THEIt’s impossible to forget the last time Malika Ayane took to that stage. It was 2021: Covid, which hit Italy so hard, did not allow the traditional holding of the event Sanremo Festival. On that occasion, the artists had to deal with a new dynamic, an empty and silent audience instead of the noisy audience in the hall.
There was also one of them Malika42 years old, who swore to herself that this would not be the last time on that stage. And so here she is, 5 years later – even though she showed up as a guest of Negramaro in 2024 with The song of the sun – to propose his Nocturnal animals. Instead, on the evening of the covers, he wanted next to him Claudio Santamariawith whom he will sing You burst into my heart of Mina.
Malika Ayane at Sanremo 2026 with Nocturnal animals
«This year in Sanremo I expect to have fun. Last time we all performed in an empty theater,” he recalled. «There was Covid, in fact I always say that I did 4 and a half of them at the Sanremo Festival. On the other hand, I will make this one worth 1 and a half. I would like to enjoy the moment and surprise myself: stopping thinking that approval always comes from outside is the greatest achievement.”
Malika Ayane. (Press office)
Rightly superstitious, she claims that «I won’t win Sanremobut I believe that every opportunity, when we are talking about very large audiences, is right to convey messages of inclusion”, and among the possible achievements she set herself the goal of not getting caught up in podium anxiety.
«I feel calmI return to Sanremo with all the benefits of adulthood”, he added, “recognising the beauty and positive sides of those who have already been there and he still has amazement but less paranoia». Returning to inclusion, the artist attributes to the stages «a great responsibility” he said. Because «just with presence it is possible to give a message of peace».
Nocturnal animals by Malika Ayane
The song with which Malika Ayane will chase victory is called Nocturnal animals and «it is the story of some emotionsof a way of experiencing love that responds a little more to the point in life I’m at. […]”, he said. The song «was born before me. I arrived when all the musical and production part was already largely done and I fell in love».
For Malika Ayane, «there is nothing more extraordinary than encountering a song that you fall in love with without having given birth to it first, because it means it will be special. Because if it was for me it will be, I hope as much as possible, too for those who will listen to it later». In his song «everyone can find something different and it can last over time. It could have been written 30 years ago or 2 years from now. It is discovered time after time. It’s the right piece for this moment and I’m very happy. I always say not to create future expectations.”
The rhythm of the song is «dance at the right point, explore the world of the night. There’s one inside elegant melancholy, but also lightness. The song was created with a team that I feel like frontwomanits sound world sucked me in from the first listen. I left the sentences that suited me and added some of my own.”
And then listening to him you can breathe the influence ofOrnella Vanoni of the seventies. «It was one guiding spiritas well as a great friend. Here’s a bit of Vanoni’s Woman’s recipe», said Malika, who confessed that she had also learned from the great artist «freedom, lightness, the courage to create beauty and live lifewithout asking permission.”
The digital cover of “Nocturnal Animals”. (Press office)
The evening of covers with Claudio Santamaria
You burst into my heart by Mina will instead be the song that Malika will bring to the cover evening, together with Claudio Santamaria. «It excites me every time I listen to it. I wanted something that would counterbalance the competing song, which has a complex layering and production level, less catchy on first listen and also difficult to sing.”
He said of his stage partner that «he also sings very well, he gives particular intensity to certain words. And yes, even if he is an actor, it will all be sung: it would be a mortal sin not to.” And then, which doesn’t hurt, it’s also «beautiful as the sun, he sings like a god and has a rare intensity».
A small criticism
Enthusiastic, excited but lucid, Malika can’t wait to archive the experience of 2021 and live this new ‘first time’ with intensity. «The Festival is wonderful, it has always given me so much», he said, «but I was waiting for the right moment to go back, because if you’re not prepared it will chew you up and spit you out, it can be ferocious».
This year, for her, Sanremo is therefore a sort of redemption, even if there is a small discordant note: the artist has highlighted an increasingly smaller presence of women competing compared to her male colleagues. And he expresses a desire: to witness the moment in which, finally, “women will no longer be counted in an inch and a half”.
