Dario Faini (born 17 March 1976), known professionally as Dardust or DRD, is an Italian songwriter, record producer and pianist.^[1] He composed songs for several recording artists, including Marco Mengoni, Francesco Renga, Emma, Annalisa, Thegiornalisti, Giusy Ferreri, Levante, Elodie, Fabri Fibra, Ermal Meta and Rancore.^[2][3][4]

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Quick Facts Dardust, Background information ...

Dardust
Faini performing in Ascoli Piceno in 2015
Background information
Birth name	Dario Faini
Also known as	DRD
Born	(1976-03-17) 17 March 1976 (age 48) Ascoli Piceno, Italy
Occupation(s)	Record producer songwriter
Instrument(s)	Piano

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In 2019, he co-wrote and co-produced the song "Soldi" for Mahmood, with which he won the 69th Sanremo Music Festival. Faini also conducted the orchestra during Mahmood's performance.^[5] After placing second in the Eurovision Song Contest 2019, "Soldi" also became a hit in Europe.

During his career, he also released a trilogy of instrumental albums, composed of 7 (2015), Birth (2016) and S.A.D. Storms and Drugs.^[6] As a lead artist, he released the hit singles "Calipso" (2019), produced with Charlie Charles and performed by Mahmood, Fabri Fibra and Sfera Ebbasta, and "Defuera" (2020), with vocals by Ghali, Marracash and Madame.^[7][8] He performed in the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin as an interval act alongside Benny Benassi and Sophie and the Giants.^[9]

Faini co-authored "Fighter", with which Tali will represent Luxembourg in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, as well as "La noia", the winning song of the Sanremo Music Festival 2024, with which Angelina Mango will represent Italy.