Italians Do It Better

Italians Do It Better is an independent record label associated with a strand of electronic music that has been linked to the synth-pop, post-punk, and Italo-disco revivals. The label’s identity formed around the projects of co-founder Johnny Jewel, initially serving as a home for Glass Candy and Chromatics, and later extending to Desire, Symmetry, and Mirage. Over time, it has also released music by other artists connected to its earlier output, building a roster that reflects its emphasis on stylized, retro-informed electronic pop and related underground currents.

The label was started by Johnny Jewel and Mike Simonetti on July 20, 2006. It has been described as an electronic music collective, and it has operated in connection with West Hollywood, California, while also being based in Portland. Following Simonetti’s departure in 2013, the label has been operated by Jewel.

Its catalog has been periodically framed through the After Dark compilation series, which functions as a snapshot of the roster and the label’s aesthetic. Italians Do It Better has released four installments: After Dark (2007), After Dark 2 (2013), After Dark 3 (2020), and After Dark 4 (2022). Each compilation features music drawn from artists associated with the label, presenting a curated view of its sound across different eras.

Beyond Jewel’s core projects, the label has issued releases by artists including Sally Shapiro, Desire, and Brothertiger, as well as Dlina Volny, Nicolaas, Annie-Claude Deschênes, Farah, and Juno Francis. These names illustrate the label’s range within electronic music, from synth-pop and Italo-disco inflections to darker post-punk-adjacent textures, while remaining aligned with the label’s broader revivalist orientation.