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Mara Sattei: “Nothing to declare”

This article was published in issue 28-29 of Vanity Fairon newsstands until July 19.

Mara Sattei she blushes when the questions get too personal, but she doesn’t try to divert the conversation, she doesn’t even try. At 27, she has clear ideas: to tell as little about herself as possible, to continue making music as much as possible. At the beginning of her it was Sara Mattei, her real name, she posted cover videos on YouTube from the bedroom in Fiumicino and was a student of Friends (2013/2014 edition). Then she left for London. On her return she began to collaborate with her brother Davide, that is thasup (who previously called himself “tha Supreme”), the rapper and record producer in purple sweatshirt, and with Coez and Gazzelle. In the meantime, the pandemic has arrived. The present is a first album recently released, Universea tour full of dates and the hit of the summer, The sweet life, in which he passes from stage to stage alongside Fedez and Tananai. Rites preceding that moment? “Nobody,” she explains. «I am not superstitious, but I am a believer. Before I perform, please. A prayer and then we go ».

Towards where?
“Everywhere, my head is spinning. It is the best summer so far. My fans increased during the lockdowns and my first lives were on TV: now I watch the audience singing my songs. It’s creepy. “

How does it fare between Tananai and Fedez?
«On Twitter they launched a hashtag:“ Mara if you are in danger, put like ”. But I have fun, we’re becoming friends. Now I see them every three days, much more than my mother ».

What is “la dolce vita” for you?
“This is the first time that I sing a refrain that is not mine because I usually write songs by myself, but it’s nice to sew on others’ words too. And then I have always been fascinated by the ’60s, and only music has the power to transport you to other eras ».

How do you think it would have been if she had lived in those distant years?
“I would have liked to know more about how music was enjoyed then. Without platforms and social networks, but with turntables and radios. I don’t ask myself, however, if it was an easier or more difficult era, it doesn’t make sense: everything has a right moment ».

What memories do you have of when you were a little girl?
«I grew up in Fiumicino, everything changed in the summer. But I like the sea more in winter. I spent whole days watching him, even in the cold, walking, writing songs. I am a bit melancholy, over time I have learned to appreciate the silence of an out of season beach. It’s the thing I’ve missed the most since I’ve lived in Milan ».

Did the music come early or late?
“In reality, it has always been there. I was born into a family that gave me great stimuli. My mother was part of a gospel group and went around performing in clubs with a baby bump. I don’t know exactly when I started, but I remember writing poems in elementary school. Growing up I approached the piano. And then there’s my brother Davide, who raps: the two of us have always shared everything ».

What relationship do you have with him?
“She’s six years younger than me, but we grew up together. We understand each other without speaking ».

Did she have to deal with the definition of “sister of”?
“It never bothered me particularly. My brother had released a record before me and already had a huge following. When, slowly, my solo music also arrived, the audience understood that we are different even though we often collaborate together. Ours is a continuous exchange, we give each other courage ».

Was yours a tiring mess?
“In the meantime, it was not easy to decide to leave the duty free job at the airport to devote myself to the songs. Even in that case, David’s support was fundamental. And then, my entire path was difficult: I tried the talents, the clubs in my areas, the web. At the same time I was doing other jobs to support myself and to set aside as much as possible to invest in equipment, microphones, courses. The best experience was in London as an au pair and a child’s nanny; I saw her a few months ago, she is almost a teenager ».

Today there are those who argue that young people are no longer willing to make sacrifices. What is the thought of him?
«The only thing I feel like saying is that it is important to have a goal. Being a boy in 2020, when a pandemic arrives that clips the wings and brings darkness, is very heavy. Now it is essential to start believing in oneself again, to give oneself a purpose, to study and to believe in it completely ».

Who taught you this?
«My mother, a concrete dreamer like me. She has always supported me. At the beginning for my father, however, that in music was not a real job, he changed his mind later. Today he is my first fan, every day he goes on the internet and searches for articles about me. He says, “I’m proud of you, he keeps it up.” And there is nothing more beautiful than making your family proud, especially when he believed in you right from the start ».

Why do they call it “tiger” on social networks?
“In reality it happens less today, it was a nickname from the times of Friends. I never asked myself why, but perhaps they saw in me a great desire to do. The tiger is a powerful animal, which gives a great sense of strength ».

In his first album, Universelove is present in practically every song.
“It’s the thing that keeps us alive, and I’m talking about any form of love, not necessarily love for a partner. In this last period, then, I have understood the importance of sharing, communicating and demonstrating what I feel. Sometimes, to protect myself and not be too vulnerable, I have preferred to keep my feelings silent. Now I know it’s a mistake. It is essential to tell a person “I love you”, “I want to be with you”. There is no time to lose”.

The last time he said “I love you”?
“I do not answer. I know my face has changed color, but I don’t answer. ”

She is very private even on social media. She never publishes personal shots. How do you choose what to share and what not?
«I don’t think about it too much, according to my nature. In any case, my private is private. I am like that in everyday life too: I don’t talk about myself, I don’t tell everything about myself ».

Do you think women in the world of music struggle more than men?
«It remains a male chauvinist world, but some things have already changed. Today, for example, there are many songwriters, even very young, finally recognized. It is still hard to get to the rankings, of course, but we do our best. Certain stereotypes remain to be undermined, but I see a positive evolution ».

What relationship does it have with beauty?
«Talking about beauty is now an understatement, because it has become a much broader concept. First it was perfection, the consideration of certain aesthetic standards. But now everything is beautiful: making mistakes, being imperfect, falling, getting up. It’s a strong message. I had to do a great deal of research on myself and I still have my battles to carry on, but I like to repeat that I accept myself for who I am, including the edges of my character ».

Change your look and style often, is that a search too?
“I enjoy playing with what I’m wearing. Fashion has always been my second passion. My grandmother was a seamstress, and every Sunday I cut out her fabrics. Thanks to music, today I can also take care of this aspect. It happens that I am inspired by the great icons of the past, such as Lady Diana, who has always fascinated me ».

What strikes you about her?
“His human side. And he knew how to communicate with clothes. As with the famous “revenge dress”, proudly worn after having confirmed the betrayals of Prince Charles. She disappeared when I was very small, I was two, but we still talk a lot about her. And that means she literally left something in the world. Which is what we all want, to leave an imprint of what we are and what we do. Otherwise what are we living for? ».

***

The protagonists of the hit The sweet lifethe most played and best-selling single already platinum, are together on the cover of Vanity Fair and they tell each other in three intimate interviews.

Beyond Mara Sattei,

HERE to read the interview with FEDEZ («When everything has changed»), made by the director Simone Marchetti.

HERE to read the interview with TANANAI («Life without fomo»), by Valentina Colosimo.

Source: Vanity Fair

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