Luca D’Alessio, aka LDA – initials of his real name and surname – is one of the most loved faces of the new Italian pop generation. Born in Naples on 27 March 2003, he returns to the Ariston stage for the second time, this time paired with Aka 7even, with the song “Poesie clandestine” competing at the 2026 Sanremo Festival.
Who is the father of LDA, and is the son of Anna Tatangelo
LDA is the third child of Gigi D’Alessio and his ex-wife Carmela Barbato. He has two older brothers, Claudio and Ilaria, and a younger brother, Andrea, born from his father’s long relationship with the singer Anna Tatangelo — with whom LDA has always maintained a relationship of mutual affection. Dad Gigi then had two other children, Francesco and Ginevra, with his current partner Denise Esposito.
Growing up with the surname D’Alessio wasn’t easy. LDA chose her stage name precisely so as not to exploit her father’s fame, declaring: “I wanted to make it clear that I am something different from what dad does. We are night and day in music”. Gigi’s most beautiful gesture towards his son came during the concert for his 30 years of career: “Now he is LDA’s father, LDA is no longer Gigi D’Alessio’s son”.
The disease: panic attacks and social anxiety
During his participation in Amici 21, LDA had the courage to speak publicly about a problem that has been with him for years: panic attacks and social anxiety. In a competition judged by J-Ax, he rewrote a verse of a song in a foreign language to describe his discomfort in direct and touching words:
The social anxiety that eats away at my soul embarrasses me a bit. I would really like to make up this discomfort and I can’t do it
The rapper rewarded him with first place in the rankings, complimenting him on his courage. LDA then launched an appeal to all the children: “If I managed to speak in front of millions of people, they must talk about it with their parents and not do anything stupid”.
Added to this is a difficult episode he experienced as a child: an infection in the pelvis area which forced him to spend long weeks in hospital, with high fever and a surgical operation.
The doctors didn’t understand what I had. Mom noticed because I couldn’t sleep at night. I remember everything, even though I was little: I didn’t want anyone in the operating room except my favorite puppet.
LDA and Aka 7even at Sanremo 2026: “Clandestine poems”
For this 76th edition of the Festival, LDA takes to the stage together with his friend and roommate Aka 7even – born Luca Marzano – with whom he shares his home, ideas and melodies. The song “Poesie clandestine” tells of a visceral and unfinished love, the story of two people linked by a deep feeling that cannot fully blossom, suspended between desire and distance. The sounds pay homage to Naples, the city of origin of both artists.
Here is the full text:
If just one song was enough to live for a moment
Eternally I would be condemned to a crazy lie
It is from this pain that a cathartic love is born
It seems made for us
I dedicated clandestine poems to you
Me chasing you as you go
Not even the rough waves know where you are tonight
And the frenzy that drives you to fade away
To avoid a night of trouble
So enveloping that it makes the effect you have real
Let’s say it’s a tarantella if it’s not true
You will always come before me
Before her
Why
Only in this way do we feel at home
It is a lonely metropolis
This story that is full of buts
Full of himself
Like you
Beautiful enough to make me gasp for air
You are underground Naples
This music rises in the carnal blood
Of love we die only with you
You are capable of making me suffer
We are in a limbo between dreams and reality
Every wound only shows how much I want you
But there are those who judge without understanding
That it’s not fair to try halfway
A feeling that alone is enough to talk about us
We will cry a sea, sea, sea
Tears of salt in my eyes
Let’s say it’s a tarantella if it’s not true
You will always come before me
Before her
Why
Only in this way do we feel at home
It is a lonely metropolis
This story that is full of buts
Full of himself
Like you
Beautiful enough to make me gasp for air
You are underground Naples
This music rises in the carnal blood
Of love we die only with you
What’s between life and death
If not a paradise of guilt
We are souls prey to fate
Deep down you know
That for better or for worse you will be
My cure for melancholy
That takes me and brings me to you
That takes me and brings me to you
That takes me and brings me to you
You will always come before me
Before her
Why
Only in this way do we feel at home
It is a lonely metropolis
This story that is full of buts
Full of himself
Like you
Beautiful enough to make me gasp for air
You are underground Naples
This music rises in the carnal blood
Of love we die only with you
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