Anita Guarino, aka twenty -two, won the first edition of the Raccoon Music Award, a musical contest created to give space to young emerging projects, in partnership with Ondarock. It is the result of the final evening that took place last night, June 22, at the Monk in Rome.
After weeks of structured challenges such as a championship, between live performances and cumulative votes, the six most voted artists landed at the last act, bringing two original songs on stage each. In the end, the vote of the jury and the public rewarded the twenty-six-year-old Roman singer-already active for some years on the Italian music scene with participations in X-Factor, Castrocaro, friends 2023 and Sanremo 2023 area and currently a student of the St. Louis College of Music in Rome. Other awards went to Apneas & Fuca (Critical Award – RadioRock which includes a live interview on the radio) and Friday Nights (Critician Prize – Alfa Music, consisting of the production and publication of a song).
The evening
To warm the public, at the opening, the Sine Mora, who with their Rock attitude have given an energetic imprint to the evening.
With the official start of the final, the stage began to welcome a variety of musical proposals, each with its own sound identity. To break the ice was Carnival, a Roman singer -songwriter capable of mixing lightness and depth naturally.
To follow, the groove Sophisticated of the Aspra, who have brought out a jazz contaminated with funk veins, demonstrating great cohesion and taste.
Then it was the turn of twenty -two, who knew how to catalyze attention with his contaminated, fresh and sparkling pop, and one performance magnetic on stage.
After a short break, the stage welcomed the last three finalists.
The Shylocks brought the flavor of British rock back on stage, with a compact and safe scenic presence. The Friday Nights, on the other hand, immersed the audience in bright and overwhelming dance-pop atmospheres.
To close the competition, the Apneas & Fuca, perhaps the most eclectic project of the evening: between Neo-Soul inflections, irregular funk and deconuous pop, they gave birth to an enigmatic and magnetic set, suspended between theatricality and groove.
Here are the original songs that have chosen to bring the finalists:
Carnival: “I never have”, “Carnival”
Aspra: “Springtime Rain”, “Gran Day”
Twenty -two: “Sirena”, “Pollo cheek”
Shylock: “Requiem (9997)”, “No!”, “Someone's Anthem” (in a single medley)
Friday Nights: “Your Lover”, “Feel the Vibe”
Apneas & Fosca: “Morgana”, “Moonful”
The word to the jury
Everything is fine performance It was followed by a comment from the jury, composed of important figures of the Italian music scene:
- Claudio Fabretti, founder and director of Ondarock
- Paolo Chemnitz, Ondarock editor and head of the Dark section
- Alessandro Guardia, founder of the Alfa Music label, with over 350 albums products
- Stefano Rostirolla, owner of La Stanza della Musica
Their analysis was able to offer interesting ideas on identity, aesthetic choices and future directions of the projects in the race.
Special guests
In closing, Emile, a young folk singer -songwriter, performed with one performance essential and intimate.
During the bare of the votes, space for a short interview with Giampaolo Rosselli, music producer and representative of the Saint Louis Conservatory, who offered a reflection on the state of emerging music and on the role of independent realities.
The prizes
- The Raccoon Music Award 2025, awarded through the combination of the vote of the jury and the public, was won by twenty -two, which therefore won 500 euros, one Live Session At 2orecords and an interview on Ondarock.
- The Critical Prize – Radiorock (which provides for a live interview on the radio) was awarded to Apneas & Fosca.
- The critics prize – Alfa Music, consisting of the production and publication of a song, went to the Friday Nights.
The Raccoon Music Award is therefore confirmed as a precious initiative to discover and enhance new voices of the independent panorama. With the contribution of Ondarock, the official partner of the event. You can follow @raccoonmusic_ on Instagram to stay updated on the next projects.
Antonio Santini for SANREMO.FM
