Turin’s latest pride: Axell, is the upcoming and awaited artist whose sound is taking over the Italian music scene
Interview by Naomi Kelechi Di Meo - Photography by Andrea Amponsah
From Senegal to Turin, a conversation about music, anime, and different inspirations unfolds. Join us in discovering how Axell is paving his way towards success in the Italian music industry through his unique flow, without forgetting his true origins.
Axell, tell us about your relationship with music: why did you start, how did you start and what pushes you to do such art?
Okay… Let’s start with my stage name. Axell comes from an anime character in the manga series ‘Inazuma Eleven’. When I was little, and still living in Senegal, my dad would come to visit from Italy and would always bring with him these manga books. I started reading them even though they were in Italian and had no clue what I was reading. Anyways… I was captured so much by this manga character to the point that while playing football I once tried to do one of his moves and ended up breaking my knee. Since then, people have started calling me Axell. Fast forwarding to when I was 15, I started doing rap music. In the beginning, I was into classical music because I studied at the conservatorium, where I learned the piano and met the guy who’s now my producer. After moving to Turin, at 16 I was pushed by my friends to get serious about music. And since then it never stopped. That’s how, from being just a character, Axell became something more for me.
Wow, funny how different events influence someone’s path that much. Something I realise while listening to your music is that you manage to balance anger and similar strong emotions to a catchy sound. Many artists are known for having a rawer and angrier vibe, and others have a gimmicky one. You manage to combine and maintain both. How do these two parts live within your art?
Music video AXELL- QUE
Yeah, well I’m a weird person. I have always struggled with emotions. I’m not really able to understand them or capture them, to the point that I get numb sometimes. So, my music reflects that. I want my songs to show this mix of emotions, confusion, and inability to feel only one at a time. What I try to do is make sure my music expresses what I feel at the moment, so that the listener can empathize with me.
That makes perfect sense. Besides using feelings to shape your music, are there any other influences? Since you studied at the conservatorium, were there other sounds or characteristics that are crucial and influential on your art today?
I’m highly inspired by R&B. For example, I love Jorja Smith, I can listen to her all day long, no cap. I don’t have a specific genre; I don’t want to be labelled. The fact that I’m a rapper doesn’t mean that that’s the only music I should be inspired by and consuming. I think that to create different sounds, having a variety of inputs is crucial. I am a musician, and I listen to all different types of music.
Do you still remember how to play the piano, though?
Mmm… not really. I have a problem, I’m not good at reading notes on the music sheet, I always memorised by sound or visual.
Must be tough, but at least you developed a good musical ear. Can you tell us where you see yourself moving forward artistically speaking? How do you picture your sound to be?
I’m chilled and have no intention of running or chasing my art. Where I am and wherever I will end up being will be because my music brought me there for a reason. It could be a lesson, an experience I have to live, or a sound I need to capture. I don’t give myself deadlines or anything. I publish when I want to. What I do though is set goals. If it doesn’t work out I won’t rush to make it work because it means that maybe there is something else that I will find with time. I aim to find something new, and sometimes that takes time. Art cannot be rushed.
That’s deep and completely fair. Out of curiosity: who’s your favourite artist? One Italian and one international.
An Italian artist I’ve always liked is Rkomi. I love his delivery and writing style. The way he approaches music is out of the normal scheme. He moves with his gut, and not by other people’s rule or “tradition”.
An international artist I love is Pa Salieu. I don’t think I have to explain why. He and his art speak volumes, not only for the UK but for all the diaspora. He challenges the general sounds with new beats that are typically West African by delivering something new. Another artist I love is Ray Charles, not just in music but also as a public figure and person as a whole inspiration.
Good names… I completely agree on Pa Salieu. Finally, what’s your favourite musical work of your own, so far?
My track titled ‘Que Pasa’. And my upcoming EP, which is highly influenced by the vibe and style of the songs in it. With a new twist of course, but I feel like ‘Que Pasa’ captures who I am very well.
