GIGANTO
Saturday 19 October, 9:00 pm
Teatro Nuovo Giovanni da Udine
GIGANTO (Grisons)
A giant by name and by nature… this artist is the undisputed king of Grisons’ hip-hop scene, and his songs boast an impressive number of online streams. Well-known for his collaborations with some of the biggest names in Swiss rap music, Giganto is also a popular radio host for RTR Swiss Radio-Television Romancia. His music is always unpredictable and outflanks the stereotypes and clichés of gangsta rap with lyrics that investigate current events with biting irony.
INTERVIEW WITH GIGANTO
What is an untranslatable phrase, expression, or word in your language that you love? And why?
“Jeu stun sin tei” – If you translate it into English, it would mean “I stand on you.” The Romansh expression means “I have feelings for you” or “You are very attractive to me.”
What are 3 adjectives you would use to describe your language? Why did you choose them?
Romansh is the oldest language in Switzerland. You can feel and hear all the history and culture in every word. That’s why I chose these words: patriotic, smooth, warm.
Some people think that making music/art in a minoritized language closes many doors – what are the doors it has opened for you instead?
Sometimes, it’s more interesting for festival bookers if you sing in a different language than other Swiss artists. It can lead to more concerts, more publicity, and more exclusivity. For the audience at concerts, it’s also very special because we always teach them some words during the show. After our performance, they are automatically connected to our language, our region, and our culture.
If you could make an appeal to anyone to keep their language alive, what would you recommend? What do you see as the biggest challenges or difficulties in maintaining your language?
If a minority language is your mother tongue, then keep it as your treasure. It’s your destiny. The language has chosen you—so be proud and loyal to this gift.
The biggest challenge is probably whether we will have enough children in the future who live in our regions. Or will people move to big cities where they speak German? It’s important to make our regions attractive to live in and raise our children.
How would you respond to someone who considers your language old and obsolete?
It’s important to show the world that our minority, our ancient languages, and cultures are very traditional but still very modern and up-to-date. Yes, we are an old folk, but we are absolutely in 2024. We live modern lives, our language evolves and mixes with other languages, and our mindset is modern—this means our language is old but well-maintained in a modern way.
A short sentence to describe your music:
Giganto’s music is grounded, like the green fields of Switzerland. The music is windy, wild, and high, like the tallest mountains in the Alps. It puts you in a flowing vibe, like the rivers born in the Romonsh-Alp-Areas. The music is a mix of tradition and modernity, like the old Swiss villages and the big cities of chocolate, cheese, and watches. Giganto’s music is fun – and fun is something we adults should have more of. Like children.