Subsonica
Subsonica formed in the roaring ‘90s, when the dull, industrial reputation of their hometown of Turin gave way to a hot youth scene. Underground producer and Africa Unite guitarist Max Casacci and singer Samuel Romano enrolled keyboardist and long-time friend Boosta, together with Ninja and later, Bass Vicio to create a hard-hitting, top-notch rhythm section. Subsonica’s rock cred is matched by the band’s ability to channel the glittering, high-energy vibe of a rave, thanks to its innovative incorporation of electronica into its catchy songs. 2011 finds the band at the height of both its artistic prowess and its popularity: Heavy rotation singles, chart-topping albums, and packed stadiums testify to Subsonica’s winning combination of thoughtful lyrics, powerful rock, and techno flair.

Caparezza
Michele Salvemini, known as Caparezza ("curly head" in Puglia’s dialect), sees Frank Zappa as a mentor. And with the same unorthodox zeal and musical skill, Caparezza hits at social mores and contradictions with a roots-tinged, pop-friendly sound that’s as zany as his notoriously crazy live show. This unexpected mix has delighted the Italian mainstream: This avant-garde troublemaker manages to sell out arenas, while satirizing the politics and social issues of the day.

Nicola Conte
Cult DJ, producer, and remixer on the international nu-jazz scene from over 10 years, Nicola Conte has figured out how to unite intelligent dance music and jazz with competence and style. Founder of a cultural and musical movement in Bari in the early 1990s, he cut his teeth as a sought-after remixer and as a bandleader with globetrotting tastes. Several solo albums later, Conte caught the ear of Blue Note and launched 2011’s “Love & Revolution.” On this album, the human voice is the real protagonist, though perfectly blending with a “sound carpet” of extraordinary effectiveness.

Casino Royale
Casino Royale started out as secret agents in Milan’s booming arts underground, the illegal clubs and squats that nurtured a thriving music scene. Inspired by bands from the Clash to The Specials, the band absorbed black rock, reggae, hip hop, dub, funk—all with a specifically Milanese twist. While their sound may be wide-ranging, their songs often reflect their hometown: its lonely figures, the doubts and long nights of ordinary people.

Après La Classe
Après La Classe returns to Hit Week by popular demand. From Salento in Puglia, the band exemplifies their home region’s melting-pot musical mentality. Often compared to Manu Chao, the band mixes rollicking accordions, dancing robots, madcap scratching, and multilingual good times into dance-inducing pop. Dancehall and Mediterranean beats, chanson and satire, Après La Classe moves nonstop through every genre imaginable—and it works.

Erica Mou
Erica Musci, known as Erica Mou, is a young singer-songwriter and rising star who got her start traveling around Puglia, wowing unsuspecting club goers with her voice and her guitar. From her teens, she has been gigging, winning song contests, and gathering a following with her gusty, honest songs reminiscent of Alanis Morissette. Mou has now hit the international scene with European tours, her debut at Hit Week, and her recent work with Bjork’s producer, Valgeir Sigurðsson. Yet it all comes back to Mou’s emotionally raw and deeply personal songs.