Italian singer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Gaia Banfi does things her own way. Her music brings together pop, electronic sounds, and singer-songwriter sensibilities, shaped by a strong musical background. A trained jazz vocalist, she treats her voice as an instrument in its own right and isn’t afraid to move beyond conventional song structures. Influences such as Bon Iver and Radiohead can be heard in her work, yet her sound remains unmistakably her own.
Born in Milan and now based in Bologna, Banfi draws much of her creative inspiration from Genoa, the city where she spent her childhood. It is also the setting for her album La Maccaia, named after the distinctive coastal weather phenomenon in which a thick mist settles over the sea. The album explores memories, relationships, and emotions that return in waves. It is neither mainstream pop nor an abstract experiment, but something deeply personal in between. At Colours of Ostrava, Gaia Banfi will present La Maccaia live.