Vinicio Capossela was born in Hannover from Italian parents. Singer-songwriter and musician, he released his debut album All’una e trentacinque circa in 1990, winning the Targa Tenco for best debut work, followed by Modì (1991), Camera a Sud (1994), Il ballo di San Vito (1996), Liveinvolvo (1997), Canzoni a manovella (2000, Premio Tenco for best album), L’indispensabile (2003), Ovunque proteggi (2006, Premio Tenco for best album, Premio Lunezia della Critica), Da solo (2008), The story-faced man (2010), Marinai, profeti e balene (2011, Premio Tenco for best album), Rebetiko Gymnastas (2012), Canzoni della cupa (2016), Ballate per uomini e bestie (2019).

He is the author of several books, published in Italy by Feltrinelli and Il Saggiatore and translated abroad: Non si muore tutte le mattine (2004, Premio Frignano for the best debut novel), In clandestinità. Mr Pall incontra Mr Mall (2009), written with Vincenzo Costantino, and Tefteri. Il libro dei conti in sospeso (2013), Il paese dei coppoloni (2015). His most recent book is Eclissica (2021). His work and music have been considerably influenced by his studies of the myths, of Ernesto De Martino and Carlo Levi, of the Homeric poems and of American authors such as Herman Melville and Sherwood Anderson.