After ten years of making music with his band Måneskin, Damiano David is finally stepping into the spotlight on his own terms. Introducing a more vulnerable and introspective side of himself, the 26-year-old Italian rockstar shared the inspiration behind his debut solo project FUNNY little FEARS at an intimate rooftop event at The GRAMMY Museum in Downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday (July 29).
The night featured a special acoustic performance followed by a heartfelt Q&A moderated by Los Angeles Times music critic Mikael Wood. The two dove deep into the themes behind the music, his evolving artistry, his personal life—including his relationship with Dove Cameron—and of course, some lighthearted fan interactions along the way.
As fans arrived and took their seats, the air was electric with anticipation. Attendees traveled from as far as Germany, Russia, and across Europe to see Damiano in this rare, intimate setting. The moment he walked out, the rooftop erupted into deafening screams.
From the start, Damiano made it clear this new era was personal. When asked about the motivation behind FUNNY little FEARS, he explained, “This was a passion project—something I did for myself in a healthy selfish way.” After a decade of writing music with and for Måneskin, he felt he deserved the opportunity to explore his own narrative. “In the band, I never wanted to just write from my point of view—I wanted to represent us all,” he said. “But this was the only way to do what I planned to do.”
To clear the air: no, there’s no bad blood with Måneskin. “This record wasn’t about leaving them behind,” he shared. “It was about finding myself.”
One of the most buzzed-about moments came when Wood asked if there were any unreleased tracks in the vault. Damiano smiled and revealed he’s sitting on 74 songs—58 of which didn’t make the album. “We can manifest, right?” the crowd cheered, hopeful we’ll hear more soon.
He then opened up about “The First Time,” a deeply personal love song inspired by his partner, Dove Cameron. “Before Dove, I was cynical. I thought love was something that always ended,” he admitted. “But she changed that. She made me believe love can actually last forever. No one ever gave me that spark—until her.”
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His vulnerability continued with “Sick of Myself,” which he called the most honest track on the album. When asked if it was scary being so open, he shook his head. “That was the goal from day one—to be as vulnerable as possible,” he said. “People saw me onstage with Måneskin—makeup, dancing, the rockstar persona. But that’s only 30% of me. This album? It’s the other 70%. It was only fair to show both sides—to the public, and to myself.”
Throughout the conversation, Damiano also reflected on living in Los Angeles, performing his first full solo U.S. set at Lollapalooza, and the pressure of high expectations. “Sometimes, the expectations I set for myself are toxic. I always want more. But now my goal is simple: make music I love.”
Fans also got a glimpse of Damiano’s playful side during the Q&A. He ranked juices (yes, really)—fresh-squeezed orange juice came in first, followed by apple juice and then concentrated orange juice. “No pineapple juice. Absolutely no tomato juice,” he joked. And what does he want for 2026? “Vacation,” he smiled.
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Before hitting the stage for a sunset performance, he teased the crowd with a laugh: “Let’s make it fast—I’m going to see Lady Gaga after this.”
The live set began with “The First Time,” where the meaning behind the lyrics resonated even more after hearing him speak about it. His raw, soulful vocals were on full display as he continued with “Voices” and “Mars,” the latter introduced with another touching shoutout to Dove. “If the world ends, I want to be with her—just enjoying those last moments.”
The set also included a crowd-pleasing cover of Mark Ronson’s “Nothing Breaks Like a Heart,” as well as original tracks “Angel,” “Tangerine,” and fan-favorite “Born With a Broken Heart”—which had the entire rooftop singing and dancing.
He closed the night with “Solitude,” the final track on the album and a poetic explanation for why he made this project in the first place. “I don’t demand to be understood or supported,” he said. “This record is a reminder to myself: I made this for me.”
Even without the theatrics of his usual stadium shows, Damiano David proved he doesn’t need them. His voice, his storytelling, and his unapologetic honesty were more than enough. “It was really an honor to play here [at The GRAMMY Museum],” he said before leaving the stage. “It was such a big deal. I’m very happy. Goodnight—I go watch Lady Gaga.”
You can catch Damiano David on his FUNNY little FEARS World Tour this fall. Trust us—you don’t want to miss it.
