Måneskin: 5 Things About The Italian Band Nominated For Best New Artist At The 2023 Grammys
It’s no ‘gossip’ — Maneskin is up for Best New Artist at the 65th Grammy Awards. Learn more about the Italian group here.
- Måneskin is an Italian rock band known for competing on X Factor and winning Eurovision.
- The band released its third studio album, Rush!, in January 2023.
- Måneskin is nominated for Best New Artist at the 2023 Grammy Awards
Måneskin could end up walking away from the 65th Annual Grammy Awards with a new chunk of gold. The band — made up of vocalist Damiano David, 24, bassist Victoria De Angelis, 22, guitarist Thomas Raggi, 22, and drummer Ethan Torchio, 22 — are nominated for Best New Artist at the Feb. 5 awards show.
If they don’t win the Grammy, they’ll still have a good 2023. The group just released RUSH!, their third studio album. They’ve been on the cover of Alternative Press, continue to have high-profile television appearances, and – as fans hope – might hit the road to play their new songs for all their adoring fans. Before all that happens, here’s what you need to know about the group.
They Won X Factor
The band initially got noticed after competing on the Italian version of The X Factor. The quartet initially came together while attending high school in Rome in 2016. After several attempts in music competitions, including the local music contest Pulse, they tried their shot at The X Factor Italy’s 11th season in 2017. Måneskin came in second place after Lorenzo Licitra.
They’re Italian, But Their Name Is Danish
Although the group is Italian, the name Måneskin happens to be Danish. In English, the term translates to the word “moonlight.” Ethan, Victoria, Damiano, and Thomas ultimately had to choose a name when they were enrolling for the local music contest Pulse. Victoria is specifically half-Danish and helped come up with the name after the group thought a Danish word might work.
They Played Saturday Night Live & More
In January 2022, Måneskin made its debut at Studio 8H by performing on Saturday Night Live. They’ve since performed on other late-night programs, including a January 2023 appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon when they played “GOSSIP” with Rage Against The Machine’s Tom Morello.
They’ve Gotten Major Accolades
After winning at the annual Festival di Sanremo, Måneskin earned the right to fly the Italian flag in Rotterdam, where they’re representing Italy at Eurovision 2021. The famed international songwriting competition has representatives from different countries in Europe competing. Italy last won Eurovision in 1990.
In November 2021, they won Best Rock at the MTV Europe Music Awards. In 2022, they took home the iHeartRadio Music Awards’ Best New Alternative Artist award, the Billboard Music Award for Top Rock Song, the MTV Video Music Awards’ Best Alternative (for “I Wanna Be Your Slave”), and the American Music Award for Favorite Rock Song (for “Beggin'”)
They Have An Eccentric Fashion Style
Måneskin is known for its eccentric, ’70s-inspired fashion that is inspired by rock legends David Bowie and Iggy Pop. They often perform in platform heels and metallic jumpsuits and wear heavy black liner — much like attendees at the famed nightclub used to wear at Studio 54 in its heyday.
Damiano David and Tomas Raggi — “the band’s straight contingent,” as put by The Guardian — have been accused of queer-baiting, dressing in a style to allude that they’re no straight. “There are some cases where it happens, but sometimes [the accusations are] so extreme,” Victoria De Angelis told The Guardian. “It’s stupid for queer people, who should fight these stereotypes, to label it as this and create more hate. The fact [Raggi and David] are straight doesn’t mean they can’t wear makeup. Or heels.”
“Everything me and Thomas do is always filtered by two people who are [queer],” added Damiano David. “Of course, we don’t experience the same stuff, but we live every day very closely with people from the community.”