Be My Wife is the musical alter-ego of Paris-based Creative Director Federico Nessi. The project emerges as a fascinating collision of dimensional post-punk, goth, synth-pop, theatricality and something far more esoteric with a cerebral, spiritual edge. We learn that Be My Wife‘s universe has been shaped by more than two decades of performance and image-making. Naturally, it feels less like a conventional music career, and more like the construction of a multi-dimensional universe, where sound becomes a vehicle for self-discovery, altered states and higher forms of consciousness.
There is an inherent duality to Be My Wife. Nessi confesses to drawing from the DIY spirit of post-punk, new-wave and industrial aesthetics, whilst also embracing the charisma of classic crooners. The artist balances humour with heartbreak, glamour with darkness and theatrical irony with a high emotional quotient. Fans of New Order, The Cure and Joy Division will connect with what Be My Wife is creating.
For some context, the project takes its name from one of David Bowie‘s favourite songs and a film by silent cinema icon Max Linder. Beneath the visual and sonic mythology lies something deeply personal. Nessi shares how he has been meditating since the age of eight, and describes himself as “deeply connected to the creative process” with “performance as a way of achieving higher forms of consciousness”. This philosophy is becoming increasingly central to the Be My Wife universe, with repetition, mantras and hypnotic structures functioning as gateways into altered states of perception.
“I believe heavily in visualisation and manifestation,” Nessi explains, as he reveals an approach to songwriting that extends beyond simply communicating an idea. His music is intended to create an experience. Nessi invites us to surrender to mantra-like repetitions, cosmic atmospheres and deep-rooted human instinct. His forthcoming material, particularly songs exploring travel and psychedelics, promises to push this philosophy even further.
His debut album, The Restless Pursuit To Deliver A Feeling, established the project’s meticulous and conceptual foundations. The subsequent single Miami Song is designed to signal a more spontaneous chapter. We learn that it was written during a difficult period in Miami whilst caring for his sick father, and the track disguises themes of alienation, mortality and responsibility beneath synth-pop glamour and nocturnal escapism. We could imagine the track being featured in a TV show like PLUR1BUS, Nine Perfect Strangers, or Ryan Murphy‘s The Shards.
There is something super compelling about an artist treating music as both performance and portal. Be My Wife feels theatrical without being superficial, and mystical without losing its sense of humour. It is deliberately unconventional in its pursuit of something deeper.
Needless to say, we are in awe, and have added Miami Song to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TRIPPY and TIMELESS playlists, whilst we continue to stream Be My Wife‘s wider discography, including To Deliver A Feeling EP, and the entirety of The Restless Pursuit To Deliver A Feeling.