Gianfranco Malorgio Completes His Migration Trilogy with “Greaseball”

Gianfranco Malorgio has released “Greaseball,” the final chapter of a compositional trilogy focused on human migration and the experiences of people forced to leave their homelands.

Released on October 11, 2026, “Greaseball” follows “WOP,” which arrived in November 2023, and “An Immigrant’s Story,” released earlier this month on October 3. Together, the three pieces explore migration from a broad human perspective, with Malorgio drawing inspiration not only from the history of Italian emigration but also from people around the world displaced by hardship, war, and other crises.

The title carries a strong historical meaning. “Greaseball,” like “WOP,” was used as an ethnic slur against Italian immigrants and their descendants, particularly during the major waves of migration between the late 19th and 20th centuries. By placing such a loaded term at the center of the project, Malorgio connects the composition with a difficult part of migration history.

The piece was also conceived with possible film use in mind, reflecting Malorgio’s growing focus on music created for synchronization, including films, documentaries, and soundtracks.

Malorgio handled composition and synths, while Moreno Viglione contributed guitar and also took care of production, mixing, and mastering.

With “Greaseball,” Gianfranco Malorgio closes an ambitious and meaningful trilogy that combines historical awareness with his continuing interest in cinematic composition.