Salmo: “My songwriter side? Is it the beginning of something”

Salmo, who in 2021 protested against the failure to restart the world of entertainment during the pandemic, questioning the laws imposed by Lockdown, almost for a game of historical cycles that open and who close, in the end he found himself starting from an isolation, but this time wanted, sought, “necessary”, he explains. Just as Paul McCartney did when in 2020 he decided to close himself on a farm together with his family “recording practically every day to find love for music”, the Sardinian rapper did the same to make “Ranch”, his new album to be released on May 9, which arrives four years after “Flop!” and two from “Cvlt”, the joint with Noyz Narcos.

“Ranch” (whose videos have been shot in Bulgaria in a real ranch, that of the last chapter of Rambo) is a true and authentic disc in which all Salmo souls are raised: from the hardcore rap to the most melodic and songwriting, passing through the rock and electronic-tanned one. The hill refuge, in the heart of Sardinia, allowed the artist, away from the spotlight and social algorithms, to look inside and reconnect with himself. The whole world of Psalm will literally find home at the “Lebonski Park”, the live on stage on September 6 at the Milan Live Fiera.

What is the “Ranch” for you?
It is the safe place, the happy island in my head. I needed to isolate myself, even if the isolation is not beautiful, I don’t want to invite you to take inspiration from this decision. For me it was important to find creativity.

What else?
I gave up the social networks. Over the years I have played a lot, I have been a deficient. But then the social networks weighed me. For creativity I am on a brake. Mollanding them creativity exploded in 16 tracks. The record came out on its own. At that time I had other projects, I made a book and the TV series “Gangs of Milan”. Just for the series I had to be another person, a character: Snake. As he does in the series, I eventually isolated myself too, I faced my demons. I was inspired by his life, it was absurd, but it went like this.

How did you work?
I went back to Sardinia, where I live, in the hill. I only made those who collaborated on the disc enter my world. I reconnected with the earth, with those places. Obviously the ranch represented on the album and in the videos it is not mine, that is a set in Bulgaria where the last chapter of Rambo was shot. Mine is “Sardinian”. I am building the fences, I would like to have animals in the future, in addition to the many cats that already keep me company. What I can say is: everyone is looking for his ranch around the mind, builds it.

Why as the only feat kaos?
It was necessary for me to insert it. It was one of the people who inspired me most of all. As a boy I was shy, I had the crooked teeth, I was uncomfortable. One day I saw a live in Vhs, he was from Neffa, and a certain point enters Kaos, with the hair shot at the Sid Vicious. I said: “I want to do this.” With rap I came out of my shell. By calling Kaos in this album I wanted to close a circle.

There are those who will say: “It does not make numbers”.
Who cares. Today many feat are made to do numbers, but I don’t care.

Where did you look to make this album?
I didn’t look out the window, but inside me. I am 40 years old and I made an auto-analysis. I did not do as in “90min”, which was a song-tg, I didn’t talk much about society. I didn’t want to repeat myself. For a long time I wanted to show me hard, now I don’t care anymore. In the end I’m a good person …

In “Titles” ironize on the concept of hit. Which is yours?
The numbers say “the sky in the room”, but for me it is precisely “90min”, which he split. A bit as if the Rage Against The Machine had entered the standings.

You made 16 videos, one for each song.
Everyone must be seen, one after the other, because they make up a story and it is as if together they formed a single video, with an ending. There is a parallel concept inside the disc. We are in the future, there has been a war between humans and artificial intelligence, robot. And the protagonist is alone, in his Ranch, with his cats.

How was the September Park thought?
Park was designed for fans. In order not to stay three hours under the sun to cook. It is a country party. There will be games like the mechanical bull, you can shoot cans, have fun all day. And then at some point the gates open, music starts and hell begins. After the park I will make the buildings and then a world tour. I should have done it years ago, but the pandemic made him jump. It will be in various clubs scattered throughout the planet, it will be a return to the origins.

“Count on me” who is dedicated to me?
To music. It is a love song for her, who has never left me alone.

A piece as a “incapable” shows your very songwriting side.
You know, I think this side is the beginning of something. I didn’t just want to do a rap disco. I wanted to do a song as “incapable”. It is as a songwriter, but also punk. It wins the intention, on everything. And it was done directly.

In “cruel” tell the story of your family.
Yes, I reconstructed it over time thanks to my father’s stories. When I decided to make the song, it came out very fast because it was already written inside my head.

In “n € urology” you reiterate that you have given up on one million euros to do x factor. Can you tell us something more than what you already revealed?
That’s a piece to Fabri Fibra. In 2019 I did a test to become a judge, it was fun. I said very technical things. And pious. I gave up not because I don’t like X Factor, but because, for a TV series, at that time I had to take on the role of a character who was completely opposed. I didn’t want to go to X Factor to cry, because there is nothing that makes me cry more about music. And everything would tune with the character I was playing.

There is also spirituality on the album. Do you believe in God?
Yes, it’s true, but I don’t believe in God, I believe in the energy of human beings. At the end of “Mauri” there is a wonderful gospel choir, which we recorded in a church. And that magical, spiritual aspect was possible thanks to people in flesh and blood, not thanks to a God.

Who do you like among the new generation rappers?
Sayf, Kid Yugi, Rrari from the heel, and others. I come from a school where everyone wrote and write very well. Primo Brown, Marra, Fabri Fibra, Kaos are some examples. Today there is poverty of language. First Brown did cine-rap. In “An ordinary profession” he identified himself in a policeman, without insulting him, but to understand it. That is the true power of the word, but this thing has been lost today. Now if I were 16 I wouldn’t do rap. To the guys I say: if you want to do it, say the truth. If you are a loser, tell it. And do it well, with attitude and style.

The theme of “explicit texts” in the rap world is always current. Your location?
There is a problem related to free expression. I believe that we should give less weight to the texts of the rappers. Just blame the rappers for what happens to kids. If I had to listen to all the artists I listened to, today I would be in jail.