Melancholia

Born in Foligno in 2016, Melancholia — Benedetta Alessi, Fabio Azzarelli, and Filippo Petruccioli — have developed an intense and distinctive musical identity, blending rock, urban, and electronic influences with dark, emotional, and highly theatrical atmospheres.

In 2018, they won the global final of the Emergenza Festival at Taubertal Open Air in Germany, beating more than 1,500 bands from around the world and earning a European tour. In 2020, they took part in X Factor under the mentorship of Manuel Agnelli, standing out for their originality, versatility, and powerful stage presence.

Following their television experience, they released their debut EP What Are You Afraid Of?, followed by the singles Medicine and Hypnos, and their second EP, Sleep Mode. Their live performances, driven by the band’s overwhelming energy and Benedetta Alessi’s powerful vocals, have led to numerous sold-out shows and millions of streams.

After four years away from the spotlight, Melancholia return with a new lineup — now also featuring Andrea Assogna — and a new artistic direction. The single Schifo, released on September 18, 2026, marks the beginning of I Figli della Pioggia, a new EP produced by Rachid Bouchabla of Ex-Otago.

The track also marks their shift to Italian lyrics, combining guitar riffs, tight beats, ’80s-inspired synths, and alternative pop sounds. Themes such as boredom, self-loathing, and the desire to reconnect with a childlike dimension are transformed into a physical and unsettling musical experience.

I Figli della Pioggia is a suspended narrative and visual universe, populated by characters and symbols, where music, imagery, and storytelling become part of a single identity. Through this new chapter, Melancholia explore fragility, imagination, and the desire for liberation, with the aim of transforming their live shows into a shared space where people can “break free together.” The project is accompanied by a short film and by a portrayal of Umbria as an emotional and narrative landscape — a place of the soul before it is a geographical one.