Europe’s top young talent, changemakers and innovators in entertainment
Since Italian rock band Måneskin’s rendition of “Beggin’” by The Four Seasons took over TikTok last year, the quartet has starred in a Gucci ad campaign, opened for the Rolling Stones in Las Vegas and performed for the first time at Coachella.
“There are so many ‘pinch me’ moments that have happened to us in the last year,” drummer Ethan Torchio, 21, told Forbes in an email. The band’s rapid rise to international stardom began after they took the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest title—Italy’s first win on the show in 31 years—with their original hit “Zitti E Buoni (Shut Up and Behave).” Måneskin’s music was later used in almost 10 million videos on TikTok, which set “Beggin” (made in 2017) climbing up global streaming charts and into the Billboard Hot 100.
“We often forget about that kind of stuff when we are making music, hanging out and just doing what we love,” Måneskin bassist Victoria De Angelis, 22, said in an email. “Then something unreal happens and we realize it’s not a dream.”
The band most recently made headlines for the first performance of their new song “Gasoline,” written in support of Ukraine. “We wish we could do more,” says vocalist Damiano David. “But if there is ever a big opportunity to spread a message, we want to use our voice and privilege for something that is important.”
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY – NOVEMBER 14: Victoria De Angelis, Damiano David, Thomas Raggi and Ethan Torchio of Maneskin perform at the MTV EMAs 2021 ‘Music for ALL’ at the Papp Laszlo Budapest Sports Arena on November 14, 2021 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
FilmMagic
Måneskin, and their fellow 2022 Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe Entertainment listers, prioritize positive impact with their work in the industry—from diverse representation to innovation.
Take Krystal Lake, 28, for example: influencer, DJ and founder of Cut By Krystal, a social media and production company. With half a million TikTok followers, Lake uses her platforms and company to uplift marginalized groups and educate her audience on women’s, LGBTQ+ and mental health issues.
Lake isn’t the only one fostering inclusive communities. Angela Moneke, 29, and her company TAPE, a women of color-led film collective, aim to celebrate diverse filmmakers through film and events. Meanwhile, Kusini Productions founder Cat White, 28, is highlighting the voices of Black women and girls by creating films on topics such as women’s right to choose, homelessness and more. Actress Hanna van Vliet, 29, calls for more positive queer representation through her role on the series Anne+.
The list also features breakout stars Simone Ashley, 27, and Adam Nourou, 19— Ashley for her breathtaking performance as the lead of Bridgerton’s second season that showcased Indian culture and earned a Netflix record for the most-viewed English-language TV series, and Nourou for being the first Black actor to win a Goya Award for New Actor.
Behind the scenes, other members of the 2022 Under 30 Europe Entertainment class are reimagining the social media and music industries. Designer Nigel Matambo, 25, created one of the first applications of wearable augmented reality technology in collaboration with the late Virgil Abloh and Louis Vuitton. British entrepreneur Josh Deal, 29, founded ZEBR, a service transforming TikTok and the music industry by pairing more than 5,000 influencers with music to create trending sounds that lead to sales and streaming spikes. A lesson in music production is something fellow lister Omar Meho, 26, knows well, too. As founder of Music Workflow Academy, Meho and his school have taught more than 32,000 aspiring performers from more than 150 countries how to DJ and produce music.
The Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe Entertainment list 2022 was finalized by a panel of judges from all corners of the entertainment industry: Ankit Desai, founder of SNAFU Records, Damien Couvreur, VP and Head of Original Series at Netflix France, actress/screenwriter Temi Wilkey and rapper Ms Banks.
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Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/abigailfreeman/2022/05/03/from-mneskin-to-simone-ashley-meet-the-30-under-30-in-european-entertainment-2022/