Ninni – A Meravilha (2025)
As much as there is to be said about the power of poetic lyricism to reach into your soul and evoke raw emotion, there is also something to be said about purely instrumental melodies. Think about it: Boz Scaggs’ ‘We’re All Alone’ and Christina Perri’s ‘Jar of Hearts’ can tug at your heart, but Beethoven’s ‘Für Elise’ is as emotional. Singer-songwriter, composer and instrumentalist Ninni (also known as Luca Caligiuri) finds that part of your brain where words no longer make sense, only music. The latest addition to Ninni’s discography is the single, ‘A Meravilha’.
Following his singles ‘As Ondas Do Mar’ and ‘Samba Do Amor’, ‘A Meravilha’ is smooth, calming, and a rush of languid tranquillity – the type of song you’d find yourself humming while enjoying the bright sunshine of a joyful summer’s day. Yes, no words, but the moving guitar is not only intriguing, but also immersive and smile-inducing.
One of the greatest guitarists known for his hard-hitting roots rock tone is Carlos Santana. Now, I’m not comparing Ninni’s mastery of the guitar to this iconic artist; rather, the similar way of captivating raw musical passion, crawling beneath your skin, and losing yourself in his guitar. Self-composed and produced, ‘A Meravilha’ appears as a soothing glisten of mellifluous acoustic music, but if you take a deeper gander – if you can remove yourself from the happy sonic haze – you find Ninni’s guitar playing skills are intricate and complex despite the overall appearance of simplicity.
Given the review, I’m pretty sure you can see Ninni is a firm favourite of The Other Side Reviews. We found his music appealing even when there was poetic lyricism in ‘Together’ and ‘Have Fun (Remastered)’. Interestingly, while ‘A Meravilha’ continues in the line of ‘As Ondas Do Mar’ and ‘Samba Do Amor’, Ninni is no one-trick pony. In 2023, ‘Have Fun (remastered)’ brought a disco bounce to alternative pop-rock; in ‘Together’, Ninni leaned toward indie-folk. With his more recent songs, he showcases another side to his multi-faceted personality with soulful cinematic soundscapes and world music traditions.
A song about joy and the celebration of wonder, ‘A Meravilha’ sparks excitement alongside the relaxing serenity. I cannot wait for more from Ninni, be it a song with lyrics or another fascinating instrumental.
Find out more about Ninni on his Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
Listen to more soul music on The Other Side Reviews Soul playlist:
