bar italia

bar italia are Nina Cristante, Jezmi Tarik Fehmi and Sam Fenton. Founded in lockdown, the group is an amalgamation of two cult projects – Double Virgo (Fehmi and Fenton’s project, released on Vegyn’s Plz Make It Ruins label) and NINA (Cristante’s solo project, signed to Dean Blunt’s World Music label).

The London-based trio started releasing a prolific quantity of music in late 2020—albums Quarrel and Bedhead, and EP Angelica Pilled all came out in a two year period, winning the group an attentive fanbase who followed their every move with excitement and intrigue.

After signing to Matador Records in March 2023, and delivering two stellar LPs in Tracey Denim and The Twits that same year – the band transcended the buzz and entered a confident stride, earning much critical acclaim and pushing the shadowy band to the forefront of contemporary britpop.

The following year saw the band selling out headline shows in the UK, US, Europe, Asia and Australia – alongside coveted slots at Glastonbury, Coachella, Primavera and more.  Amidst a bustling tour schedule, the trio shared The Tw*ts in June 2024 – and earned a nomination for Independent Breakthrough Artist at the AIM awards.

New music from the band arrived in 2025 in the form of “grungy, gritty, and a bit sexy” (Stereogum) ‘Cowbella’, brash, gritty ‘Fundraiser’, and brilliantly distorted single ‘Rooster’, all taken from their third Matador release Some Like It Hot.

“Scratchy guitars, melancholic voices and lyrics that make romantic turmoil sound cool – it can only be bar italia, one of THE FACE’s favourite new bands.” – The Face

“One of the most dynamic and thrilling U.K. rock bands in years.” – Rolling Stone

“London’s most exciting new band” – Crack

“The sound of slacker indie is as popular as ever, and this London trio are peak practitioners.” – The Guardian