Sissi: "I want to show what I have always kept inside"

When Sissi, whose real name is Silvia Cesana, walks into a room, she lights it up with her energy and smile. Dressed in gray and pink, accompanied by her team, the singer who won over all of Italy on the Ariston stage alongside BigMama and Gaia, shared her inspirations and projects with great enthusiasm. It's impossible not to listen to her, not to laugh and smile with her, and not to be charmed and moved by her love for life, which is so evident that it shines through even when she talks about work.

Her latest single is called Mezzo Amore, marking a significant moment in her career: "It's the song that symbolized my rebirth, capturing everything from the previous period. It's an outburst that made me feel more confident and mature. I'm really proud of it." And it won't be the only one we hear. "I'm writing a lot, there are tons of songs. Whatever comes out will be very honest, and I can't wait." Just like her genuine performance at Sanremo, made anxiety-free thanks to her colleagues and friends: "I found friends to perform with, so all the anxiety I might have had disappeared as soon as I stepped on stage and saw all of us together. I said, 'OK, it's time, we've got to do this.' It was amazing; it meant so much to me, to all of us, and I think to all the women and girls watching. I'd love to compete as a contestant one day, who knows?"

Speaking of honesty, we asked her what inspires her music and writing. "Everything inspires me, pretty much anything. But most of the time, I feel really inspired by the people I hang out with, people I know, by their behaviors," she says, gesturing and smiling in her gray and pink gloves. "I'm fascinated by people, but also by nature and my life. A lot of strange things happen to me, some of them pretty funny."

Among her passions is cinema: "I'd really love to try voice acting. Cinema is a world where you can be whatever you want. It fascinates me a lot," as well as the beauty world: "My top product is something I randomly picked up in Milan one day while looking for something for my curly hair. It’s a cream from a brand I'd never heard of. Lately, I'm really into lip liner too, in a contrasting shade. I thought it would be too dark, but now I love it. And from beauty to fashion, I can't go without short skirts. They make me feel so good." Her femininity is undeniable, but unfortunately, so is the fact that being a woman is often a disadvantage. "When I was younger and more naive, I thought people belittled me because I was young or because of who I was. But over time, I realized more and more that it wasn’t just as a person, but also as a woman. I wish we didn't have to ask these questions, but there is still a difference between men and women in this world. I've felt belittled many times. In my team, among my friends, this doesn't happen. But in the world, we're still behind. I notice it even when I read Instagram comments. I hope we get to a point where a woman's success isn't judged, where people don't think a woman is successful just because she shows some skin or whatever. We work just as hard. I believe we'll get there, and we're already making progress."

Her future holds a lot of music: "I want it to be beautiful, genuine, something that embraces me and everyone else. I hope to reach as many people as possible. I want to share everything, even the things I've always kept inside. I want to sing a lot. Live performances are my life, and I hope to do many of them, filled with music, with a full sound. I want to engage people." In closing, she offers advice for young girls who want to do what she does: "I'd say be persistent and confident, and don’t let anyone hold you back. Listen to advice, but only to a certain point. We always know what's right for us, we have a voice that tells us, ‘Hey, you're making a mistake,’ or, ‘Hey, you're doing great.’ Most of the time, that voice is right, and we should listen to it. You need guts. I'm a shy, slightly insecure person, but I've learned. Never give up."