Diss Gacha: “My music must help those with real problems”
Beyond today’s memes, the facades, the puns, the making everything viral at all costs: “In here, I assure you, there is someone who has something to say”. And it is immediately clear that the speaker in this interview is more Gabriele Pastero, 22 years old, rather than his artistic alter-ego, which however is not a mask, but more a completion. After the publication of part 1 of “Cultura Italiana”, which saw him collaborate with Izi, Vegas Jones, Rosa Chemical and the global star of the rap scene Wiz Khalifa, Diss Gacha will return with new unreleased songs in part 2, which will be published on Friday November 29. “Gacha”, the new single, is a preview and at the same time a sound manifesto of the project which, Gabriele promises, will also reveal a more intimate and personal side of his journey.
Why is “Gacha” a sort of manifesto?
It’s a piece that comes from the beat. My producer, Sala, wanted to sample the same sample that Will Smith had used for the song “Miami” (The 1998 song, written by Nas, uses a sample of “And the Beat Goes On” by The Whispers of 1980, ed.). We wanted something fresh, but at the same time reminiscent of the early 2000s. The verses have no particular meaning, this is the classic piece that works 50% for the beat and the other 50% is done by the artist, the strength with which she rides him.
It also consists of a reference to the world of cheerleading.
Each letter of “Gacha” is punctuated with “give me a G, give me an A etc”. At the beginning we thought of using a real choir, but we have already used female choirs on other occasions, we wanted to differentiate ourselves and so we opted for a different musical composition. There is also a reference to my early beginnings: “Gacha” was a piece that I wrote, but which we then removed because it wasn’t up to par with the rest. I also liked the idea of starting from there.
What does “Italian culture part 2” add?
Of life experiences. At first I wasn’t really sure I wanted to open up, but in Part 1 I felt that the fans appreciated it when I did. So I understood that there was room for that aspect too. The texts of this Part 2, in my opinion, also lead to a level up in the choice of appropriate words to use at the right time, but the process is different. Let me explain: I always started from the words and then made sure, with adjustments, that a meaning emerged from the complete song. This time I started more from the meaning. I think there is even more vocabulary in this Part 2.
The question we can ask ourselves, listening to your music, is this: is Diss Gacha more about the fun pieces or the slightly deeper songs?
In my opinion, deeper music reaches more in this historical moment. With the plasticade just to party you don’t go far, people are tired. This is a great time for all those artists who have something to say. In these new songs I speak as if no one would listen to them, as if they were the first songs of my career. I broke down barriers.
You had a meeting with the students of the Holden school. What did you tell?
They are kids like I could be. In my opinion they needed someone like them who would say: “gas, you have to work hard to win things”. It’s not a new discussion, others have done it too, but hearing it expressed by a boy of the same size, of the same age, has a different effect. It was also useful for me to meet them, it was a wonderful experience, a mutual exchange. Some even told me: “before meeting you I had prejudices, starting tomorrow I will listen to you”. On the topic of language, I said that I write down what I like and something reminds me of it, even the name of a bar. Because everything can end up in songs.
Do the vocabulary and language also expand with books and films?
Not yet. In the future it will be like this, I am convinced. But right now my main source of inspiration is my life, also and above all my past. I do it because I want some people not to feel alone in some situations that perhaps I have already experienced. Then I really love looking for words on the internet, even at random, to understand their meaning and evocative power.
You grew up in the Piedmont province and you continue to live there. Several artists today are making this choice, that is, to remain tied to their roots, also to feel better mentally and not get sucked into the Milanese music industry.
For me it is fundamental. Being there brings me back into reality, into real life. I happened to attend some very cool Milanese parties and the next day, when I returned home, I spoke to a friend of mine who told me: “my mother is about to close the shop, we’re in crisis”. I, with my music, have to give some relief to those who experience real shocks. And then here are my parents, my family, there is everything I care about. I won’t hide from you that being in Milan is a lot easier on the work front, but you have to give the right weight to your priorities. There are those who tell you: “I’m going to live in Switzerland because I pay less taxes”. Ok, but is that really enough? The affections? And in fact, they are often unhappy people. Here, I want to feel good and let the music start from here.
The social world, especially TikTok, was very helpful and pushed you in the beginning. Have you ever felt treated like a meme? Were you afraid of becoming one?
I felt it, but not in a pressing way. When they asked me, for the twentieth time, to repeat my name in a stylish way (a sketch that went viral on social media, ed.) I said “stop, let’s do something else”. But it never really weighed on me and that’s because I know, deep down, that I have something to say, I assure you. You have to take what comes, especially at the beginning and some situations helped me a little. But now I want to demonstrate that there is fat, that there has been a maturation, that I really have something to say. And this new project already goes in that direction. I would like my fans to say “wow” again with this new part. I want to surprise, I’m more interested in this aspect than in numerical success.
