Mahmood, aka Alessandro Mahmoud, has a bold vision for Italian pop. Drawing on his Egyptian roots, he distills Arabic musical motifs in a resonant cocktail of sounds. The rap and R&B textures of his debut LP Gioventù bruciata meet the feverish dance vibes of single “Barrio”, underscored by alluring Spanish guitar. Elsewhere, “Soldi”—a poignant portrait of Mahmood’s fragile bond with his father—dominated 2019’s Sanremo Music Festival and reveals his expertise in honest, all-embracing tracks. That’s a quality echoed in his quietly heartbreaking rendition of Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song”.