1. What was the inspiration behind creating the unique pop number “Not
Home”?
I was really inspired by the song itself and wanted to give my own interpretation to it,
because I didn’t write it. It was sent to me already written and ready to go, but I gave it my
own spin. I’m really happy that Alan Walker’s team welcomed my flavour on the song. I
think it fits my voice very well because it’s all about emotion, and conveying emotion is
something I’m very good at.
2. Tell us a little about your experience collaborating with Alan Walker. Your
powerful vocals and impactful production complement each other perfectly.
Thank you so much for the compliment. I agree with you, it really feels like this song was
written for me, and I feel very lucky and blessed to be the vocalist on this record.
The process was pretty smooth. I was in Calabria, my home region, in September, and one
day I checked my inbox and found an email from Alan Walker’s team saying they were
looking for a vocalist for Not Home and had thought of me. It usually takes me a couple of
days to reply to emails, but this one I didn’t let wait. I rushed to record a demo, they loved
it, and within a few days we finished the song. I re-recorded all the vocals they asked for,
did harmonies, tried different tones and intentions—it was a very easy and collaborative
process.
3. How has your musical journey been so far, and how would you describe your
music to a first-time listener?
My music is a lot like me—it’s a full spectrum of moods and emotions. If you go on my
Spotify, you’ll see I’ve done trance, house, pop dance, pop, techno, even hard techno. I’ve
done a bit of everything, and I think that’s what makes me unique. I genuinely enjoy singing
and writing different kinds of music.
My approach to music is very visceral and passionate, and you can tell when I really like
something because I give it 100%. I started in music when I was 12 through a TV show in
Italy called Io Canto. That first experience of being on stage and performing live really
paved the way for who I am today.
Since ‘Io Canto’, I never stopped. As a teenager, I toured a lot and played many small
shows, which was a great learning process. When I moved out around 2017–2018, I fully
committed to music. I kept working, growing my skills, and naturally became a
professional. Now my next challenge is breaking through as an artist, which is hard and
complex, but I’m ready to keep trying.
4. What inspires you the most as an indie artist? Do you draw inspiration from
spontaneous life events or more planned creative processes?
I work best when I draw inspiration from spontaneous feelings and real-life events.
Writing is like therapy for me, so that’s where I start. I also like to imagine the song being
played live or turned into a music video. When I’m writing and I can already see myself
performing it, I know it’s a good feeling and usually a good song.
My main goal is to translate complicated emotions into melodies and words, which is
honestly very hard. Sometimes you know exactly what you want to talk about, and other
times you just go with the flow, and something beautiful comes out. I don’t think inspiration
comes completely out of nowhere, I believe it comes from a higher place. When I let go
and allow that energy to take over, that’s when the best ideas come.
5. Tell us a little about your goals as an artist. Do you believe in art for art’s
sake, or is your work more of a spontaneous emotional outlet?
Right now, I’m still very much in a songwriter mindset. I tried stepping fully into being a
pop artist between 2020 and 2022, and I loved that period creatively, but it was financially
very challenging. I eventually decided to turn the page, keep that experience as a beautiful
memory, and continue as a songwriter and active member within my community—and
that’s what carries my artistic vision for now.
My goals are to write beautiful songs and find the right artists to release them with,
especially in the dance realm. At the same time, I’m in a transition phase, moving from
being a songwriter to stepping back into my role as an artist. Being a songwriter has given
me a lot of perspective in sessions. Now that I’ve had a few great cuts, it’s easier for me to
propose myself as the vocalist and pitch songs with my voice and my name attached. In
the past, that wasn’t as easy, but learning to step back taught me that sometimes the best
thing for the song is letting someone else sing it—and that’s okay.
6. “Not Home” sounds both gripping and adventurous. How would you describe the song’s concept?
Through my lens, Not Home is about falling out of love with someone you once deeply
loved. The love is compared to a house that’s falling apart, empty, with no electricity, no
life inside. I relate to this a lot because I went through an intense breakup a few years ago,
and that’s exactly how it felt. Like your inner world, your house within suddenly becomes
empty.
What’s important to me is that I learned how to fill that house back up with myself. I think
the song captures this feeling very sharply, and my personal connection to it is what
allowed me to bring depth and emotion into the vocal performance.
Listen to the song right here:
To witness the musical journey of Alessia Labate, follow her on Instagram
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Promotional Disclaimer: This release was brought to you by a promotional campaign by the artist, PR, or management label
