Francesca Pichierri’s latest single, Sperarci Due Eroi (Hoping We Are Two Heroes), instantly reels you in with stabbing piano chords that drip baroque beguile into a cabaret-pop-style ballad. But the true power lies in Francesca Pichierri’s ethereal harmonies that take hold before the track ramps up to anthemic intensity. Even as the crescendo builds and the track teeters on the brink of chaos, she maintains a gracefully composed command over every element of the instrumentation. If you’ve ever wondered what art pop perfection sounds like, all you need to do is hit play on this cultivated evocation of pure emotion.
The bilingual vocals add another dimension to the track, which never veers into histrionics; instead, it leans in, deeper and deeper into aural cinema. The looming piano anchors the soundscape with weight and inevitability, its resonant tones underscoring the gravity of the themes, while the shimmering electronic layers and visceral rock elements carry the emotional tension to its breaking point.
As part of her upcoming concept album, Cellule Stronze, this release narrates her mother’s battle with ovarian cancer. Pichierri stitches themes of heroism and resilience into the fabric of the music, transforming the Northern Lights into a poignant metaphor for enduring love and courage. It’s a heart-wrenching yet empowering exploration of love’s ability to sustain and protect, even when the path ahead is shrouded in uncertainty.
Stream ‘Sperarci Due Eroi’ on all major platforms, including Spotify, from January 31st.
Review by Amelia Vandergast