Damiano David in Zurich

Another day, another concert – Damiano David in Zurich at a sold-out Halle 622. For those who may not know, Damiano is the frontman of the Italian rock sensation Måneskin. They skyrocketed to fame after winning Eurovision.

I had the chance to shoot him and his band a while back, when they played at Hallenstadion. So it was exciting to see him step into the spotlight as a solo artist. While I knew that his solo work was a different direction, I honestly wasn’t quite sure what to expect going in.

High Energy Start, Softer Vibes to Follow

The first three songs of the set surprised me with strong rock elements and plenty of energy. Much more than I anticipated, given all the talk about his solo music being “too soft.” The crowd, however, was loving it no matter what. The venue was packed, fans were cheering, and the atmosphere was buzzing. Still, as the set went on, I could understand why some OG Måneskin fans might have felt a little let down. Compared to the wild, electric vibe of the band, Damiano’s solo songs leaned heavily into mellow, slower tunes. They were well-crafted, performed by talented musicians, and beautifully put together. Still, personally, I found them a bit too much of the same vibes. In German I’d say Einheitsbrei.

Finding His Own Voice

That said, one thing stood out clearly: this is exactly what Damiano wants to do. He emphasized it multiple times during the show. Right before performing Perfect Life, he shared a vulnerable moment, explaining how despite living what seemed like the “perfect life” with Måneskin’s huge success, it never felt fully authentic to him. Hearing that made me respect his journey even more. While his solo music may not completely be my cup of tea, I genuinely admire that he’s found the freedom to create what he loves and still has a loyal fanbase supporting him. In the end, it was fascinating to see this new chapter of his career unfold. Is it for me? Not really. But that’s the beauty of music – there’s something out there for everyone.