Nilo Cosmo on “Not Your Ordinary Boy” and Refusing to Dream Smaller

For readers meeting Nilo Cosmo for the first time: who or what is Nilo Cosmo, and what is your role as its creator and artistic director?

Geoffroy Pulizzi: Nilo Cosmo is a virtual artist who came into being almost by chance in February, because I had things on my heart that needed to become songs. I write his lyrics and shape his artistic world through my joys, my wounds, and the things I don’t always dare to say. Through him, I explore that desire to dance and love, even when we are struggling with ourselves.

Where did “Not Your Ordinary Boy” begin? Was there a moment, a person or a feeling that started it?

Geoffroy Pulizzi: I wanted Nilo to be able to say, “This is who I am,” without having to apologise for it. Behind his confidence are his vulnerabilities and that need to be loved that we all know. That is where this song began: wanting to connect with others without having to give up who you are.

The title suggests a character who doesn’t fit expectations. Who is the “boy” in the song, and what do you want listeners to feel about him?

Geoffroy Pulizzi: Girls and boys alike can recognise themselves in Nilo, in the pain of feeling judged or having to change to be accepted. When we keep hiding who we are, we can end up fighting ourselves. I hope this song gives people the strength to say, “I don’t want to erase myself just to belong.”

How do you build a Nilo Cosmo track: does the story come first, the sound, or the visuals?

Geoffroy Pulizzi: The story always comes first: there is something on my heart, and then I look for the music and images that will help people feel it. Each song carries a message, but I love the idea that listeners can also hear their own story in it. “Not Your Ordinary Boy” is about a virtual boy, but also about a deeply human question: “If I show you who I really am, will you stay?”

Which artists, films or other influences shaped this project, and how do they show up in the music?

Geoffroy Pulizzi: Madonna, Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, David Bowie, and Freddie Mercury inspire me through their freedom and the way they also let their vulnerability show. That lives in Nilo’s pop sound, his love of performance, and his desire to be flamboyant, sensitive, and desired: being a boy should never mean having to dream smaller. Following an earlier tribute in French, a new English-language song will celebrate Britney and Gaga.

What was the hardest part of making “Not Your Ordinary Boy”, and what are you proudest of?

Geoffroy Pulizzi: The most delicate part was weighing every word, affirming a difference while still leaving room for everyone to recognise themselves in the song. After that, everything came to life very quickly: the AI tools soon helped me hear the energy I had in mind. Seeing the track become a semi-finalist in October 2026 at the World AI Music Festival, which focuses on music created with AI, moved me deeply: something I had written alone had found an echo beyond me.

What comes next for Nilo Cosmo, and where can readers follow and listen?

Geoffroy Pulizzi: Next comes “Christmas Is You,” celebrating the presence of the people we love, followed by that tribute to Britney and Lady Gaga, who help fuel Nilo’s dreams. There will also be darker songs about his wounds and inner demons: I hope someone will recognise themselves in them and feel a little less alone. You can find him on Spotify, YouTube, and the major music streaming platforms, with new material already waiting at nilocosmo.com: he still has so much to share with you.

Image: Nilo Cosmo and Geoffroy Pulizzi, supplied by Nilo Cosmo with permission. Interview answers by Geoffroy Pulizzi, creator, lyricist and artistic director of Nilo Cosmo.