There are songs that seize you before you even have time to prepare. Gemma Schito delivers just that with « Mask », a pop-rock introspective track that explores a universal unease: the feeling of losing oneself by trying too hard to please. Through a soundscape that builds tension like a confession that can no longer be contained, the young artist captures the strange vertigo of facing oneself and finding only a smile painted on emptiness. The lyrics, remarkably mature, string together powerful images « I’ve been running from the mirror for too long » to portray a fractured identity, exhausted from wearing a thousand faces without inhabiting any. The video, directed by Vincenzo Pipitone, plays on an enchanting dialogue between light and shadow, making you want to get lost in it, just to find yourself again. On top of that, « Mask » reached the semi-finals of the International Songwriting Competition (ISC 2025), one of the most prestigious songwriting contests in the world, a rare recognition. Absolutely unmissable on Slash Music.
« I’ve been running from the mirror for too long » Gemma Schito
The Stage Wasn’t Ready, But She Was
Gemma Schito, a 14-year-old Italian based in London, grew up between two cultures, two languages, and two identities. Arriving in London at 11 without speaking a word of English, she made melodies and lyrics her adopted mother tongue, a journey that has led to complete fluency, now visible in the sharpness of her writing. Influenced by a wide range of artists such as Muse, Adele, Arctic Monkeys, and Amy Winehouse, she crafts a distinctly personal universe, somewhere between pop sensitivity and rock edge, with a direct elegance that resonates with her generation as well as those before it. On stage, Gemma is a performer capable of filling a room with her presence, delivering her lyrics with rare conviction. Balancing school, rehearsals, and songwriting could seem overwhelming, but she sees it as the natural territory of an artist in the making, lucid, determined, and authentic. With « Mask » as her calling card, the road ahead promises to be as intense as it is exciting. One thing is certain, you will be hearing a lot more about Gemma Schito, so better get ready now.
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