Stanze Fredde is an independent label rooted in the DIY ethos, born out of a desire to prioritize substance over superficiality in music. Founded in Turin, during a time when the music industry seemed more concerned with appearance than content, the label aims to promote the work of emerging and lesser-known artists. Their focus is on cold, dark, and minimal sounds that mirror the inner worlds of those involved with the label.
The idea for Stanze Fredde came about organically after a disappointing turnout of a post-punk concert where only a handful of people were present. While walking through Giardini Reali in Turin, the founders discussed the challenge of promoting art and music in Italy, particularly in a genre that lacks mainstream support. They realized there were few spaces available for young artists to perform or express themselves, and thus, Stanze Fredde was born to fill that gap, providing a platform for the underrepresented, particularly on their home turf. El Paso and Radio Blackout gave space to this new initiative, in a 100% independent way – at least on the local territory.
“Minimal and coldwave music has a do it yourself approach – most artists record their tracks with what they have in their rooms,” says the label. “Since it is a cold, melancholic and dark genre we imagined a room full of synthesizers and ice stalactites. This imagery gave birth to our logo and to the cover of our compilation.”
Stanze Fredde produces homemade CDs and merchandise. All CDs are made using recycled cases and the covers and artwork are designed and printed at home.
“We want to go back to the origins of the subculture so to self-produce and make the music and artwork with what you have without resorting to factories and mass production,” they say. “Physical music, whether it is CD, vinyl or cassette, is a work of art for us, and as such must be unique, and handmade allows for the differentiation of each piece. We also use recycled material to fight the culture of waste, the important thing is to spread the music and not the production. We give importance to the growth of artists and what they feel, profit is not important. Artists receive most of the profit, we keep a small percentage to keep sharing music.”
Stanze Fredde has been shaking up the European music scene with a defiant DIY attitude, throwing a lifeline to the underground with bands like RUHR and Chaos International. With an eye for the stark and the minimal, they’re organizing a self-funded minimal synth festival, proving that raw talent doesn’t need the industry’s glittering stamp of approval. Recently, they dropped a compilation, Stanze Fredde Volume 1, aiming to fund their upcoming festival showcase at Paso Occupato on November 23. This album is a crucial support system for the artists featured—each track an unreleased gem with a sound as sharp as ice.
Funds from this compilation go straight to the festival.
1. Radioklub – Manifesto (I define myself)
2. Werner Karloff – Telemechanic Alarm
3. Olgha – i tak zapomnę
4. Brigade Rosse – Alles Auf Koma
5. Convex Model – And It’s Getting Cold (Deceiving Time)
6. Blocco Schengen – Radio Tristezza
7. Alex Spektrum – Principio y fin
8. Equinoxious – Derribar
9. El Ojo y La Navaja – Una Soga en mi Cuello
10. Love of Consolation – Un Homme Qui Dort
11. Hollow Reflection – Изгаряш (You burn)
12. Neon Lies – Kill Us (2024)
13. Pleasure Victim – Panopticon Prison (Rough Edit)
14. Alekzandra – Shadowdance
15. Medio Mutante – Bomb in my head
16. Black Snow In Summer – Lost Feelings
17. Ward of Cause – Miro
In a dimly lit corner of the festival lineup, Nikos Chantzis’ documentary Music For Ordinary Life Machines flickers to life on the screen, peeling back the layers of the synth underground in Greece. The film, shown in its original language with Italian subtitles, takes the audience through the fragmented world of analog and digital soundscapes that hum beneath the surface of the mainstream. As the documentary closes, the night shifts gears. The stage will light up for stirring live performances that promise to shake your molecules loose—Night in Athens, Chaos International, Dramachine, Larsovitch, RUHR, and Polina Suffer are all set to deliver sets that will reverberate until dawn. Between the beats and the melodies, themed DJ sets will keep the atmosphere electric, while distros and self-production expos offer a tactile connection to the music.
Order the compilation here
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