If you're a beginner electronic music producer and want to work in '80s retro aesthetics, Italo Disco is one of the richest sources. This genre offers ready formulas, honed devices, a rich arsenal of sounds. But to use them well you need to systematically study the work of classics. Here's what to listen to, what to study, and what to try to become a producer in this aesthetic.
The Base Listening Course
For a beginner producer it matters to build a base of listening experience. We suggest this route:
- Top 20 hits - the must-have collection. The first month of acquaintance.
- Works of key producers. Farina, Giombini, Pulga - deep study of their styles.
- Different subgenres. Vocal Italo Disco, space disco, Italo House.
- Neighboring genres. Eurodance, synthwave, modern retro projects.
Base listening takes 3-6 months of active work. Without this base, any production attempts will be shallow.
Analytical Listening
Just listening isn't enough. You need to analyze how tracks are built. Main aspects to study:
- Structure. How many bars the intro, verse, chorus, bridge run. How they relate.
- Instrumentation. Which synths you hear, which drum machines, which effects.
- Arrangement. When each instrument appears, how layers change.
- Dynamics. Where it's quiet, where loud, how transitions work.
- Mix. How stereo is distributed, which frequencies dominate.
Analytical listening turns intuitive perception into professional understanding.
Gear: the Minimum
For a start in retro production you need a base kit:
- A computer with a DAW. Ableton Live, Logic Pro, FL Studio, Studio One - any modern DAW works.
- An audio interface. Focusrite Scarlett or similar, from 150 dollars.
- A MIDI keyboard. From 100 dollars, 25-49 keys is enough.
- Studio monitors or headphones. Important for correct mixing.
- A room with relatively normal acoustics. Basic sound isolation.
A full starter kit - 1000-2000 dollars. Most of the budget will go on monitors and headphones - critical for quality work.
Software Emulations
Instead of expensive original synths use emulations:
- Arturia V Collection. Emulations of nearly all classic synths.
- TAL U-No-LX. An excellent emulation of the Roland Juno-60, key for the genre.
- Native Instruments FM8. A DX7 emulator.
- GForce Virtual Instruments. Oberheim OB-8, Prophet-5, and others.
- Roland Cloud. Official Roland emulations.
Budget for emulations - 200-500 dollars for a quality set. That gives access to the whole main '80s arsenal.
Drum Machines and Rhythm
For the Italo Disco rhythm you need the right drum sounds:
- D16 Group Drumazon. An emulation of the Roland TR-909.
- D16 Group Nepheton. A TR-808 emulation.
- Native Instruments Kontakt. With libraries of LinnDrum samples.
- Splice Sounds. A subscription to a huge library of Italo Disco samples.
These tools provide an authentic rhythm sound, without which Italo Disco doesn't work.
First Tracks: Exercises
Start with exercises, not full tracks right away:
- Recreating a rhythm. Take a known Italo Disco track, try to recreate its beat in a DAW.
- Imitating the bass. Program a springy synth bass under a typical progression.
- Rearranging a melody. Take a simple melody and arrange it in Italo Disco aesthetics.
- A full track by a reference. Pick a classic track and make your own "remake" from scratch.
These exercises teach specific skills that later come in handy in your own compositions.
Harmony and Melody
Study the signature harmonic progressions:
- Am-F-C-G. The golden progression of the genre.
- Dm-Bb-F-C. The same logic in a different key.
- Am-G-F-E. A more dramatic version.
Play these progressions on the keyboard, record them, try different melodies over them. That's the base for your future compositions.
Writing Lyrics
If you plan vocal tracks, study the specifics of Italo Disco lyrics:
- Simplicity. Short English phrases understandable to any audience.
- Repetition. The central phrase should repeat many times.
- Emotion. Simple, direct emotional statements.
- Rhythm. Lyrics should fit the rhythm well, without complex meters.
Don't fear "simplicity" - for pop music it's a virtue, not a flaw.
Mixing
A signature Italo Disco mix requires a specific approach:
- Bass up front. But not drowning the vocal.
- Sparkling top. Emphasizing high frequencies on hats and synths.
- Vocal in the center. Clearly audible, with the right processing.
- Wide stereo. Synth layers spread across the pan.
- Reverb. Lots of reverb imitating '80s Lexicon.
Use plugins that emulate the '80s: Waves CLA Vocals, FabFilter Pro-Q 3, Valhalla Vintage Verb.
Modern Peers
Study the work of modern producers working in the genre:
- Sally Shapiro. The main modern Italo Disco project.
- Italo Connection. Italian veterans still working.
- Flemming Dalum. A Danish producer making edits and remixes.
- Johan Agebjörn. Sally Shapiro's producer, own projects.
- Kris Baha. An Austrian DJ in modern aesthetics.
These artists show how the genre can work in 2024 without loss of authenticity.
Reference Tracks
Keep a few reference tracks you compare your work against:
- Classics: Gazebo's "I Like Chopin," Baltimora's "Tarzan Boy," Raf's "Self Control."
- Modern work: Sally Shapiro "Sad Cities," Italo Connection tracks.
- Synthwave: Kavinsky "Nightcall," The Midnight work.
Constantly compare your mix to references. That's the main self-control quality tool.
Releasing Your First Tracks
When a track is ready, it needs to be released:
- SoundCloud. A platform for beginner producers, an active community.
- Bandcamp. Direct sales and digital releases.
- DistroKid or TuneCore. Services for distribution to Spotify, Apple Music.
- Themed Telegram channels and Discord communities. Specialized retro communities.
Don't expect instant success. The retro niche values quality and regularity. Publish one track a month for a year - and you'll have a solid portfolio.
Collaborations
For growth it's worth looking for collaborations:
- Vocalists. Work with different singers, study different voice types.
- Other producers. Share stems, learn their approaches.
- Genre veterans. Many original artists are open to collaboration.
- Sleeve designers. Visuals matter on par with music.
Collaborations accelerate growth and expand the network of contacts.
A Path Into the Industry
What comes next after the first tracks:
- Working with retro labels. Nang Records, Italians Do It Better, Flashback Records - all potential homes for your material.
- Festivals and concerts. Retro festivals sometimes give young artists a chance.
- Syncs. Your track in an ad, film, game - a serious revenue source.
- YouTube and TikTok. Modern platforms work great for retro aesthetics.
Building a career requires patience. A year to start, 2-3 years to the first serious audience, 5+ years to a stable professional position.
The Main Advice
The most important rule - regularity of work. It's much better to make one track a month for a year than to make 5 tracks in one month and then stop. Consistency builds skills. Regular releases build an audience. Disciplined practice leads to quality.
In 2024 the entry barrier into retro production is as low as ever. Gear is accessible, training materials online are free, release platforms are open to everyone. If you really want to make an Italo Disco track - start today. In a year you'll have a portfolio that helps you move further. That's the most workable way to become a producer in a genre that recently turned forty and keeps finding a new audience.
Tempo, half-time and manual calculation are covered in the guide to what BPM means in music.