David was born inRome to Daniele David and Rossella Scognamiglio, bothflight attendants.[3] Due to the nature of his parents' work, he and his older brother Jacopo travelled worldwide from an early age, which introduced them to various cultures.[4] Until he was 17, he showed some talent playing basketball as apoint guard at the local club Eurobasket Roma. He recalls that the basketball experience gave him fundamental discipline to succeed in his life.[5][6][7]
David started singing when he was six years old.[8] He metVictoria De Angelis and Thomas Raggi, with whom he would eventually go on to form Måneskin, during hishigh school days. He studied at theliceo linguistico Eugenio Montale in Rome, but he did not complete high school and instead devoted himself to his music career,[9] for which he had the support of his parents.[4] When introduced for the position of a vocalist for their local band, he was initially rejected because his style was considered "toopop", but his insistence to be in the band eventually got him accepted.[10][4] David soon changed his demeanor and style, especially his stage persona,[11] because he learned how to freely express himself.[4] The band was formed in 2016 and initially played asbuskers in the streets of the city of Rome,[4][1] but in 2017 they soon rose to prominence when they finished second in theeleventh season of the Italiantalent showX Factor. The band had a breakthrough debut with the studio albumIl ballo della vita and tour in 2018 and 2019.[10] In 2021 their second studio albumTeatro d'ira: Vol. I was released.[4][12]
After their victory at theEurovision Song Contest 2021 he wasfalsely accused of drug use during the final. After the contest David, by his own initiative, underwent a drug test, which came back negative.[13][14][15] David says that he has never used hard drugs[4][16] and, along with his bandmates, is an anti-drug advocate.[17] David himself stated in hisVogue Italia interview "we are not falling into the stereotype of the alcoholic and drugged rock star". He states, that he only drinks alcohol on special events. He believes that creativity comes from a "healthy, trained and lucid" mind and it is contradicting trying to truly express "our own self by binding ourselves to something that instead makes us dependent, slaves", also referring to the27 Club.[4]
David sang a cover version of the song "I Wanna Be Your Dog" bythe Stooges as well as voicing the character of Jeffrey, assistant of the main antagonist, for the Italian dub of the 2021 filmCruella.[18]
In 2017 X-factor judgeFedez commented that David is a realfrontman.[24] In 2021Manuel Agnelli praised him in similar words to have a "natural charisma of the greatfrontmen".[25] His vocal style in 2017 was described as having a "reggae vocaltimbre that allows him to masterfully deal with the rock repertoire, given that the band's musical influences range fromindie rock toglam rock topop rock".[26] His characteristicandrogynous look and fashion style on stage is seen as a mixture ofhippie,vintage, andglam rock from the 1970s,[9][26][27] because of which he has been labeled an Italian fashion icon.[10]
In comparison to David's work withMåneskin, his solo work is characterized by softer, more pop sound. Upon the release ofFunny Little Fears, Sonja Knežević ofVogue Adria wrote that he "traded the 'bad boy' title for the 'baby girl' title in a process that many have called the 'Harry-Stylesification' of Damiano David."[28]
David was in a relationship with Italian model and influencerGiorgia Soleri for nearly six years.[29][30][31] The pair split up in June 2023.[32] In November 2023, he was reported to be in a relationship with American actress and singerDove Cameron, with whom he made his first public appearance in February 2024.[33][34] David and Cameron announced their engagement in January 2026.[35]
In addition to Italian, David is fluent in English and can speak someSpanish andFrench.[9] He is an advocate forracial andLGBTQ rights.[36] David said he is against drugs and that he has never consumed them, stating: "Creativity comes from a healthy, trained, lucid mind. The brain is a machine that has to have its gears in place and drugs are just a huge filth … The message we want to spread with our music is the exaltation of man through his freedom, and how could we talk about the expression of his own self by binding ourselves to something that instead makes us dependent, slaves?".[37] He is also a fan of association football clubAS Roma.[6]
David is fond of the symbolism of theGreek mythological characterIcarus, having a tattoo of wings and a quote referring to Icarus on his hip, as well as formerly using "Ykaaar" as his username on the social media platformInstagram.[16][38]
^ab"Maneskin" (in Italian).Sky Italia. 19 October 2017.Archived from the original on 21 August 2018. Retrieved2 November 2018.Anno in cui si è costituito il Gruppo: 2016
^"History" (in Italian).Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved11 July 2025. Set "Ricerca per" on "Artista/band", then search "Damiano David", click "Classifiche" and check the column "Posizione Massima".
^"מדיה פורסט – המצעד הבינלאומי השבועי – Week 22 – 25/05 – 31/05/2025" [Media Forest – International Weekly Chart – Week 22 – 25/05 – 31/05/2025] (Select the year 2025 and the option "22 25-05-25 31-05-25" from the stretched lists, then click "שירים מובילים - רדיו - בינלאומי" to see the chart.) (in Hebrew).Media Forest. 1 June 2025. Retrieved1 June 2025.
