X Factor, eroCaddeo ready for his live debut: "My lucky charm is in the shape of Sardinia."

From Radiolina Contest to X Factor, what happened in these 4 years?

Live shows, singles, even a show called "Prima ero Caddeo, ora eroCaddeo." In April, my first EP, "Scrivimi quando arriva," gave me the final push. I decided to try out for X Factor to promote an unreleased song, "Punto." I wanted to introduce it to a wider audience and see how it went. Would they send me home? No problem, I would have done it lightheartedly.

And instead it was a success.

«Yes, and who would have expected it».

But his single "Luglio" went viral without needing a big stage. Could it be that line: "For me, you'll be like Cagliari after 7"?

Going viral on social media is hard, so I don't know what happened. I wrote those words thinking of Poetto. After 7, it empties out: there are fewer people, it's nice, there's a wonderful light, a profound beauty that made me think about the importance of a person.

When did you start writing?

At school: I was lucky. Along the way, I met teachers who helped me a lot. One in particular, Professor Zedda, was a mentor to me: I began to let my emotions out and put them down on paper thanks to her. She convinced me to enter a competition and write that essay about my dad's passing: that's where it all started.

What memories do you have of that period?

I don't feel like talking about it. I can say, more generally, that I understood that through writing I could process defeats, victories, suffering, and happiness. It's no easy feat, and in fact, only now that I'm more mature can I work on introspection. I reflect, I jot down some notes on my phone, I make what I feel tangible. I transform the pain into something I can listen to, and it comforts me.

Do you still hear from Professor Zedda?

"Of course! I met her recently and she gave me a Sardinia-shaped pendant: it's my lucky charm."

How is work going with Achille Lauro?

"I like him, I respect him for the path he's taken and the way he's reinvented himself. He's given me a great confirmation: that we need to stay spontaneous and not build too many superstructures."

How did you prepare for the live broadcast?

"Great concentration. I can't use my cell phone, and I consider it a privilege. Then there are the rehearsals, but I've tried not to do too many as much as possible because I risk getting bogged down in the mistakes I might make. I get along well with the other guys: in the loft we share, we stay up late, chat, and compare notes. There's no competition, at least for now. Everyone experiences it in their own way, but we support each other. And I try to remind myself every day that I've been catapulted into something huge, a unique opportunity."

Is there anyone to whom you dedicate this first success?

"This isn't just my success; I want to share it with those who have always been there for me. My friends, my sister, my mom. A piece of each of them is inside me."