Jack Savoretti for Vogue Adria on concerts, music, emotions, and what keeps him grounded

British-Italian singer-songwriter Jack Savoretti, known for his raspy, emotive voice and intimate musical poetry, recently delighted audiences with two major concerts: his debut performance in Belgrade at the MTS Hall on July 8, and a concert at the Open Air Stage in Opatija on July 10, which kicked off MusicFest 2025. According to reports, the Belgrade audience was captivated by the blend of “poetic storytelling and soulful melodies,” reaffirming his reputation as a true musical storyteller. In Opatija, under the open sky, Jack “won over the crowd” with his performance, opening the concert with “Non ho capito niente” on piano and closing with the hit “Candlelight.” With these performances, Savoretti confirmed not only his musical charisma but also his ability to make any audience part of his story, whether in a hall or on a summer stage.

Ahead of the concerts, it felt natural to ask him how he felt about coming to our region. Last year, he sold out the Šibenik Fortress, so the Adriatic wasn’t new to him, but coming to Belgrade (where we conducted this interview) was exciting, he says. “I’ve always been fascinated by Balkan music, as well as much of European music. Some of my closest friends come from this part of the world, and I’m looking forward to finally experiencing their homeland firsthand.”

Photo: Aleksandar Crnogorac

Born as Giovanni Edgar Charles Galletto-Savoretti in 1983 in London, he spent his childhood between Switzerland and England, and his music often reflects that cosmopolitan spirit—intimate and sincere, and personally, it often reminds me of a film soundtrack. Jack added: “I’ve always discovered most of my music through films. The Graduate was my first favorite movie, and films like Reservoir Dogs, La Dolce Vita, and Un Homme et une femme had a huge influence on the albums I made before. However, the new album I’m currently recording really feels like a full-circle moment—I’m returning to the sounds and themes from my teenage years and early twenties, so at the moment I’m inspired by films from that period.”

He began his career in the early 2000s and became widely known with the album Written in Scars (2015), which confirmed his status as one of the most authentic singer-songwriters on the European scene. This was followed by successful albums like Singing to Strangers (2019), recorded in the legendary Ennio Morricone studio in Rome, which reached number one on the UK charts—a rare feat for artists who sing in English but dream in Italian. His latest album, Miss Italia, is special because it speaks directly to his Italian roots. “Miss Italia wasn’t an album I decided to make; it was an album I had to make. After losing my father, I didn’t want to lose the Italian culture he passed on to me, so I felt the need to connect with it even more rather than run from it. What helped me the most in that process was Italian music. This is my letter of thanks to the culture I was lucky to be born into.”

In one of his lyrics, Jack emphasizes that “music is his therapy,” which led me to ask what else keeps him grounded. “My children and my wife are really good at keeping my feet firmly on the ground. I’ve always preferred humility over modesty, and children are great at teaching you humility.”

Photo: Aleksandar Crnogorac

Every one of his concerts is a journey through a sophisticated blend of folk, pop, and soul, much like his rich discography, which spans from early acoustic folk expressions to European-inspired album narratives. His album Europiana is proof of the inspiration that travel and diversity bring. Given his tours and life split between several countries, I asked him where home really is. “At 41, I’ve discovered that home is a feeling, not necessarily a place. Right now, wherever my children are—that’s my home. Music works the same way, especially European music—it always makes me feel at home.”

For him, each album represents a shift—in inspiration, experience, atmosphere—and, paraphrasing Maya Angelou, he carries them all with him. “Everyone, from past and present, everyone who brought me here, goes with me when I step on stage.” At his concerts, the connection between him and the audience almost never fails to appear naturally, through the emotive music and storytelling he delivers. I also asked him what that true connection means in today’s fast-paced world of social media. “It means everything. It’s the one thing social media, ironically, cannot give us. They provide a false sense of connection, but to truly feel it, you have to be really present—and that’s the main reason I still love what I do.”

Photo: Aleksandar Crnogorac

Finally, in good spirits, he reveals how he’s wrapping up his new album and hopes for “big announcements already in September and October.” Despite a rich and diverse musical career that takes him all over the world, Jack remains, above all, a grounded family man. And if he could spend a free day anywhere in the world, without a phone or obligations, “it would be on some remote island in the Mediterranean, with my wife and children—that’s all I need.” We hope to see him again at a concert in our region.