Itpop

History and character

From indie to itpop

Italian indie was born in the 1990s and 2000s around independent labels, clubs and festivals: Baustelle, Bugo, Dente, Brunori Sas, Le luci della centrale elettrica (Vasco Brondi), Ex-Otago, Il Teatro degli Orrori, Tre allegri ragazzi morti, and Verdena on the rock side. In the 2010s the press coined the term itpop for a new wave that was more pop and singer-songwriter oriented: the first album by I Cani (Niccolò Contessa, 2011) is considered the watershed between the two phases.

The explosion (2015–2019)

Calcutta with "Mainstream" (2015, Bomba Dischi), Thegiornalisti with "Completamente Sold Out" (2016) and "Riccione" (2017), Gazzelle, Coez ("Faccio un casino", 2017), Frah Quintale, Carl Brave x Franco126 ("Polaroid", 2017), Cosmo (electronic), Lo Stato Sociale (runners-up at Sanremo 2018 with "Una vita in vacanza"), Levante, Maria Antonietta, Pinguini Tattici Nucleari, Fulminacci, Coma_Cose, Colapesce and Dimartino ("Musica leggerissima", Sanremo 2021), Mameli, Venerus, Ariete, Tananai, Madame, Gaia. Labels: Bomba Dischi, Maciste Dischi, Undamento, Carosello, 42 Records. From 2018 itpop entered Sanremo and the mainstream, blending with pop and rap.

Aesthetics

Short songs, everyday lyrics that are ironic and melancholic (Rome, neighborhoods, relationships, the provinces, pop references and '80s–'90s nostalgia), a voice that is often "unpolished", singable melodies inherited from the singer-songwriter tradition and '80s pop (Battisti, Venditti, Dalla, Vasco), lo-fi or light electronic production, vintage synths, drum machines, simple guitars; a sound that is more melodic and less noisy than independent rock.

Scales and keys

Major (Ionian)

• Formula: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 (2-2-1-2-2-2-1).
• Example in G: G A B C D E F#.
• Chords: G – Am – Bm – C – D – Em – F#dim (I ii iii IV V vi vii°).
• Use: most itpop songs: simple loops (I–V–vi–IV, I–iii–IV–V, IV–I–V–vi), melodies that "talk".
• Real example: many songs by Calcutta and Thegiornalisti use four-chord major loops with an '80s feel.

Mixolydian

• In D: D E F# G A B C; characteristic note b7 (C) → bVII chord (in modal numbering: VII).
• Use: I–bVII–IV loops with a '60s–'70s rock/beat flavor and a nostalgic feel.

Natural minor (Aeolian)

• In E: E F# G A B C D.
• Use: melancholic songs (Gazzelle), i–VI–III–VII loops.

Major pentatonic

• In C: C D E G A.
• Use: simple, singsong vocal melodies, synth hooks.

Modal interchange

• Minor iv and bVI borrowed from the parallel minor (in C: Fm, Ab): the "'80s color" and singer-songwriter flavor in progressions (I–IV–iv–I).

How to choose

Harmony

Simplicity and quotation

Loops of 3–4 chords, often diatonic, with nods to '70s–'80s Italian pop (Venditti, Battisti, Dalla) and to international indie.

Typical elements

• I–V–vi–IV and I–iii–IV–V.
• IV–iv–I (borrowed minor iv).
• I–bVII–IV (Mixolydian, in modal numbering I–VII–IV).
• Descending bass under guitar or synth chords.
• Synth pedals.
• Modulations are rare; changes of instrumentation are more common.

Harmonic rhythm

One chord per bar or every 2 bars.

Voicing

Vintage synths (Juno, Prophet, DX7) in triads or soft seventh chords, strummed acoustic guitars, upright piano, simple arpeggios.

Typical progressions

Rhythm and groove

Groove

Mid-tempo (95–120) with simple acoustic drums or a drum machine (LinnDrum, vintage TR-707/808), often with a "straight" '80s pop groove; slow ballads with a soft drum machine; electronic tracks with house influences (Cosmo) and '90s dance.

Feel

Relaxed, little virtuosity; the groove serves the words. Many songs have a reggae/pop-style offbeat or a light disco groove.

Vocals

Conversational, almost spoken phrases that follow the natural prosody.

Drums

Kick

On 1 and 3 (or 1, 2-and, 3), vintage drum machine or muted acoustic.

Snare / clap

On 2 and 4, often an electronic snare with '80s reverb (gated) or a dry clap.

Hi-hat

Straight eighth notes; tambourine and shaker in the choruses.

Percussion

Shaker, tambourine, claps; retro FX.

Interaction

Simple drums under vocals and synths; dynamics between the verse (sparse) and the chorus (full, with crash and tambourine).

Typical mistakes

Drums that are too modern and "big"; too many fills.

Bass

• Electric bass, simple (eighth-note roots), or vintage synth bass.
• Notes: roots, octaves, descending bass.
• Range: 40–150 Hz, a round, slightly lo-fi sound.

Harmonic instruments

• Vintage synths (Juno, Prophet, DX7, Korg) for pads, arpeggios and "'80s" leads.
• Guitars: acoustic (strumming) and clean electric with chorus.
• Upright piano, organ.
• Winds ('80s sax in Thegiornalisti), synthetic strings.

Melody and vocals

• Vocals: unpolished, conversational, personal timbre; mid register; sometimes deliberately "off-pitch" or rough (Calcutta).
• Melody: simple and singable, often pentatonic; sing-along choruses for concerts.
• Backing vocals: doubles and "stadium" backing vocals in the final choruses.
• Effects: medium reverb, delay, chorus; light Auto-Tune on electronic tracks.

Instruments

Vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, bass, acoustic drums and vintage drum machine, vintage synths (Juno, Prophet, DX7), piano, sax, sampler.

Drum patterns

Synths and sounds

• Jun-6 V — '80s pads and arpeggios: Juno-60 with chorus: the quintessential "vintage" sound of itpop.
• Prophet-5 V — Lead and pad: Soft leads and warm pads for the choruses.
• DX7 V — E.Piano and FM bass: FM electric piano and '80s basses for pop nostalgia.
• Piano V — Upright piano: A "bedroom" piano with mechanical noises, for intimate ballads.
• Solina V — String machine: Synthetic strings with chorus for a retro feel.
• Mellotron V — Vintage flutes and strings: '60s–'70s colors for the more beat-oriented songs.

Song structure

Short songs (2:30–3:30), often without long intros; the chorus arrives early.

Mixing and mastering

Sonic goal

Intimate, intelligible vocals in the center, a warm vintage sound ('80s synths, drum machine, tape), moderate dynamics; often a deliberately lo-fi aesthetic. References: Calcutta "Mainstream" (2015), Thegiornalisti "Completamente Sold Out" (2016), Coez "Faccio un casino" (2017), Colapesce Dimartino "Musica leggerissima" (2021). Balance: vocals 0, drums −5, bass −5, synths/guitars −7, backing vocals −6.

Kick

HP 35 Hz; body 70–90 Hz; moderate 3 kHz click; compression 3:1 2–3 dB; mono.

Snare

HP 120 Hz; body 200 Hz; presence 3–4 kHz; plate or gated reverb 1.2 s.

Hi-hat and percussion

HP 400 Hz; LP 12 kHz; pan ±15–30.

Bass

HP 35 Hz; body 80–100 Hz; compression 3 dB; tape saturation; mono.

Synths and guitars

HP 120–200 Hz; dynamic EQ from the vocals; chorus; plate/hall 1.5–2 s; wide stereo; light saturation.

Vocals

• EQ: HP 80–100 Hz; −2 dB 250 Hz; presence +2 dB 3 kHz; air +1.5 dB 10 kHz.
• Compression: 4–5 dB (FET + light opto).
• De-esser: 6–7 kHz.
• Space: plate 1.2–1.8 s at −16 dB, slap delay or 1/4 at −20 dB; doubles in the choruses.

Backing vocals

Wide "concert-style" backing vocals (±60–90), compressed, with room.

Buses, master

Mix bus with tape and light glue. Master −10/−8 LUFS integrated, true peak −1 dBTP.

Common mistakes

A mix that is too modern and bright (loses the vintage charm); vocals that are too "produced" (lose intimacy); synths that cover the vocals.

Reference tracks for mixing

• Calcutta — Cosa mi manchi a fare (2015)
• Thegiornalisti — Riccione (2017)
• Carl Brave x Franco126 — Pellaria (2017)
• Coez — La musica non c'è (2017)
• Colapesce Dimartino — Musica leggerissima (2021)

Reference listening

• I Cani — Hipsteria (2011)
• Calcutta — Cosa mi manchi a fare (2015)
• Thegiornalisti — Completamente (2016)
• Thegiornalisti — Riccione (2017)
• Coez — La musica non c'è (2017)
• Gazzelle — Sayonara (2017)
• Carl Brave x Franco126 — Pellaria (2017)
• Lo Stato Sociale — Una vita in vacanza (2018)
• Pinguini Tattici Nucleari — Ringo Starr (2020)
• Colapesce Dimartino — Musica leggerissima (2021)