"Look through your own eyes" interview with BigMama

She is of the Pisces sign, but she's pure fire. Then she speaks and makes you cry because she moves you, digs inside you to bring everything out and mix it up. And you no longer know if you feel what you feel because you've mixed with her or if you feel it because it's really you. This is what BigMama does, this is what a talented artist does. Marianna Mammone, better known as BigMama, is a young artist born in Avellino in 2000, whose rise in the Italian rap scene has captured the audience's attention since the first freestyles published in Milan. Now, with a growing musical career, BigMama is getting ready to debut at the Sanremo Festival 2024 with the song "La rabbia non ti basta". We met to hear about her journey, the messages she wants to convey through her music, and what to expect from her participation in Sanremo.

"I come from San Michele di Serino, a small provincial town. It's not exactly the center of the world, but it's where I started cultivating the dream that brought me here today. This milestone I'm celebrating is like closing a circle for me, a journey I started a while ago and that is finally coming full circle this year. I really hope to conclude it in the best possible way. For me, it has always been essential to believe in things. It may sound like a cliché, but the reality is that when you wake up every morning with a clear goal and pursue it consistently for 23 years, you eventually see results. In short, everything is different, but at the same time, nothing has changed."

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Marianna Mammone started writing lyrics since she was a child, at the age of seven. "Even then, I wrote the first little songs, although they were obviously very naive. Music, for me, has always been a way to express what I felt. At 13, I wrote my first song that addressed topics like self-harm and difficulty accepting one's body. I immediately realized that it wouldn't help just me but also others. So, I decided to share it with the world. When, three years later, a friend found this song on my phone and played it around, I felt incredible shame. At that time, I never imagined publishing my songs," Marianna confessed. And she continues, "One day, a girl approached me crying. She hugged me and said, 'I can't find your song that I heard in Avellino. Where is it? That song saved me. Finally, someone understands me.' She continued to hug me crying. At that moment, I understood that this could become my job, my message. The next day, on September 1, 2016, "Charlotte" was published on YouTube."

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BigMama's journey in the music world has been marked by small steps that led to steady growth. "Unfortunately, in this life, nothing falls from the sky. And if it does, well, explain to me how because I haven't managed it yet, so you absolutely have to take things for yourself, and that's what I've always done." From the debut with freestyles like "77," "Lights Off," and "Amsa", to subsequent singles like "MayDay" and "Formato XXL", the rapper has built her name in the Italian rap scene. "I always keep my authenticity alive in my music through writing. Personally, I prefer to write alone and take a direct approach. That's why my songs are often assertive, assertive. You'll rarely find love songs from me, and even those are imbued with a kind of love-hate. There's always a dark side. Hatred can arise from the distance that has been created between me and the person I was with, or it can be directed straight at that person if they hurt me. My frankness is an intrinsic characteristic; I say things as I think them. I don't like poems and intricate plots; I prefer to express my ideas clearly. Perhaps the reason I maintain my integrity in the music industry is precisely this: I'm not afraid of my music. If I have something to say, I say it openly."

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A crucial moment in BigMama's career was the May 1, 2022, Concert, where she shared her voice and her body positivity message, addressing the bullying she faced as a child. "I've always been quite lonely in difficult times because strangely all my friends were always so cool, fashionable, and precise. And I, well, was a bit out of the ordinary. Finding people who felt a bit out of place like me was a great help. I finally felt accepted in a group, and that's exactly what I needed."

In 2023, BigMama graced the stage of the Teatro Ariston during the 73rd edition of the Sanremo Festival, performing with Elodie on the cover night with "American Woman." "Last year was really extraordinary, you know? I never imagined finding myself there, on that stage. I didn't even think I could be wanted in that way. And yet, it happened. It was a crucial moment in my career because I realized that I'm capable of it. Initially, I was scared. I was afraid I didn't deserve to be there, not up to the situation. But you know what? Those first moments changed everything. In my heart, there was only one giant word: 'comeback.' I decided to get on stage and show who I am, in the best possible way. That night was the first time I felt an inner flame telling me, 'I have to do it, I have to show who I am because I deserve to be here.'"

In practical terms, what does BigMama do before performing? "Look, I do a really strange thing that I believe no singing teacher ever recommends, but I'm convinced it works. I take the fastest pieces, those extra fast beats of Italian hip-hop, and rap them. I think it helps me loosen my tongue, so it's an advantage. For example, I take Gemitaiz's part in King's Supreme and Madman's part in Veleno 6."

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In 2024, she marks her competition debut at the Festival with the original song "La rabbia non ti basta." An important step that has stirred intense emotions, as highlighted in the Instagram post after the official announcement. "I would have liked to prepare with ample rest and vocal exercises, but rest seems like a luxury now. I would like to sleep, of course, but fortunately, I love work too much to complain. The days are intense, from dawn to sunset. There's not even time to call my mother. I'm putting a lot of effort into vocal preparation because it's essential for me to do justice to the message I carry. The only way I have to do it is to give my best," she continues. "During this time, I'm particularly under the spotlight, and the pleasant part is that everyone is watching you. Always nice, well-dressed, perfectly made up. The less pleasant part is that everyone feels authorized to give their opinion, and sometimes unkind comments come. It's part of the game, and I still have to learn to handle it. But I'll learn soon."

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The song, written entirely by BigMama, is an enticing mix of dance and rap. It starts as a message to her childhood self, but its meaning extends to all those facing bullying and violence. "It's a song that I deeply care about. A track that originates from love and has the power to spread love everywhere. It's a song I dedicated to the most important person in my life: myself as a child. In a way, it's a mix of apologies on one side and a request for courage on the other." "La rabbia non ti basta" encourages us to find inner strength, ignoring external criticisms. A bold step for the artist, who continues to advocate for body positivity and opens up about her bisexuality.

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BigMama presents herself as an authentic artist, eager to be herself. Her music reflects her personal growth. The rapper has shown a voice not only for herself, but also for those who feel misunderstood. "It's essential for me to be the representation of something, understand? When I was a child, I really wished I had someone to help me. Someone to guide me in understanding certain things, someone to show me the world from a different perspective. But unfortunately, there wasn't. I had some artists like that, but maybe when I was little, the community was very different."

"Keep the determination and above all, focus your mind only on your dream, on your personality. Don't let others' eyes speak for you, look at yourself through your own eyes, and I know it's complicated. It is still for me, understand? It's a daily challenge for everyone. But we can really endure. Resistance is really the first thing to do." BigMama's journey is a journey of authenticity and resilience, culminating in her debut as a competitor at the Sanremo Festival 2024. With her music, the rapper continues to convey strong and universal messages through her music, even - and especially - to her haters: "Find a life to live without being afraid to live it and having to throw this fear onto others. Have a bit of kindness, because karma exists, and when it comes back, it really hurts. Losers!" And we stand with her.

Credits:

Photographer and Videomaker: Vincent Migliore

Stylist: Cristian Azazel Lorenzoni

MUAH: Serena Polh