Giuseppe Cucè is a Sicilian songwriter known for his visceral, cinematic style. After La mela e il serpente (2009) and Attraversando Saturno (2017), he returns with 21 Grammi, a mature, conceptual project intertwining poetry and sound, body and spirit. He shapes an authentic musical universe – intimate, meaningful, and human.
Sicily is one of my favourite places I have ever visited. I spent a week travelling there last winter, and it grew close to my heart in a way few places do. Italian, too, is a language that feels especially dear to me. And then there is the title 21 Grammi – echoing my favourite film by Iñárritu — which immediately made me feel that this album couldn’t disappoint.
21 Grammi is an intimate, poetic concept album built around the old legend that at the moment of death the human body loses twenty-one grams: the supposed weight of the soul. Cucè transforms this evocative myth into a musical and spiritual journey, a passage between body and spirit. The album unfolds like a cinematic mosaic – eleven songs that speak to each other as if they were chapters of a single story.
The record opens with È tutto così vero, a track full of vitality and sensuality. It showcases many of Cucè’s strengths: excellent vocals, strong musicality, emotional drive, and a natural gift for melodies that are catchy but never cloying. The following Ventuno (which means 21) slows the pace and turns more contemplative; this mood suits Cucè equally well – it’s emotional, and the electric guitar adds a rich, textured atmosphere. It forms the emotional core of 21 Grammi, capturing the album’s central tension between fragility and transcendence. The third track, Dimmi cosa vuoi, continues in a quieter spirit, with gentle piano setting the tone. Around the one-minute mark, drums and the full band enter, giving the song a more energetic character, enhanced by a memorable chorus supported by female backing vocals.
The first half of the album also includes the slightly dance-tinged yet still deeply melancholic Fragile equilibrio, and the piano-driven La mia dea, which gradually breaks into a more pop-oriented form.
The second half begins with Cuore d’inverno, where piano, drums, and strings complement each other beautifully. Among the highlights for me is Tutto quello che vuoi, combining pop straightforwardness with a bittersweet melancholy. Una notte infinita stands out especially thanks to its sweeping, more epic second half. Another highlight is the last track: more electronic and eclectic Di estate non si muore, a track that feels energetic yet somewhat unsettling — raw, textured, and carried by a synthesizer line.
Recorded at TRP Studios in Catania, the album was produced by Riccardo Samperi, with mastering by Pietro Caramelli and Claudio Giussani (Energy Mastering, Milan). 21 Grammi is a cinematic, emotionally rich concept album that turns the myth of the soul’s weight into a personal musical journey. With strong songwriting, expressive vocals, and thoughtful production, Giuseppe Cucè creates a cohesive universe where melancholy, intimacy, and raw human experience intertwine.
This album was discovered via Submit Hub
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