Massimo Silverio: avant-folk musician from Carnia on art, music, and his new album Sùrtum

Massimo Silverio, an experimental folk musician from the Carnia region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, has gained international acclaim for his poetic, avant-garde sound. He sings in Cjarniel, a minority language of the Carnic Alps, blending acoustic and electronic elements. His debut album Hrudja (2023, Okum Produzioni) was praised by Mojo, Clash, Rolling Stones, KEXP, and BBC6, and earned accolades from Iggy Pop. It was a finalist at the Premio Tenco for best dialect album. In 2025, he released his second album Sùrtum, produced by Manuel Volpe with arrangements by Nicolas Remondino. The album features expanded instrumentation and explores existential themes. Silverio's live performances include guitar, harmonium, percussion, and synthesizers. He cites influences from filmmakers Werner Herzog, Pier Paolo Pasolini, and Béla Tarr, and musicians Sigur Rós and Talk Talk. In an interview, he defines art as a means to understand existence and music as the courage to communicate the incommunicable. He avoids labeling himself an artist, preferring to seek truth. His recent projects include a new album and research into traditional Carnian music. A childhood memory of touching an animal jawbone in a ruin near Cercivento marked the beginning of his artistic journey.