“For me, music is colour. Not the painting.
My music allows me to paint myself.”
— David Bowie

David Bowie is a singular, ever-changing artist—one of a kind.
Aladdin Insane express their passion for this myth through a truly special tribute, embracing a demanding and uncompromising artistic choice: performing Bowie’s vast repertoire entirely live, with no backing tracks and in the original keys.

It is a challenge taken on with genuine passion—one that moves, engages, and resonates deeply with the audience. The originality and strength of this musical project lie above all in its vocal interpreter, Ambra Mattioli.

Ambra is an Art Performer whose creative work spans multiple disciplines. She is also a painter, novelist, and designer, as well as a skilled cabinetmaker, creating finely crafted furniture. Her artistic expression moves freely across forms, always guided by a strong and personal vision.

Those who have seen her perform agree: Ambra embodies a striking and compelling Ziggy Stardust. Bowie turned his perceived androgyny into a key to artistic freedom and visibility, and in this sense Ambra is truly remarkable—fascinating and surprising in her presence and interpretation.

Ambra Mattioli is widely recognized for her powerful and authentic interpretation of David Bowie. Music writer and journalist Dave Thompson mentions her several times in his book The Freakiest Show: David Bowie cover versions, dedicating a number of pages to her work and including photographs in the most recent edition.

Her talent also draws the attention of film director Andrea Pallaoro, who casts her in his film Hannah, presented in competition at the 74th Venice Film Festival.
The film stars Charlotte Rampling, who receives the Volpi Cup for Best Actress. In Hannah, Ambra performs Bowie’s Modern Love, offering the world a glimpse of the Thin White Duke that lives within her.

Ambra also takes part in Bowienext, a film dedicated to David Bowie conceived by director and journalist Rita Rocca and broadcast several times on Italian national television. She appears with her short film Burning Tape, directed by Valerio Burli, which she both produces and stars in.

To date, Aladdin Insane remain the only band in the world to perform the entire album Blackstar—David Bowie’s final masterpiece—strictly live and in the original keys. Conceived exclusively as a studio album, Blackstar presents extraordinary challenges for live performance. Bringing it to the stage required exceptional commitment, dedication, and passion from Ambra and the band, who embraced this undertaking as a profound act of love and respect for Bowie and his music.

And finally, there are the words Ambra often shares, with sincere emotion:

“The applause belongs above all to him—to his music—and only in a small part to us performers, who merely reflect his art, like light refracted through the facets of a diamond.”

 

Aladdin Insane:

 

Ambra Mattioli (lead vocalist · acoustic guitar · harmonica)
Francesco Infarinato (piano · keyboards · backing vocals · acoustic guitar)

Lorenzo Perracino (sax · flute · backing vocals)

Luciano Fubelli (bass guitar)

Marco Di Nicolantonio (drums & percussion)
Tommaso Tella (electric & acoustic guitar)

 

 

Aladdin Insane Website