Nayt at Sanremo 2026: A Deep Dive into the Artist and His Song ‘Prima che’

Nayt, the stage name of William Mezzanotte, is making his debut at the 76th Sanremo Music Festival with his song “Prima che.” The artist, born in Isernia in 1994 and raised in Rome, is challenging genre classifications and bringing a nuanced perspective to the Italian music scene.

Who is Nayt?

Nayt’s musical journey began at age 14 and he has since built a solid career with three Gold-certified albums and two Platinum-certified albums. He identifies as more than just a rapper, feeling the label is limiting. He embraces a blend of urban and singer-songwriter styles, aiming to grant voice to the anxieties and contradictions of modern life. He describes himself as a “citizen of Italy, of the whole world,” shaped by his upbringing in both Isernia, and Rome.

‘Prima che’: A Song About Stripping Away Pretense

“Prima che,” co-written by Nayt and produced by Zef, explores what remains when societal structures, customs, and habits are removed from human relationships. The song delves into the core of connection, seeking authenticity beyond superficial layers. Nayt describes it as an “honest, explicit, very intimate song” about showing oneself to another in the most sincere way possible.

The lyrics of “Prima che” grapple with themes of vulnerability, self-discovery, and the search for genuine connection in a world often defined by performance and external validation. A key line from the song reflects this sentiment: “As long as you recognize what you’re getting, you don’t know what you lose.”

Nayt on Genre and Artistic Expression

Nayt resists easy categorization, believing that labeling artistic work can be limiting. He acknowledges the rise of “conscious rap” in Italy but sees it as simply a recognition of rap’s inherent ability to address serious themes – a quality that has always existed within the genre. He emphasizes that rap, with its direct language and abundant use of words, serves as a faithful mirror to society, reflecting both its virtues and its flaws.

Sanremo 2026 and Beyond

Nayt approaches his Sanremo debut with a sense of grounded expectation. Having steadily built his career over ten years, he believes his journey to the festival has been “simple and linear.” He hopes to share his music and message with a wider audience, bringing a sense of weight and depth to the mainstream stage. During the cover night at Sanremo, Nayt performed “La canzone dell’amore perduto” by Fabrizio De André alongside Joan Thiele.