Back in 2023, Måneskin achieved their third consecutive number one album in Italy with Rush!. An astounding rise into fame, Rome’s Måneskin swiftly took the international music world by storm with a diverse sound that combines Pop, Hard Rock, and Alternative Rock, among other styles. At the forefront of it all is the voice of Damiano David.
Possessing a sound that is unique to contemporary vocals in the more Pop Rock realm, David’s voice has an edginess and roughness that is perfect for Rock-n-Roll, but also with enough range to transition into Pop leanings. Something you can hear throughout the journey of Måneskin, a little more than a year after they broke into the North American market, David emerged with a curious monologue called “My name is Damiano David.” Something brief, yet provocative, this little insight into David’s world would be the prelude to an entire new chapter, a solo career.
An avenue David yearned to explore, not to leave Måneskin behind, but to challenge different sides of himself musically, it marks a period of personal growth for the singer-songwriter who only turned twenty-six years old this past January. As mentioned, not spelling the end of Måneskin, the solo adventure of David first kicked off with the debut single “Silverlines” in September 2024. Stripped back to David’s voice and a piano, it showcased raw emotion, heartfelt lyrics, and a sound that had you curious what might come next.
Answering that question, in October 2024, the more Pop, upbeat tune “Born With a Broken Heart” emerged, and it rapidly climbed the charts around the globe. Allowing this success to simmer a bit, finally, in early March 2025, the announcement hit that Damiano David would be releasing his first-ever solo album on May 16, 2025, through Sony Music Italy / Arista, calling it FUNNY little FEARS. An interesting title, the album acts as an inner reflection to David’s insecurities, trepidations, and questioning of who and what he wants to be.
Leaving himself open and vulnerable, David does not shy away from what he sometimes fears most, himself. Doing this in the form of a song, at just under fifty minutes, the debut of FUNNY little FEARS is full of unexpected twists and turns. A total of fourteen tracks, including the singles “Silverlines,” “Born With a Broken Heart,” “Next Summer,” and “The First Time,” David takes you in different musical directions, all while offering insightful balladesque vibes that sink comfortably into the nooks of your soul.
At times, catchy and thriving, but at others stripped back and subtle, if one word could describe FUNNY little FEARS, it is authenticity. Honestly, all you can ask from a singer-songwriter, David professes his feelings on love, loneliness, heartache, and so much more. With a lot to dig into, songs like “Voices,” “Zombie Lady,” “Tango,” “Born With a Broken Heart,” and “The First Time” all land on the side of more Pop Rock matched with hooky vocals and memorable choruses. This is while “Next Summer,” “Sick of Myself,” and “Angel” have a more somber texture, but not without being compelling. Then the extraordinary “Mars,” “Perfect Life,” and “Solitude (No One Understands Me)” strike an entirely different nerve in terms of mood and raw lyrical stream of consciousness.
Overall, Damiano David has crafted a remarkable solo debut that showcases depth, insightfulness, and sincerity. It is an album that fans of Modern Pop will love, as well as those seeking something more profound. With a balanced essence of Modern Pop and traditional singer-songwriter Rock-n-Roll, it is a delightful surprise that deserves further attention. That is why Cryptic Rock gives Damiano David’s FUNNY little FEARS 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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