Q1 / 2026
Ele A
Raised in a small village above Lugano, Ele A never set out to fit the image of a traditional rapper. Her musical journey began with classical training on the cello, which taught her discipline, consistency and technical precision—qualities that still shape her approach to rap today. Rather than limiting herself to one genre, she moves freely between hip hop, drum & bass and other influences, always driven by curiosity and creative freedom. Inspired by artists ranging from The Notorious B.I.G. and Fabri Fibra to Mac Miller, she sees rap as the perfect intersection of music and poetry, allowing her to express emotions without creative boundaries.
In just a few years, Ele A has gone from making music in her bedroom to becoming one of Italy's most exciting new rap artists. A Rolling Stone Italia cover story and nearly one million monthly listeners mark an extraordinary rise—one that still feels difficult for her to fully grasp.
"Three years ago I was sitting in my bedroom hoping I could somehow do something with music. To receive recognition from such an important magazine means a lot to me. It shows that things are moving in the right direction."
Despite the rapid success, she remains remarkably grounded, viewing milestones as motivation rather than a destination.
While streaming numbers continue to grow, Ele A refuses to define her career by statistics alone. For her, the real measure of success happens on stage, in front of an audience.
"Success has never really been about streaming numbers. Those numbers come and go. The moment that truly makes me realize I've achieved something is when I'm standing on stage, looking at people who know my lyrics and are singing my songs back to me."
That connection with her audience is what continues to drive her—and the impact she hopes to build over the years ahead.
Following collaborations with Italian rap legends like Neffa and Guè, Ele A embarked on a successful Italy tour packed with sold-out shows. Yet one performance stands above all others. During her concert in Milan—the biggest venue she has played to date—she performed Atlantide, a song she wrote on the piano with her brother, who accompanied her on violin.
"We hadn't even rehearsed beforehand—we only decided what to do on the day of the concert. The fact that everything came together made it a moment I'll never forget."
Alongside her music, Ele A continues to proudly represent Switzerland by supporting local artists, creatives and brands while advocating for more opportunities for young talent from Ticino.
Rather than rushing into another major release after her debut album Pixel, Ele A chose to slow down and return to the studio without expectations. That mindset led to 26, her latest EP—a project born from instinct rather than strategy. Instead of chasing trends or formulas, the Swiss rapper allowed herself the freedom to create organically, resulting in a body of work that feels raw, honest and deeply personal.
"I just wanted to make music without pressure and without expectations—even from myself. Often, the less you try to force something, the better it turns out. Everything happened very naturally."
Now touring with 26, Ele A continues to prove that her rapid rise is no coincidence. Rather than measuring success through charts or streaming numbers, she remains focused on what has always mattered most: creating authentic music, evolving creatively, and building genuine connections with the people who sing every word back to her.
Curated by: Gabriela Mennel
Written by: Gabriela Mennel
Pictures by: Dafina Haziraj
Video by: Umut Balcin