Highsnob e Hu
- Sanremo 2022 entry: “Abbi cura di te” (Take care of yourself)
- Previous Sanremo participations: None (debuting)
The duo composed of Highsob and Hu are both Sanremo debuting artists.
Highsnob, stagename of Michele Matera, was born in Avellino in 1985. He made his first steps in the music industry in 2009 but it was in 2013 that his career really took off when together with rapper Samuel Heron he founded the duo Bushwaka with which he produced an album in 2015 before leaving to pursue a solo career the following year. He has since published 18 singles, two albums and EPs. His 2016 single “Harley Quinn’” reached gold certification.
Hu, stage name of Federica Farracuti, was born in 1994 and hails from the central region of March, having grown up in Fermo. A new figure in the music scene, she began her career in Milan performing in bars and discos. She is also part of Emma Marrone’s touring team as a backing vocalist and keyboard player.
Irama
- Sanremo 2022 entry: “Ovunque sarai” (wherever you will be)
- Previous Sanremo participations: 3 (2016, 2019, 2021)
Irama, stage name of Filippo Maria Fanti, returns to Sanremo for the second year running and the fourth time. Born in Carrara in 1995, he grew up in Monza in the Milan metropolitan area and started his music career in 2015 when he was one of the eight winners of the Sanremo Giovani edition which allowed him to compete to the Nuove Proposte in Sanremo 2016. His real breakthrough however came in 2018 when he won Amici di Maria De Filippi. He published three studio albums and 17 singles and sold almost two million records, earning three golden and 30 platinum certifications.
Iva Zanicchi
- Sanremo 2022 entry: “Voglio amarti” (I want to love you)
- Previous Sanremo participations: 10 (1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1974, 1984, 2003, 2009)
Iva Zanicchi is one of Italy’s longest running singers with a career spanning over 60 years. Born in Vaglie di Ligonchio in Emilia-Romagna in 1940 she returns to Sanremo for the first time in 13 years. This year will be her 11th participation to Sanremo, a contest she already won three times in 1967, 1969 and 1974, making her the most successful female artist in the show’s history so far. She has enjoyed considerable success outside Italy as well, performing in tens of countries worldwide including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Japan, Turkey and the United States. She published 28 studio albums and tens of single and also ha had a prolific career as a TV host. She has also had a political career having been a member of the European Parliament between 2008 and 2014.
