Two acts who are both new to us have joined forces on a cross-border boom bap collaboration worth hearing.
By Graeme Smith
Italian rapper Ari Selva has teamed up with Swiss producer Vaynex for their upcoming album Camera di Pressione. It’s not the first time these two have worked together, but it’s this collection that has got them on my radar.
Camera di Pressione translates from Italian to English as ‘pressure chamber.’ Selva uses this phrase to describe the pressures of life, both external and internal, reflecting on the theme in numerous ways across the album. Imagery such as cockroaches, confinement, and observation explore these themes in an urban, claustrophobic environment.
Of course, it helps to understand Italian to enjoy this album, but it’s not a necessity. A lot of what Selva raps about translates in tone, and Vaynex’s production can tell stories of its own.
Together we get bombastic rap and bold beats, free-flowing lyrics, plenty of attitude, and a healthy chemistry.
Interestingly, it was Vaynex who laid down the beats first, with Selva writing and recording his lyrical flows over them, rather than the other way around. Knowing this while listening made me realise just how much the beats are part of the conversation of each track, rather than an afterthought.
The record opens in combative style with Siamo In Diretta. A catchy chorus provides an early attention-grabber. It feeds nicely into the rumbling, brassy Niente Che Mi Tenga which cements Selva’s ability to write a strong hook. The energy stays up as he and Vaynex expertly blend the throwback and the contemporary.
As I listened, I realised how much the Italian language lends itself to the rap genre. There are trills, rolls, and pacy phrases.
Lo Scarafaggio (‘cockroach’ in English) is a dark, mid-album highlight. A collaboration with DJ Crazyfish and M-Skills gives us the punchy breakbeats of Enclave (L’Ora D’Aria). The album’s last leg lightens things a little, arriving finally at the bright and breezy La Siberica Scilla, a final highlight.
Eight tracks are delivered in under 24 minutes, meaning Camera di Pressione is a dense listen that deserves more than one spin. It’s one for lovers of old school boom bap, modern production, and those that need a release from today’s pressures.
You can keep up to date with Ari Selva by following him on Instagram.
Camera di Pressione is out 10 September 2026. You can pre-save it here.
