Parli italiano?
Italian is spoken by over 120 million people, and of those, 60 million are native speakers. While Italian-language music hasn’t enjoyed the similar mainstream popularity of songs written in Spanish or even French music, artists writing in their native tongue have racked up billions of streams between them and the Italian recorded music market grew by 15% in 2024.
WHAT A TUNE presents: Class of 2025, whether you’re learning a new language or simply looking to broaden your listening horizons, here are the global artists set to dominate in 2025 alongside WAT’s pick of the rising talent you should keep your eyes (and ears) on.
Annalisa
Somewhere between the crafted pop hooks of Dua Lipa and Halsey, and the glitter-canon of Eurodance sits Annalisa. The multi-platinum-selling superstar’s catalogue is chock full of slick dance-floor-filling tunes. Her emotional songs sweep the listener up in a storm, more often than not, about heartbreak. Start with Bellisma; a driving electronic record with an explosive chorus that nods to 90s synth-pop. Listen to Una finestra tra le stelle for her epic take on the power ballad. Oh, and STORIE BREVI is good too… and Sinceramente… I’ll stop now.
LA NIÑA
LA NIÑA, pseudonym of Carola Moccia, is Italy’s answer to Rosalía. Switching between English, Italian and Neapolitan, alongside with her producer collaborator KSWK Ninja, their boundary-pushing music draws on Neapolitan folklore with catchy pop and world beat. She released her debut album VANITAS in 2023. The critically-acclaimed release explores themes of female empowerment via UK bass music, reggaeton, futuristic electronica and Mediterranean folk melodies. Her latest single GUAPPARÍA (released in January), is a wild and primal folk dance, bringing to mind the emotive drive of music eastern European folk.
Geolier
Geolier was Italy’s most-listened-to artist in 2024 (followed by Sfera Ebbasta and Lazza), however, the rapper doesn’t write in Italian. True to his southern Italian roots since day one, Geolier raps in Neapolitan. Historically, Italy has had a somewhat complicated relationship with the regional language. This was encapsulated most recently when a man at a Florentine karaoke bar was banned from performing a song in Neapolitan. The incident kicked off a social media debate about the discrimination faced by Neapolitan-speakers and generally southerners in Italy. Although many Italians have to watch Geolier’s videos with subtitles, his blunt portrayal of life’s difficulties has nonetheless struck a chord.
Rose Villain
Rosa Luini, better known as Rose Villain, was born in Milan but spent much of her twenties between LA and New York, singing in bands and completing her studies. In 2018, she became the first Italian artist to sign to Universal’s Republic Records. Now living in Italy, her catalogue spans hip-hop, rock, and pop thanks to her diverse range of collaborations. This includes fellow Italians Geolier and Achille Lauro, and Colombia’s rising talent Blessd, on the cumbia-inspired platinum single COMO UN TRUENO. Conscientious as well as talented, Rose Villain has been outspoken about the fight for gender equality and her efforts to live more sustainably. Be it by adopting a vegan diet or, while on tour, taking the train and prioritising playing festivals that adopt a clear environmental policy. We love to see it.
ONE TO WATCH
TÄRA
Born and raised in Italy but still strongly linked to her Palestinian heritage, Tamara Al Zool, known by her artist name TÄRA, navigates the complex, and at times lonely, space in-between two identities. TÄRA debuted as a contestant on X Factor Italia 2024 and, although she didn’t win, her genre-defying music has piqued the interest of critics and fans alike. Her unique bilingual (and sometimes trilingual) self-coined ‘Arab’nB’ (a fusion style of Arabic instrumentation with RnB in Arabic and Italian) makes her a riveting talent to definitely keep you eye on in the year ahead.
