The warbling with Giorgia backstage, who also praised him with a "you're beautiful," followed by a standing ovation and the numbers flying around on social media. Damiano Caddeo, aka eroCaddeo, 27 years old and winner of the 2021 Radiolina Contest, snatched up the X Factor stage. The singer-songwriter from Sinnai won over the four judges, advancing to the next stage of the 19th edition of the Sky talent show, the Bootcamp stage.

But he's not the only Sardinian to make it through the auditions: Plastic Haze—who performed Muse's "Time Is Running Out"—also features Arborea drummer Mattia Pilloni. An alternative rock band yet to be discovered, while Caddeo is now a sure thing.

Wearing jeans and a dark sweatshirt, he immediately makes an impression. "My style? Pop singer-songwriter," he replies simply, despite having explored a wide range of sounds, from Urban to R&B. His romantic unreleased song, "Punto," leaves no room for doubt. "You're sincere, spontaneous, and interesting," is Achille Lauro's verdict. "You put all your depth into your writing," says Jake La Furia. "Your girlfriend is lucky, you wrote a beautiful song" for Paola Iezzi. "You're funny and you sing really well," comments newcomer Francesco Gabbani. Then all four votes.

Caddeo, born in Modena but raised in Sinnai and now in Turin to work on his musical project, rose to fame after winning the Radiolina Contest four years ago. He debuted with "Gravità Zero" on the Turin-based label Cvlto Music Group in 2022. "Scrivimi quando arrivi" is his first EP, released in April, which includes "Luglio," a song that went viral and has become a symbol of Sardinian sunsets with the line "for me you'll be like Cagliari after 7."

He put down roots on the island again this summer: in Dorgali on August 15th he opened the live show for Rose Villain, and just a weekend ago he returned home with the show “Scrivimi quando arrivi – Live” at the Teatro Civico in Sinnai.

His first step on X Factor won't go to his head: "I know success is fleeting," he said in an interview with L'Unione Sarda a few days ago. "Sarcasm and irony are my weapons." His goal? "To make a living from music."

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