Jovanotti, 'New York for Life' -- Song Premiere + Free Download

If you're from the United States, chances are you've never heard of Lorenzo "Jovanotti" Cherubini. The Italian alt-Latin rock superstar is about to make his big debut here in North America with an ode to the Big Apple.

The tune, "New York for Life," begins with a lilting snare step, followed by a couple of oddly melodic chimes. Jovanotti shouts in Italian before going into a soft-spoken Lou Reed-esque vocal cadence. And all of a sudden, you've been seduced and put into a psychedelic trance.

"When producer Ian Brennan came to my house in Tuscany to assemble the Italia 1988-2012 album, we talked about doing something in English for the project and he made me listen to the instrumental of 'New York for Life.' So I wrote the lines and I recorded my voice over the song, very rapidly," the singer tells Spinner.

"I know my pronunciation is like a New York City taxi driver's but the core of the lyrics is authentic: I love New York. I consider New York a sort of mirror of my deep spirit even If I was born and raised 8,000 kilometers away from the Apple. In New York, I truly find something of every part of the world I loved, mixed together like God's playlist of human vibrations. This song is something new for me. It's a collaboration with the producer Ian Brennan. Let's say this: If you like it, I am the one who did it; if you don't like it it's Ian Brennan's fault! OK?"

Jovanotti's new career retrospective and first American physical release Italia 1988-2012, is available Aug. 7 via ATO Records. Type your e-mail address into the widget below to download the singer's brand new tune "New York for Life."

Stream and Download "New York For Life"