Bar Italia are back — and they’re turning up the heat. The London trio’s new album, Some Like It Hot, lands October 17 via Matador, and it’s a bold, cinematic leap into their most expansive sound yet. Named after the iconic 1959 screwball classic starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon, the title nods to a world of mischief, desire, and musical adventure — themes that pulse through the record’s every note.
Some Like It Hot is a kaleidoscope of emotion and sonic experimentation: lust-soaked rockers, spectral folk-pop, woozy ballads and moments of pure, undefinable magic. It’s the sound of Nina Cristante, Jezmi Tarik Fehmi and Sam Fenton stepping into widescreen mode — a band once shrouded in mystery now fully illuminated.
Out now, ‘Fundraiser’ is a rush of adrenaline — Bar Italia at their most infectious and immediate. The track arrives with a video starring Matt King (Peep Show), adding a dose of surreal charm to the band’s ever-growing visual universe.
Following the success of recent single ‘Cowbella’ — now a fixture on the BBC 6 Music playlist — Bar Italia are set to tour the UK, Europe and North America in support of the album, including a sold-out release show at London’s The Dome on October 18.
‘Cowbella’ spirals from whispered gossip into obsession, its wiry riffs and ghostly climax capturing the band’s knack for turning emotional chaos into anthemic catharsis. “Did she run or did she stay / What’s it gonna take for you to say?” they ask, with a voyeuristic intensity only Bar Italia could make feel so intimate.
Elsewhere, ‘Marble Arch’ strolls through psychedelic melancholy, with Cristante’s dreamy delivery offset by stark imagery: “I dreamt you hung yourself / And my little sister too.” Fenton reflects on London’s emotional weather: “Rain in London town / It reflects all the feelings of people around.” Their voices converge in haunting harmony: “What you doing in my head again / You don’t belong here, you never did.”
The trio’s vocal interplay remains their secret weapon. Cristante shifts from honeyed restraint to possessed fury. Fehmi’s baritone floats and snarls, while Fenton’s ethereal tenor dances between mysticism and soul. Tracks like ‘Plastered’, ‘Lioness’ and ‘Omni Shambles’ showcase their dynamic range — each voice distinct, yet perfectly interwoven.
Bar Italia’s rise has been meteoric. From shy, shadow-dwelling sets in 2023 to over 160 shows across the globe — including Glastonbury, Coachella, and sold-out runs in New York and LA — they’ve transformed into a commanding five-piece, equally adept at inciting mosh pits and conjuring pin-drop intimacy.
Some Like It Hot is the sound of a band embracing the spotlight. Tracks like ‘Eyepatch’ and ‘Omni Shambles’ are taut, hook-laden pop gems. ‘Bad Reputation’ aches with longing, while ‘Rooster’ and ‘Lioness’ surrender to passion with theatrical flair. “You have no idea what I can do for you when I’m in this mood,” Fehmi declares — and the album proves it.
Bar Italia have fused raw emotion with a love of performance, crafting songs that twist their quirks into towering choruses. Like the film that inspired its name, Some Like It Hot is funny, sexy, and unforgettable. And while Monroe’s final line may have been “Nobody’s perfect,” this record comes thrillingly close.
TRACK LIST
1. Fundraiser
2. Marble Arch
3. bad reputation
4. Cowbella
5. I Make My Own Dust
6. Plastered
7. rooster
8. the lady vanishes
9. Lioness
10. omni shambles
11. Eyepatch
12. Some Like It Hot
LIVE DATES
August 15 – Paredes de Coura, Portugal – Paredes de Coura Festival
August 22 – Malaga, Spain – Canela Party Festival
October 18 – London, UK – The Dome (SOLD OUT)
October 22 – Milan, Italy – Santeria
October 23 – Barcelona, Spain – La 2 de Apolo
October 24 – Madrid, Spain – Sala Mon
October 28 – Paris, France – La Maroquinerie
October 29 – Liege, Belgium – Reflektor
October 30 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Toekomstmuziek
November 6 – Los Angeles, US – The Bellwether
November 8 – San Francisco, US – The Regency Ballroom
November 10 – Portland, US – Aladdin Theatre
November 11 – Seattle, US – Neumos
November 12 – Vancouver, CA – Hollywood Theatre
November 14 – Chicago, US – Thalia Hall
November 15 – Cleveland, US – Beachland Ballroom
November 16 – Columbus, US – Ace of Cups
November 18 – Pittsburgh, US – Spirit Hall
November 19 – Washington, US – Black Cat
November 21 – Philadelphia, US – Warehouse on Watts
November 22 – Brooklyn, US – Brooklyn Paramount
November 24 – Boston, US – Paradise Rock Club
November 25 – Montreal, CA – Club Soda
November 27 – Toronto, CA – The Concert Hall
November 28 – Buffalo, US – Nietzche's
November 29 – Woodstock, US – Bearsville Theatre
