There are few artists in Italy who have the ambition of Gaia. Finalist of X Factor in 2016, he triumphed ad Friends in 2020, demonstrating that there was room in our country to make pop with an international scope. To achieve this, Gaia has listened to her Brazilian origins, thus building a unique, personal music that mixes Italian-Portuguese with the sounds of different cultures. So she managed to conquer radio and charts, collaborating with world-class artists such as Sean Paul. At the same time, his dream of becoming a pop star passed through two albums, Nuova genesi and Alma, and a participation in Sanremo (in 2021 with Cuore amaro).
As a true dreamer she has overcome obstacles and difficulties, working daily to improve herself, since X Factor in Sanremo, from Friends until today. So we asked her to tell us what it means to fight and make your dreams come true.
Your dream of being a singer has passed through large television stages such as those of X Factor, Friends, San Remo. How do you see your journey to date and what meaning do you give to those experiences?
There is no standard path, everyone must follow their instincts and act accordingly. I’ve always looked at these experiences as if they were chapters in a book, not the end of the story.
Dreaming means imagining a future. Do you often think about the future?
I hope to continue to protect my creative flow and to be able to share the music with many people. I don’t want to give too much responsibility to the future because it is in the present that what comes next is created.
We talked about very important stages that often bring with them great media attention which can also translate into greater criticism. What is your relationship with this side of your job?
I have often received criticism and encountered obstacles along the way. I think it’s part of the process of growth and self-discovery, especially if lived in front of an audience. Sometimes people tend not to understand what they do not consider ‘familiar’ or have already seen. It may happen that the first reaction may be judgmental but there are also many others who support your vision as if it were theirs. It is in those moments that I deeply understand the power of connection through music, through feeling.
You give the impression that you were that little girl who entertained the family by singing and dancing around the house. Have you always dreamed of becoming a pop star?
I’ve always wanted to make music or something that would give me the opportunity to express myself creatively. I drew, wrote, danced and sang. The songs won hands down over everything because despite my shyness, being on stage was and still is one of the most enriching sensations in the world. So plan B has never been a plausible option since then.
How is your song born today? And what relationship do you have with your songs?
Each ‘daughter’ is born, grows up and lives according to her own flow. Sometimes I start from the text, sometimes it’s the music that drives. Often an emotional urgency, sometimes simply a chord progression calling the rest. The songs don’t belong to us. As soon as we allow ourselves to be a ‘safe space’ for them, they arrive, write themselves and leave us with the lesson we had to communicate.
The history of music is the story of great characters and great stories. What are the ones that have inspired and motivated you the most in your path?
Certainly among the foreign singers who have inspired me and spurred me to always give my best and perhaps a little more there are Nina Simone, Caetano Veloso, Elis Regina, Rosalía and Beyoncé. Among the Italian ones, it was Tenco who inspired me the most. Of contemporaries I really appreciate Madame, Elisa, Mahmood.
In your music, Italian and Brazilian culture join and stimulate each other. What does it mean for you to unite your two universes in songs?
Mine is sincere music. This is me and this I must and want to tell. I could not express myself freely without the mixture of both cultural worlds. The balance lies in maintaining it as a richness and not the only element to focus on, artistically speaking.
Making a dream come true means putting yourself on the line with commitment and courage so that it can come true. What else is needed – in your opinion – to be able to fight for your dreams?
Constantly listening to yourself. Allow yourself to evolve, change, make mistakes, without judgement. Believing in your own vision of the world, without being too stubborn. Plus the team and the people around you matter infinitely.
Let’s imagine that many little boys and girls follow you. Perhaps among these people there are also those who would like to do your job. What advice do you feel you can give to anyone who wants to try to make this dream come true?
If you don’t believe it, no one will believe it! The universe is just, if you sow with constancy and love, fields of flowers and the opportunities you deserve will be born. Good luck, u got this!
