SANTAMAREA - Anime storte

From Palermo, winners of the 2023 edition of Musicultura, currently in the running for a nomination at the upcoming Targhe Tenco awards in the "Best Debut Work" category, and a band already able to catch the attention of media giants like Radio Capital and Corriere della Sera, Santamarea are gradually making a name for themselves without resorting to the fleeting megaphone of talent shows. Across the eleven tracks of "Anime storte", a debut that represents them perfectly, they manage to be accessible while steering clear of banality, to be sophisticated without ever coming across as off-putting, buoyed by a deep-rooted "Sicilian-ness" that doesn't rely on folk stereotypes, but rather filters through a sensibility that is at once sun-drenched and dramatic, capable of delivering precious sonic details.

The first thing that strikes you is the lovely, rounded guitars of "Tornado", where in the verse we can recognise the influence of another true Sicilian, Carmen Consoli, certainly one of the quartet's key reference points. Just as in several other spots you can pick up on inspiration drawn from the early work of La Rappresentante di Lista (for instance, in "Parliamo x sempre"), as well as some less obvious comparisons, perhaps entirely unintentional, as happens in "Zanzare", which recalls certain intense ballads by Ministri, enveloping even in their raw realism. It's interesting to note the electronic streaks woven in (evident in "Capodanno"), which help make the sound contemporary and open to different contaminations.

The band presents itself as three brothers plus an honorary sister, the perfect setup for conveying a family atmosphere, an intimacy that also comes through in many of the songs on offer ("Bambina viola", "Casa delle streghe", "Tenere tenebre"), solidly alternating with far more animated moments ("Sui fili del rasoio" is especially effective).

From the very first bars it's clear the band has no interest in easy solutions: theirs is a layered alt-pop that refuses to be perceived as disposable, built on songwriting that moves confidently between rarefaction and impetuousness, between melodic gifts and sharper-edged detours, with the decisive plus of a voice endowed with great expressiveness. A fine signature for Italian singer-songwriter pop, a new dawn risen right over the sea of Palermo.

Ride the wave of great music

Add OndaRock to your favorite sources on Google Discover. Don't miss our reviews, milestones and latest news straight in your feed.

Follow on Google

22/04/2026