Interview with Naska, the forerunner of Italian pop punk

Considered the forerunner of the Italian punk movement (“Cool”, he tells us), Naska, a pseudonym for Diego Caterbetti, is coming off a golden year. First he was selected by Spotify for RADAR 2023, the program dedicated to the most promising artists in the contemporary Italian music scene, then Rolling Stone Italy included him in its Class 2023, which lists talents to watch out for in the record industry. But when asked what was the moment he realized that his music was really leaving an imprint, he says: «I haven’t realized it yet, maybe after 27….» Appointment for next year, then.

Ironic and defiant, when we meet him he is wearing a sweatshirt with “Berlin” written on it («By chance – he claims – I bought it in Berlin on my recent trip»). Randomness or not, his latest single, Berlino, to be exact, feat. Gemitaiz and Greg Willen, was recently released. «Berlino is an experiment, because it’s very punk rock, but it takes influences from the city and tells about my first night in Berlin, I had never been there» the Marche-based singer-songwriter explains. He adds with a smile: «On that night we were arrested after four hours from when we first set foot in the city. It was a lot of fun and afterwards we had a night anyway, a very rock ‘n roll night».

Irreverent yes and nonconformist, like a true self-respecting punker, but also reflective and connected to family affections. «Each one has a different story, but the one that I feel kills me the most when I sing it is Wando, the last one. Wando is the most sensitive part, which I dedicated to my father Wando». This is how Diego comments on his favorite track on the album La mia stanza, his latest effort birthed in 2023, in which each track seems to tell a different story or emotion through a nuanced musical journey, ranging from 1950s rock’n’roll to punk rock. «Experimenting is fun for me, every time I go into the studio it’s always different stuff. I like to tell more facets of me and what’s going on with me», he says.

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A revelation artist of recent years, ever since his first steps into the world of music he has demonstrated a true rocker’s attitude with his disruptive and effervescent performances, bringing to the stage a live energy combined with an exceptional ability to empathise with the audience. And after the success of the double sell-out at the Fabrique in Milan, which closed his long summer tour, on 7 December this year he will be in concert for the first time at the Mediolanum Forum in Assago. Not a point of arrival for Naska, but just the beginning of a long series of achievements: «Some people think ‘Ah do the Forum, then you’ve arrived’, but for me it’s just the beginning. It has to be the beginning of many things afterwards, like San Siro, and then I want to do a world tour. It would be nice».