Geolier is one of the most successful and influential rappers to emerge from Italy in recent years. Born and raised in Napoli, he has made the Neapolitan language a defining element of his music, turning his local identity into a powerful part of his international appeal. His music speaks directly to the culture, streets, and experiences that shaped him, creating a connection with an audience that extends far beyond Italy.
His rapid rise has established him as one of the defining voices of contemporary Italian music. Following the success of his latest album and his growing international presence, Geolier continues to expand his reach while remaining deeply connected to his origins. What makes his story particularly compelling is that his success has not required him to distance himself from where he comes from — instead, Napoli remains at the centre of his identity and artistic language.
MY ROLE
For this project, I travelled to Napoli to conduct the social media video interview with Geolier, document the backstage of the shoot, and develop the art direction for the concept. My role extended across both the creative and content sides of the project, from establishing the visual idea and atmosphere to capturing the moments surrounding the editorial and creating content specifically for social media.
Working on location allowed me to approach the story from a very personal perspective. Being in Napoli and experiencing the environment that shaped Geolier was essential to understanding the concept, while the interview and backstage content allowed me to capture a more spontaneous side of him. My goal was to make the digital content feel connected to the editorial while maintaining an authentic sense of place.
ART DIRECTION
Back to My Roots explores the paradox of never leaving home, yet no longer being the same within it. Geolier remains in Napoli, surrounded by the streets, culture, and spaces that shaped him, but success has transformed the way he moves through them. The city remains constant while his position within it has changed. The visual direction focused on this tension between permanence and evolution — intimacy and exposure, pride and vulnerability, the private self and the public figure existing within the same environment. Home becomes both refuge and spotlight: a place where identity is grounded, but continuously redefined.
Moodboard of the editorial
Concept of the editorial
THE TEAM
Photographer Carlo William Rossi translated the concept into a visual story that balanced Geolier's personal identity with his status as a major contemporary artist. His photography captured both the intimacy of the subject and the presence that comes with his growing international profile. Stylist Alessandra Pistolesi, working with Pessime Abitudini, built a wardrobe that reflected the tension between Geolier's roots and his evolution, bringing together contemporary fashion with the character and attitude of the artist.
The project came together through a collaboration between photography, styling, beauty, production, and local creative talent. Shooting in Napoli was essential to the story, and working inside Antonio Martiniello's architectural studio gave the editorial and backstage content a strong sense of place. The wider team, including hair, grooming, styling assistants, image assistants, management, and press, helped create a production that remained rooted in Napoli while presenting Geolier within an international fashion context.
Final result of the editorial
VIDEO INTERVIEW
The video interview was designed to show Geolier beyond the success, fame, and public image that now surrounds him. The questions focused on his relationship with Napoli, his origins, his identity, and how success has changed his life without necessarily changing who he is. The intention was to create a conversation where his authenticity could come through naturally, allowing audiences to see the person behind the artist and understand the importance of remaining connected to his roots.
BACKSTAGE
The backstage was filmed inside the studio of architect Antonio Martiniello in Napoli, a space that became an important part of the visual language of the project. Its architecture created a distinctive environment in which to capture the moments happening between photographs, from preparation to interactions and movement around the set. Rather than simply documenting the shoot, the backstage content was created to extend the story of Back to My Roots and give the audience a more intimate look at the atmosphere surrounding the editorial.