wild Mint, a slot at Testaccio Estate during the July 5th live show. The whole staff then comes up on stage, and it's time to reveal the winners of the critics' awards:

• Radio Rock Award (with live interview): Wild Mint and Make it One;
• Alpha Music Award (with mixing, mastering and distribution of a track through the label): BEABI;
• Runner-up Award (with production of a track at Arte 2°): Upnea.

And finally, taking home the Raccoon Music Award — winning 500 euros, an interview on our webzine, and the Saint Louis prize (a choice between a free masterclass or a discount on tuition) — is the demented rock of Make it One.

An evening that proves once again just how alive and vibrant the Roman scene is.

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