Friends, Lorenzo Salvetti wins: "A rebirth." Angie finishes fifth and wins the radio award.

In 2024, at just 16, the 18-year-old from the province of Verona reached the finals of X Factor on Achille Lauro's team, but the victory eluded him. His doubts and fears were therefore justified. "Amici was a rebirth," he confides. It's difficult to make comparisons, however. "They're two different things. Let's say that embarking on a journey like this again was important. I got back into the game even though I was afraid I wasn't up to it, that I'd be out of the running." Challenge after challenge, performance after performance, Lorenzo (on Lorella Cuccarini and Veronica Peparini's team) earned the trust of the teachers, the judges, but—most importantly—the audience, who yesterday awarded him the grand prize worth €150,000 (and also the Spotify Singles Award). "I think it was my simplicity, my authenticity, and maybe my way of singing that made people like me."

During the show he released three unreleased songs: Stupida Vita (which gives the title to the EP out May 22nd), Prima di te e dopo, Dimmelo tu. E ora? «Apart from making a lot of music, nothing happens, except the fact that I'm much happier. I'm left,   with a heavy baggage on my shoulders, but I'm still the same   ».

(Unioneonline/D)