Rock-star conspicuous in a brown leather-based bomber jacket, Damiano David struts right into a resort bar in downtown Los Angeles, finds a desk close to the again and orders an orange juice in his suave Italian accent.

The 26-year-old singer from Rome broke out in 2021 when his band Måneskin scored a world smash with its cowl of the 4 Seasons’ “Beggin’”; by then the quartet had already gained the Eurovision Track Contest with “Zitti e Buoni” and crashed the highest 10 of the U.Okay.’s singles chart with “I Wanna Be Your Slave.” (If the latter calls to thoughts the Stooges’ “I Wanna Be Your Dog,” think about that Iggy Pop teamed with Måneskin for an alternate model of the track.)

But David is right here on this April afternoon to speak about “Funny Little Fears,” his debut album as a solo act. Written and produced with a squad of business professionals together with Jason Evigan, Sarah Hudson and Amy Allen, the LP strikes away from Måneskin’s glammy rock towards a extra synthed-up pop sound someplace between Harry Kinds and Benson Boone. Among the many highlights are the swooning “Born With a Broken Heart,” which has greater than 100 million streams on Spotify, and “Sick of Myself,” a dreamy ballad David wrote about his girlfriend, the singer and actor Dove Cameron; “Zombie Lady” encompasses a vocal flip by Cameron herself, with whom David is in the midst of shifting into a brand new place after we meet up.

“We’re getting furniture and all that bull—,” he says, his hair nonetheless shower-wet (or coiffed to appear to be it). David, who nonetheless spends half his time in Rome, will tour this summer season with stops at Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza earlier than a present on the Wiltern in November. These are edited excerpts from our dialog.

You’re residing in L.A. half time due to work?

It’s primarily for my companion. But in addition as a result of for this venture, I began every little thing right here, so it made sense to have a life right here.

You want L.A.?

It’s cool — sunny and every little thing. What actually issues is the individuals, and I constructed a really good neighborhood.

Songwriters and producers and the like.

Principally, I speed-dated each songwriter in L.A. for 2 months, then I made my choices based mostly on guts and private feeling and the way a lot we’d click on with one another. I discovered my individuals, and now we go for dinners and we textual content.

In an interview with Zach Sang, you referred to experiences with a few songwriters that didn’t work out effectively.

Actually didn’t.

What occurred?

Generally it was no person’s fault — we simply didn’t click on. What occurred as soon as was with a really huge identify — a giant, huge, huge one — and he was principally by no means within the room. So it felt like a waste of time. They have been like, “This big name wants to do a session,” and I used to be like, “F— yeah.” Then I went there and it was me and his sound engineer.

Truthful to say that with Måneskin you have been working in a rock area, and by yourself you’re working in a pop area?

I feel it’s honest to say for those who’re strictly speaking about genres. However I don’t suppose it’s 100% right as a result of even with the band — what we did, after all, had distortion and every little thing, however I feel it has a pop scheme.

That’s a great time period for it.

Me being the songwriter in each eventualities, I’ve a pop soul. I’m really into my era’s sound, slightly than an older sound, which is extra what [the other members of Måneskin] are into. I feel the connection between these two issues made us work. Alone, not having the facility trio — that’s principally what we’re — the sound goes to be extra pop as a result of it’s cleaner.

The New York Instances stated Måneskin “play rock music, but operate according to the logic of pop.”

I used to be born in 1999, so I began listening to music with a conscience in 2010. I’m born and raised with pop, and that’s what I used to be at all times primarily fascinated with.

What was the primary band rock band that spoke to you?

My first music reminiscences basically are R.E.M., Pink Sizzling Chili Peppers and Soundgarden, as a result of that’s what my dad would hearken to.

I’m making an attempt to suppose how outdated you’ll’ve been when Chris Cornell put out the file he made with Timbaland.

Sick. I don’t find out about it.

Some individuals have been like, “This is insane,” and a few individuals have been like, “He’s such a good singer that he can do anything.”

For me it will most likely be the second. Not every little thing is completed to be extraordinarily profitable — some issues are achieved actually only for the sake of it.

Måneskin attends the 2023 Grammy Awards. From left are Ethan Torchio, Thomas Raggi, Victoria De Angelis and Damiano David.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Instances)

The male pop star has generally appeared like an endangered species during the last decade or so. Did you sense a vacuum that you just thought you may step into?

I actually don’t suppose that means — I’m not that industrialized, OK? However it’s true: Women are taking on, and it’s not essentially a nasty factor. Truthfully, it provides lots of hope to see that the 5 largest individuals in music proper now are ladies of their 20s to 30s. There’s nonetheless males — there’s Benson, who’s doing wonderful. And he’s truly good. It’s not one thing put-together that feels bizarre and made-up. I hear he’s the nicest and most traditional man.

You clearly put lots of thought into your visible presentation. Is that this solo file giving you a chance to strive seems to be that wouldn’t work with the band?

It’s a distinct aesthetic. With the band, we began very, very younger. You know the way at school there’s the soccer guys, there’s the basketball guys, there’s the art-project guys? We have been the art-project guys. So we made that our power, and we began taking part in with make-up and nakedness and peculiar clothes as a result of it made us really feel particular. On this [solo] state of affairs — effectively, initially, I’m not 15 anymore. With the band, we have been children in an business of adults, so we would have liked this armor or protect. Now I’m 26 and I don’t want it.

To my eye there’s a little bit of basic Hollywood to the styling together with your file.

If I’ve to think about how I’d look my finest, I’d suppose it’s in a pleasant go well with with an open-collar shirt.

Did you care about garments even earlier than you started performing?

All the time. Not about manufacturers — nearly having one thing that felt private to me. Each my dad and mom are very well-put-together individuals.

Trendy.

My mother could be very fashionable. My dad attire as a person of his age.

When it comes to look, one distinction between Europeans and People, broadly talking, is that People —

You’re for consolation.

That’s a pleasant solution to put it. What’s it like so that you can stroll by way of an airport within the U.S. and take within the view?

In an airport, I’m a fan of wanting like trash. These individuals within the business who come off a airplane and get papped in a full outfit — like, what the f—? You’re on a steel tube with 20 centimeters on your legs. Why are you carrying a gown?

Dove Cameron and Damiano David attend Clive Davis’ annual pre-Grammy gala on the Beverly Hilton in 2024.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Instances)

The place did the thought for “Zombie Lady” come from?

I’m a giant fan of [Tim Burton’s movie] “Corpse Bride,” and I at all times rooted for the zombie girl by some means. I used to be watching it with my girlfriend, and I assumed: What would occur if I used to be with one other woman and he or she popped out from a grave?

“The First Time” has a giant sax solo.

I feel it beats a guitar solo. We have been doing a writing camp in Malibu, and we have been listening to Bruce Springsteen. We have been like, “Let’s do something like him,” principally. I feel we nailed it. It’s very driving-on-Route-66 kind of s—.

Was Springsteen somebody you cared about whenever you have been younger?

I used to be by no means an enormous fan, however he undoubtedly mattered for my dad. I imply, when it was full exercise [for Springsteen], I used to be like 2.

Did you go to concert events as a child?

I’m not a giant live performance individual.

Even now?

I’ve a tough time discovering somebody that I feel the entire venture is fireplace. It’s at all times 4 or 5 good songs, then the others, I’m like, “Why?” But in addition I’m not a giant crowd individual — it sort of overwhelms me.

You stated one other factor to Zach Sang that I needed to listen to extra about, which is that you just’re decided to make stunning artwork even when the artwork is about one thing ugly.

I’ve a tough time discovering a chunk of artwork that talks a few detrimental matter that stays detrimental. There’s work of assassinations and battle, however we think about them masterpieces due to the power to take one thing that by itself could be dangerous, horrible, painful and by some means reshape it and make it into one thing stunning.

Ugliness can’t be a creative advantage? I’m occupied with a band just like the Intercourse Pistols, as an example.

To go to a live performance of the Intercourse Pistols was most likely probably the most enjoyable factor you might do in that decade. They have been about freedom and f— the principles. How can we think about that ugly?

Damiano David: “If I have to imagine how I would look my best, I would think it’s in a nice suit with an open-collar shirt.”

(Christina Home / Los Angeles Instances)

You sing in English on this album. What’s Italian concerning the music?

The extent of drama. I’m extraordinarily feeling — up and down — and I manifest it in a really express-ful means. That’s very Italian about me. I’m very passionate and straightforward to learn — I don’t have many masks.

Although I do suppose you’ve acquired a little bit of rock-star mystique about you.

That’s as a result of there’s a complexity. I’m the Måneskin singer and every little thing that comes together with it, and I’m additionally what I’m on this file. I’m an especially optimistic individual, and I’m additionally an individual that went by way of levels of melancholy. This complexity is one thing that can not be expressed absolutely in even 10 information.

Which track on this album would shock the you of 5 years in the past?

“Sick of Myself.” I’d by no means have declared so overtly that I’m in love with this individual. She’s the key inspiration for this album — what she makes me really feel. It’s a degree of directness that I’d by no means have had. Even in interviews, I’d’ve been extra circling across the level: “If there’s a person…” Now I’m like, “This song is for my girlfriend, 100%.”

Generally you put on a mustache, however not right this moment. What shapes that call?

How I really feel in that second. It’s not strategic.

Strolling round Coachella final month, I feel I noticed extra guys with mustaches than with out.

Perhaps that’s why I don’t. Since everybody began having a mustache, I ended.

You advised Vogue you hearken to podcasts within the bathe. Which of them?

European soccer podcasts. Comedy stuff.

Which comedians do you want?

I don’t suppose I can say those — I like the tough ones.

Are you interested by marriage and kids?

Marriage, sure — I need to get married at one level in my life. I don’t see me sooner or later with children, however I’m 26, so what the f— do I do know?