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BAR Musica: A Decade of Underground Music
In 2016, Bartolomeo launched BAR Musica as a platform for his own productions and those of artists within his circle. A decade later, the Italian label has built a catalogue spanning minimal, house and techno, with releases from both established names and emerging producers.
The label has remained closely tied to vinyl and to Bartolomeo’s personal approach to curation. Rather than adhering to a fixed genre, BAR Musica has developed around a shared aesthetic: loop-driven, hypnotic music with a strong emphasis on repetition and texture. Alongside its releases, Bartolomeo has sought to build a wider community around the label, organising parties and maintaining longstanding relationships with the artists involved.
As BAR Musica marks its 10th anniversary, we speak with Bartolomeo about the label’s beginnings, how its identity has developed, the challenges of running an independent vinyl imprint, and what he has planned for the decade ahead.
Hey Paolo, great to meet you and congratulations on 10 years of BAR Musica! Looking back to the very beginning, what was the original idea and vision behind starting the label?
Hello everybody, and thanks for having me on Nightclubber!
It’s quite a weird feeling for me to talk about this achievement. I would have never thought I would make it to 10 years when I started BAR Musica.
When I thought about opening and running my own record label, the idea was simply to create a platform to release my own music and music from artists and friends I like and respect. Besides releasing music, I also wanted to create a family, a hub of people who share the same passion and have the same vision about music and clubbing. It’s my biggest satisfaction to see that all of this has somehow happened.
What does the name BAR Musica represent to you, and how has that meaning evolved over the past decade?
When I was thinking of a name for the label, I was looking for something that could totally represent myself. Then, one morning, at an afterparty with some friends, this name came up.
BAR is, of course, the short version of my surname and artist name, Bartolomeo, but in Italy, it’s also the place where people go to meet and gather together for a drink, a coffee, or a chat. And that’s exactly what I wanted the label to be: a safe place for everybody who joins.
I’m so attached to my Italian roots that “Musica” came naturally along with it.
Ten years is a major milestone in the independent music world. What are you most proud of when you look back at everything the label has achieved?
To be very honest, 10 years flew by in a second. I didn’t realise at all that I was getting here.
What makes me most proud is that people now recognise the label for its own sound and soul, and I’m so happy about how everything is evolving for the label.
Was there a particular moment or release that made you realise BAR Musica had developed its own identity and was really connecting with people?
I don’t think there was a particular moment. It’s more about the full catalogue and the journey.
I built the identity of the label release after release, curating everything myself, from the artwork to my personal connections with record stores, social media, and everything around it.
I’m proud to go back and listen to every release and hear the evolution.
Your catalogue has featured a diverse range of artists and musical personalities. What do you look for in an artist or track before deciding it belongs on BAR Musica?
I always wanted to support young artists and give many friends who make incredible music the opportunity to be heard.
They all have their own personality, but before that, they are my friends. I would never release a record if I’m not sure the artist shares my same vision of music, releases, and art.
It doesn’t necessarily need to be a specific genre. It can be house, techno, minimal, ambient. But the vision behind it needs to get my attention.
The label has worked across a world of underground house, minimal and electronic music. How would you describe the musical identity of BAR Musica today?
BAR Musica doesn’t have a specific genre. Many could say that it’s more minimal-focused, but it goes across all its shades, from house to techno.
What I can hear in all of the BAR Musica releases is that every track is trippy, loopy, and has a repetitive architecture to every element. It makes you lose your sense of time and space.
Are there any releases from the past 10 years that feel especially important or emotional to you, and why?
Every release is special to me. Each one brings back memories of when I first heard it, when I first played it, and everything around the actual release.
The very first release, catalogue no. BAR000, obviously has a special place in my heart. It got a lot of big support and became one of the tunes of the summer at Circoloco at DC10 in Ibiza. Everybody was playing that record.
It was just the beginning, and I felt I was doing it right.
How has the underground electronic music scene changed since BAR Musica launched in 2016, and how have you adapted as a label?
Music is constantly changing, and the world is constantly changing. “Underground” is a word that relates to a specific world, an attitude more than a sound.
Life is about evolution, and so we all need to evolve in order to live. Without it, we would still all be monkeys :)
Running an independent label for a decade must come with its challenges. What have been some of the biggest lessons you’ve learned along the way?
When you run an independent record label, especially one focused on vinyl only, you need to have a strong vision behind it. You need to stay true to that vision and, every now and then, remind yourself why you do this.
What I definitely learned is that music is so unpredictable in the way it hits you. You may think that a record will become big and sell a lot, and then realise that it’s not. Or the other way around: the one you were maybe not 100% sure about will sell out in one week.
And that’s the beauty of it. Just follow your feelings and things will happen.
How important has the community of artists, DJs and supporters around BAR Musica been to the label’s journey?
Over the years, I tried to build a family around BAR Musica, and I really believe that’s one of the most important parts of running a label.
Artists support other artists not just because “they have to,” but because they feel we are all building something together.
In the times we are living in, community and being part of something is everything. Together, things can really move.
Is there an artist or collaboration that you’re particularly proud to have introduced to the BAR Musica family?
Every artist I welcome to BAR Musica is very special to me, both unknown and well-known artists. I feel connected to every different artist in some way, so it’s really difficult for me to pick one.
For sure, I have to mention Jesse Marcell, who’s my best friend, the person I always go to when I have a doubt, and an incredible producer and DJ.
He’s been with me since day zero, way before I had the idea of starting BAR Musica, so I feel he’s a solid and very important part of the project. He’s coming with a remix in 2026 and a solo EP in 2027!
Looking back, is there anything you would do differently, or do you think the unexpected twists and challenges are all part of what has shaped the label?
No, I don’t think so. If I did something, it’s because I felt I was doing it right. Maybe I was wrong, but it’s what brought me here.
How are you celebrating the 10-year anniversary, and can fans expect any special releases, events or projects?
Absolutely yes! The label is having a great moment.
We started doing parties to celebrate the 10th anniversary, but we might keep doing them, as we are really happy with how things are going.
We have parties planned in London (25 September at Little Portland), Milan, Berlin, Lisbon, Rome, Rimini, and other places!
We have also worked on a four-part album to celebrate this milestone. The first one has already come out and is already sold out.
We are happy to have music from myself, Ageless & Aline Umber, Franco Cinelli, Thomas Melchior & Bruno Pronsato, 100Hz, Jesse Marcell, George, Ricky Montanari, Cirillo, and many others!
Finally, after 10 years of BAR Musica, what does the future look like? What would you love the next decade of the label to bring?
I’m not sure where things will go. What I’m sure of is that I will put all my effort into making things happen and releasing the music I love.
Hopefully, this will last forever, but if not, I’m happy to have built a catalogue I’m incredibly proud of, and I’m sure the music we release will still be playable in 10 or 20 years.
And finally, If you could choose one BAR Musica track that perfectly captures the spirit of the label’s first 10 years, which one would it be and why?
There are so many, but if I really have to pick one, it has to be “Ricky Montanari – I Know You Wanna Dance With Me.”
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