Born in 1988, raised in music and theater, and a daughter of an artist, Cagliari native Claudia Giua—aka Claudia Ottavia—is now on her third album. After her debut acoustic EP and the album "Innocenza," featuring provocative songs like "Odio Sanremo" and "Fossi Maschio," today comes "Amore e Rivolte," an album that stands as a banner of resistance and freedom, but also of introspection, out September 9th.

Sweetness and anger

So how do you bring these souls together? "I wanted to unite two opposing sides," she tells us, "expressing it all through intimate ballads, rooted in classic singer-songwriter style, and more polemical and brazen electronic tracks. The idea was to bring together sweetness and anger, love and contradiction, without hiding the complexity, without eliminating the contrasts, but transforming all of this into creative force." An album born from an evolving journey: "The first was acoustic and intimate, the second more ironic and polemical. With this one, I felt the need to bring it all together, the fruit of a process of awareness."

"My family"

Her artistic style is hybrid, far from confined spaces. "I grew up in the theater; my mother is an actress, my father works in the entertainment industry. That dimension is home, and it also emerges in my music. My live shows are conceived as performances that combine sound and dance. I don't want to give up any of the arts I love: their union gives me greater strength and reflects who I am."

The reality show

Then there's an audience to reach, one that today prefers easy music. "My experience at 'X Factor' taught me a lot. I had the soul of a dreamy child, but I immediately saw how much demand there was for a formulaic and recognizable product. I didn't want to fit into a pre-established box. From there, my 'revolt' was born. I understood that you can create your own space, even with fewer listeners, while remaining consistent. Instant success is no guarantee of existence: it often leads to fragility and depression."

The collaborations

The album embodies generational anger and disillusionment, but also slowness and fragility. Spaces of truth that become an antidote to today's competition. The project has been enriched by many collaborations: Arrogalla's dubmaster on "Burocrazia," Gianluca Pischedda's strings on "Io mi prendo un cane," Ilaria Porceddu's lyrical and piano work, and Andrea Schirru, who gave shape to "Fiori nel cemento." With Ruido, on the track "Trapperisti," there was a feature that stemmed from a meeting on his program "Sala Prove" on Videolina. Finally, Simone Frau, who oversees production, "a precious traveling companion: with him I can always translate my ideas."

On the Island

Being an artist in Sardinia isn't easy. "It's painful. I wrote to Mayor Zedda and Councilor Chiappe to ask for more support. We need spaces to play, calls for proposals, and small financial contributions. I try to overcome this difficulty by taking action, networking. For the album presentation, I wanted to involve other female singer-songwriters, because cooperation is key."

The performance

After the album's release, a performance will take shape, combining music, acting, and dance—a total experience. "Amore e Rivolte" "was born precisely to live on stage." Claudia Ottavia's work is the product of a creative process that alternates moments of diary-like writing with periods of intense concentration. "I always have a notebook with me to jot down my thoughts right away. In the winter months, I dedicate myself to lyrics and musical sketches. Sometimes the music comes first, other times everything comes together. There's a place that inspires me: a small beach near Pula, an almost Caribbean-like spot, with vegetation and pale sand. There, ideas take shape." With "Amore e Rivolte," the language of Claudia's soul is revealed, which seeks to universalize itself through the synthesis of the arts and the beauty of being oneself, even when going against the grain.
Claudia Giua will also be a guest at the Lucido Festival on Wednesday, September 10.

Nicola Montisci

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