MERLI ARMISA Returns with Double Single “KOTO & Al cader della giornata”

A few weeks after the luminous single Capelli Argento, musician and singer-songwriter Michele Boscacci - known by his stage name MERLI ARMISA - is back with a stunning new double release, KOTO and Al cader della giornata. Released on 25th April via Dischi Sotterranei, these two tracks mark the latest steps on the road towards his eagerly awaited second album, due for release in spring 2025.

Born in 1996 in Sondrio, Italy, Boscacci grew up in a family where music was ever-present, with the guitar at its heart thanks to his father, a member of the historic band Asma. Encouraged from an early age, Michele, alongside his brother Carlo Boscacci - frontman of Ricche le Mura and solo artist under Bosco da Soma - nurtured a natural passion for sound and songwriting. Self-taught and fiercely independent, MERLI ARMISA has cultivated a style characterised by spontaneity and authenticity, weaving together lo-fi textures and distorted atmospheres with a distinctive sincerity.

His early experiences performing with friends in cover bands sparked an inclination to compose original material, initially in English and later in Italian, determined to craft something personal and distinct from the mainstream. With influences spanning Ben Howard, King Krule, Alex G, Mount Kimbie, and Mac DeMarco, his work has matured into a dreamy yet gritty strain of alternative pop.

University life in Milan, where he studied Energy Engineering, was balanced by weekends in Sondrio spent recording demos - a testament to his unwavering determination. This commitment bore fruit with his 2021 debut album Lleb, a raw and heartfelt record that caught the attention of industry insiders, including Rockit, who named it among the year’s best albums. A successful summer tour followed in 2022, with performances supported by Panico Concerti and Dischi Sotterranei, including a debut appearance at MIAMI Festival.

However, his journey faced an unexpected obstacle when a serious motorcycle accident forced him to take a step back from music. After a long recovery, 2025 marks his triumphant return. Following the release of Capelli Argento in March, the new double single KOTO & Al cader della giornata cements MERLI ARMISA’s place as one of the most compelling voices in today’s independent scene.

Both tracks reaffirm the poetic sensibility already evident in Lleb: lyrics steeped in mystery and intimacy, an outsider’s gaze, and a sound hovering between shoegaze, dream pop and lo-fi. Yet, there is a palpable shift - this new work turns towards East Asia rather than the familiar American influences, taking inspiration from the sonic landscapes explored by artists like Parannoul, Asian Glow, and Mid-Air Thief.

KOTO, written during the difficult months of recovery, draws from Yasunari Kawabata’s Nobel Prize-winning novel and the traditional Japanese instrument of the same name. It blossoms with pitch-shifted harmonies, relentless drumming courtesy of Giacomo Ferrari (Generic Animal, Asino), and dreamy, hypnotic vocals. Ethereal and cathartic, the song floats outside space and time. Speaking about the track, MERLI ARMISA reflects:

“I had read Koto because it had been given to me as a gift, and its tenderness and simplicity were what I wanted to inspire me to create something equally intense and calm during a time when I felt drained and uncreative. I also thought it could be a nice idea to play the melody on a Koto. We went around it so much that in the end, Koto refused to shape itself according to my will and transformed on its own, revealing itself as both a memory and a hope.”

The second track, Al cader della giornata, explores similarly introspective shores. A delicate, crepuscular ballad underpinned by soft acoustic strumming, it shifts towards more romantic themes, embracing the listener like a warm, fading light. The voice, tender and intimate, offers poignant lines such as:

"How many stars, how many stars. You tell me which one is mine. I do not yearn for the most beautiful, as long as it is near you."

Together, KOTO and Al cader della giornata form a mesmerising glimpse into the evolving world of MERLI ARMISA - an artist not content to merely create songs, but one who crafts entire soundscapes, rich with emotion and imagination. As anticipation builds for the full album, these latest releases confirm his commitment to musical, cultural, and emotional exploration, shining ever brighter in the independent music constellation.