Filippo Bosnia, a 26-year-old Italian rapper/singer/songwriter/producer, performs under the mononym Bosnia. His music combines elements of different styles and genres, providing an exciting and unpredictable listening experience. In preparation for the 75th anniversary of Sanremo, we were fortunate enough that the Sanremo Giovani semi-finalist made time to sit down with EurovisionFam to talk about his song “Vengo dal sud” and other topics. Before you tune in to Night Three of Sanremo 2025 and watch the final battle between Alex Wyse and Settembre, read on to learn Bosnia’s advice for upcoming young artists, his favorite Eurovision acts, or watch the (subtitled) interview directly on our YouTube channel!
What advice would you give to young artists preparing for Sanremo Giovani?
First of all, be well-prepared, both technically and, most importantly, psychologically. Taking the stage is a responsibility, not only towards others but towards yourself and your artistic growth. My advice is to ignore outside opinions and trust your instinct and creativity. I believe these are the essential elements to face an experience like this.
Do you remember watching the Eurovision Song Contest in years past? Is there a song or artist that particularly stands out?
I’m a big Eurovision fan because all the cutting-edge European music emerges from contests like this. Two artists, in particular, stood out to me. The first is Nemo from last year’s edition, who I believe represented Switzerland, with the song “The Code,” which inspired me a lot. The other is Daði Freyr, who is one of my current favorite artists and someone I listen to every day. I love that kind of dance music, which represents everything about Northern European music.
What was your writing process for “Vengo dal sud”?
“Vengo dal sud” went through several stages. When I first wrote it, it wasn’t in the form you heard at Sanremo Giovani, but it was just a draft. Later, I worked on it with another author, Giuseppe De Rosa, who is my cousin. He’s not someone I regularly write songs with and this was our first writing experience together after 20 years since he initially directed me towards music, and I recorded my first song with him. This project was like returning to my roots. We approached it creatively and freely, we were guided by our personal influences, mine from electronic music, and his from traditional Neapolitan music. The result is the mix that reflects the identity, in terms of sound and vocals, I want to share, a meeting point between innovation and tradition.
What inspired this song?
The song was mainly inspired by my life course, a journey as a migrant. I was born in Naples, then moved to Rome as a child, and eventually ended up in Milan. Moving further and further north made me relive significant emotions, especially homesickness. The entire theme revolves around homesickness and the memory of having a home and feeling at home.
Will “Vengo dal sud” be a part of an upcoming EP or LP?
I think it will be part of a larger project based on the homesickness subject. Many of my songs focus on this theme because I always remember my home with affection and I miss it.
Does “Vengo dal sud” indicate more of the sonic or lyrical content of your upcoming songs?
Yes and no. I don’t like to keep only one approach when creating songs. While “Vengo dal sud” can give you an idea of the potential of my upcoming singles, I’ll let those surprise you.
What comes first when writing: music or lyrics?
They’re deeply connected. Sometimes I compose the music first, then write the lyrics. Other times, I create melodies and simultaneously I come up with words, which I jokingly love to call “Fake Neapolitan”, I mean, I try to imitate Neapolitan and after that I proceed with writing the actual lyrics. In other cases, I already have phrases ready to incorporate into the creative process.
What was your process for creating your music video?
It was entirely improvised. With limited resources, my uncle did the filming, and my father and aunt acted. Since I’m passionate about video editing, I took advantage of that passion to create a product that, while not professional, represents my identity.
If you could write a song for any artist, who would it be and why?
Well, I’m not sure I’d write for anyone in particular right now, but I’d love to bring my style into the Italian pop context. So, I don’t know, I’ll let myself be surprised.
Is there an artist you would like to hear cover one of your songs?
Probably, yes. An artist I’d like to hear cover one of my songs should have a soul voice, because I think that kind of tone would suit my music well, probably someone like Mahmood or Marco Mengoni.
Most emerging musicians have day jobs, and you happen to be a primary school teacher as well as an artist. Did your desire to produce music help you choose your profession?
Yes and no. My desire to make music has always been there, but teaching was more related to my need to grow as a person and to achieve independence. It’s a job that connects you to the most human and sensitive parts of yourself, which positively influences my music also. While I never thought being a musician would lead me to teaching, I love this job and it makes me really happy.
Were your students aware of your participation in Sanremo Giovani before the show?
Not exactly. I told them only after I was certain I’d be performing on stage for the first time, and it was wonderful to receive so much support from all the kids.
Who was more excited after you first appeared on Sanremo Giovani: your students or fellow teachers?
The excitement was general. I remember that after my first performance in the semifinals, as I walked into the school cafeteria, where all the kids and teachers usually have lunch, suddenly I heard them chanting, “Fi-li-ppo, Fi-li-ppo,” and then they all stood up and applauded. That’s a moment I’ll cherish forever.
The song “Vengo dal sud” is propulsive and ever-changing stylistically, which lends to the storytelling. How do you decide which elements (genre, instruments, etc.) are necessary to tell the story you want to tell? Do you feel that you make those decisions as a songwriter or as a producer?
Since I’m involved in both the songwriting and production, I’d say it’s fifty-fifty. When I think about a song, I often “perform” it with my voice, which helps me to evoke the feelings that guide my decisions. More than music itself, I love sounds and noises; certain noises evoke specific sensations for me. The magic of creativity happens when you combine these sounds into music.
Do you prefer songwriting, producing, or live performance?
I prefer the full package, and don’t shy away from any aspect. I enjoy producing songs because it’s an intimate process, especially when it comes to writing lyrics. Performing live is altruistic, you’re giving something to others, which makes you realize the value of the work you’ve done at home or in the studio. So, all three. Definitely.
Special thanks to Gabriele N. for their translation work on this interview.