This episode of The Weekly Beat with Matoma features Taranteeno — the soulful artist, writer and producer originally from Australia — whose remarkable life journey takes center stage. He opens up about his upbringing in a working-class Italian-Australian household, including surreal stories like being asked to sing for a room full of mafia figures at just 12 years old. Taranteeno shares painful experiences of racism, being mocked for his Italian heritage and name, and how music became both an escape and a lifeline. His bold move to London in his early twenties marked the start of a new chapter — but love eventually pulled him to a quiet town in Norway, where he now lives.
Throughout the episode, Taranteeno and Matoma reflect on how storytelling, identity, and vulnerability shape their creative process. Whether recounting the risks he took to chase music abroad, or the joy he finds in collaborating in unexpected places, Taranteeno’s stories offer a rare blend of grit, humor, and emotional honesty. Together they also discuss their new track — born in part from the trust and friendship built during this session — and the freedom of being able to blend genres and influences that reflect a truly global life.
The song we made “Rain On Me" comes out Friday October 3rd, listen here.
We're releasing a new episode and song EVERY SINGLE WEEK so be sure to subscribe and join this ambitious journey of music-making and storytelling!
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Co-created by Matoma and Andrew Jackson.
Executive Producer Andrew Jackson.
Produced by Sara Laarej Berg and Maren Gjertsen.
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