Francesca Michielin
Feat (stato di natura)

Dear Francesca;
First of all, I hope everything is well with you, although I imagine this period has left you a bit disoriented, like almost all artists and those who work in the sector. I hope you can all return as soon as possible. But please, don't be like those who want virtual concerts or distanced live shows. No, if it has to be like this, it's better to wait. What is a concert without sweat? Without the vitality of a crowd?
I wanted to write to you about your latest album. I grabbed it as soon as I heard it was coming out. It took me a couple of months to get it on the turntable, but I listened to it. I wanted to tell you that I didn't like it very much. Sorry for writing it so bluntly, but you know me, I'm quite critical, I don't like to tell you between the lines.
It disappointed me because I wondered where you were. The album is made up of feats, collaborations, but I wondered what unified the songs other than your voice. What makes me say this is your album. And I'm sorry to evoke a songwriter like Battisti, but my thoughts immediately went to the title of a famous piece. This album is not Francesca.
What disappointed me is that I consider you one of the best singer-songwriters in Italy, both vocally and in writing, and I would have loved to hear a new album with strong pieces like the previous one. I miss Bolivia, communication...

Sure, here you have overwhelming beats; you can feel those made by specialists like Charlie Charles, Takagi and Ketra, Carl Brave, or others. But then, for instance, how do you explain Stato di natura? Okay, feminism, but here you're trying to be the Caparezza of the situation without succeeding. And then Monolocale? The piece I liked the most, with that trembling piano and that melody that feels like R&B right from home. But then you ruin everything with Fabri Fibra's voice, which in a piece like this is like chili on jam. And it's not the only interesting piece on the album, I also liked Star trek. Someone had the brilliant idea of adding a trumpet, and the piece, together with your phrasing, quickly becomes a half-South American, half-Roman-Califano bastard.
Instead, a piece you really could have spared was that imitation with Max Gazzè. Leave Noir Desir alone, and leave French alone as well.

In general, Francesca, I miss your punch. Your nature. What is your nature? You say you desperately want to make nature and urban coexist, but where is nature? Nature is not an ordinary damned park in the center of Milan. Nature is invasive, nature is dirty and essential. Nature is what we have yet to urbanize. Nature is something so immense that perhaps we should look at it like one looks at an abyss.
What is your nature, Fra?
And if I may offer one last critique, I don't like that the names of designers are in bold, and those of the musicians are not. That fluorescent red jacket cannot be unseen.

Sorry for writing so ruthlessly, but I feel you have the potential to release an important album. You're the only one who started from the talent show stars and arrived at indie while staying at the top. You made the reverse journey. Surely you have a point of view that no one else has on a sea of things and sensations.
Sorry, but I really can't bring myself to tell you that you did a "good job." You've seen Whiplash, you know what I mean. Don't settle. Search for yourself. Find yourself. Spend a month in a cabin like Bon Iver if necessary, but bring out something of your own.
As you write in the notes, differences enrich, but indeed they must be differences. Otherwise, there’s a risk of saying the same thing in two different ways, and that’s not enrichment, it’s just confusion. Differences also require silence and curiosity.
For now, I'll stop here, I imagine I've brought you down enough for today, but there's something very positive, this is a short album, and you know how much I love albums that last less than 40 minutes. As for me, I don’t have much news given the period. On the contrary, I have such a desire to play with others I'd break down walls. I want to communicate, and if I have to sum it up in two words, this album communicated very little to me.
But don't give up; I'm already ready to wait for your next work. Curious and ruthless as always.

deVale.

ps. I wrote a bit on the spur of the moment, so forgive me for any mistakes I wouldn't normally make.