“Discord, harmony and other states of mind” confirms Mecna as one of the most coherent, complex and introspective voices of contemporary Italian rap.
Twelve tracks, a single body that seems to dialogue with itself before with the public, and a path of writing and introspection that has distinguished his work for years. Here we don't look for the easy hit or the “viral” moment: we dig, observe and reveal.
Talking about relationships for Mecna means making external reality a mirror of interiority, where fragility and vulnerability are not optional but protagonists. In a genre often dominated by narratives of strength and invincibility, the artist allows himself to be human: melancholy, uncertain, poetic. The stylistic evolution is clear, never didactic: the lyrics delve discreetly, without ever giving in to easy sentimentality. Mecna's writing remains empathetic, authentic, capable of transforming one's introspection into an embrace for the listener.
Lvnar and Fudasca's productions work as a perfect counterpoint: calibrated melodies, layered atmospheres, beats that are never intrusive but always incisive. The result is a balance between immediacy and complexity, between urban and indie, between a taste for words and sound research. The album, as the artist himself confirms, was born from a long and thoughtful process: a work that does not pursue perfection but relies on instinct, the raw and dirty component, the emotional nuances, recalling contemporary and international references such as Dominic Fike, Dijon, Mk.Gee or Rex Orange County without losing identity.
“Discord, harmony and other states of mind” is a record that speaks to those who want to listen, that doesn't allow shortcuts and that reiterates the value of writing as a tool for empathy and reflection.
Mecna-Corrado, now close to forty, confirms himself as a mature but never distant artist, capable of making complexity accessible without sacrificing sensitivity.
“Discord, harmony and other states of mind” is a therapy and a point of reference for those looking for something more in rap than a simple beat and an effective phrase.
TRACK BY TRACK
01. WHAT I DON'T HAVE Prod: Lvnar
The song opens with the sound of a cassette being inserted into the player: an intro with a strong evocative value, which recalls sound memories and perfectly introduces a record built on the story.
“It had to be on the previous album, albeit in a different guise. In the end we stripped the song of everything unnecessary and it became the ideal opening for this album.”
02. DREAM BIG Prod: Fudasca
The song develops around a vocal sample created by Fudasca and Atarde, which frames a narrative made of memories. It is the path from youth to adulthood, a recurring theme and almost a mantra for Mecna: “For me it is a manifesto, it talks about my generation, my friends and what I see when I look around. It talks about the attempt to grow up, about the illusions and mistakes that are sometimes made.”
03. ALPHABET Prod: Fudasca
Born from a session with Joe Croci and Alessandro Cianci, the song tells the sensations of first loves: when everything seems easier, sometimes naive, but also incredibly intense. As you grow up, things change flavor and this piece becomes a flash from the past, a memory of relationships and moments experienced, full of images and with a simple but incisive refrain, in the most authentic Mecna style.
“Being able to give you an emotion by talking about an everyday thing, for me that is the real magic!”
04. TWO MONSTERS Prod: Lvnar
One of the most iconic tracks on the album, in which the look at relationships and personal relationships becomes a way to get to know each other and, in some way, survive.
“I use the story of relationships to talk about myself, they are almost never dedications… also because I am the one who draws the conclusions in the end.”
Here Lvnar's electronics becomes the sixth gear of the song, confirming once again the expressive strength and harmony of the duo thanks also to the sampling of the very famous song “Teenage Dirtbag” by Wheatus (2000).
05. HOW MUCH DO YOU CARE
Prod: Fudasca
Published in March this year, it is a linear and engaging storytelling that expresses the desire to be understood and to become important to others.
“It's a chronicle with some reflections inside. A sincere and intimate song that brings an important question to the center of everything. A way of never taking anything for granted, even when something goes well and apparently there are no problems.”
06. THE SAME SONG Prod: Lvnar
The song tells of that strong bond that remains unchanged even after something ends: a memory so beautiful that it becomes independent from the person with whom it was born. It is no coincidence that it was chosen as the album's launch single. Here the writing reaches the maximum of simplicity and immediacy, illuminating the piece with an essential beauty.
“'The same song' tells of that strong bond that remains unchanged even after something ends: a memory so beautiful that it becomes independent from the person with whom it was born. We often talk about the resentment and anger that one feels after the end of a relationship, but here I wanted to shift the focus to the affection that remains and that will always bind those two people, whatever happens, despite everything.”
07. THERAPY Prod: Lvnar
'Do you ever watch yourself fucking in the mirror? It would say a lot about yourself.' It starts like this, without filters. The song continues with candid images, existential questions and streams of consciousness that once again tell the complexity of relationships.
“In this song I mixed points of view, often switching from the one who asks the questions to the one who gives the answers. I imagined a therapy session, also because by writing songs like this, I can understand a lot about myself and what surrounds me.”
08. ALL OR NOTHING Prod: Lvnar
“It's an open dialogue with my conscience that almost becomes a courtship. Even if in a very light-hearted way, for me it's a profound song that talks about the difficulty of remaining authentic.”
Despite having a very pop structure, the song fits fully into the panorama of the album.
09. ONLY ABOUT YOU Prod: Fudasca
The song shows the lighter and at the same time darker side of Mecna's rap.
10. IN CIEL SERENO Prod: Fudasca
It is the most 'difficult' piece on the album, due to its content and the challenge of telling important and personal themes.
“I wrote the verses all in one go, and the result is such an important piece that I want it to speak for itself; I was also surprised by the way in which I managed to tell this thing, without shame but also without fanfare.' The chorus is a sample from the Faccianuvola song 'Lightning from the Blue'”.
11. BAD DAY Prod: Fudasca
The song represents the concept that everything passes, even the most difficult experiences: “Whatever happens, in the end it's no big deal. Even when it seems like too much to bear, in the end time heals everything and at the end of the day… it will have just been a bad day.”
It is one of the first pieces written and composed for the album and occupies a strategic position in the tracklist, lightening the tone before the conclusion and restoring harmony to the album's journey.
12. PORTRAITS Prod: Fudasca
It could have been an intro, because it fully encompasses all the themes of the album. It's no coincidence that he was chosen to announce the album.
“I wanted to take a photograph, in a hip hop way, then there was that Ghemon sample that was going through my head while I was writing the record: 'Nothing is so personal that it can't be told.'”
The song thus becomes a powerful statement of Mecna's ability to lay himself bare, continuing his search for spontaneity, simplicity and attention to detail.
“'Portraits' is an outburst, a photograph… or rather, I would say an x-ray of where I am and how I feel, looking back and around me, especially in the music environment, but not only.” Mecna underlines instead.
SCORE: 7.00
TO LISTEN NOW
DREAM BIG – ALPHABET – THERAPY
TO BE SKIPPED IMMEDIATELY
37 minutes of suggestions and stories of a generation in search of an identity.
TRACKLIST
WHAT I DON'T HAVE
DREAM BIG
ALPHABET
TWO MONSTERS
HOW MUCH DO YOU CARE
THE SAME SONG
THERAPY
ALL OR NOTHING
ONLY ABOUT YOU
UNDER CLEAR SKIES
BAD DAY
PORTRAITS
