Calcutta

Calcutta is the stage name of Edoardo D'Erme, an Italian singer-songwriter born in Latina in 1989. He started out playing in local bands around his hometown before forming a duo also called Calcutta with Marco Crypta, initially conceived as an opening act for small shows he organized at a local cultural venue. After the duo split, D'Erme continued solo under the same name, developing a distinctive lo-fi, understated sound built on plain, conversational Italian lyrics, unpolished production, and a deliberately anti-glossy aesthetic that stood apart from mainstream Italian pop.

His breakthrough came with the album Mainstream, whose singles such as «Cosa mi manchi a fare» and «Oroscopo» became unexpected hits, praised for their blend of melancholic, diary-like songwriting and minimalist arrangements. The record turned him into a critical and commercial success almost overnight, a rare case of an independent, lyrics-driven artist crossing into mass popularity in Italy.

He followed up with the album Evergreen, featuring songs like «Paracetamolo» and «Orgasmo», further cementing his reputation as one of the defining voices of the new wave of Italian singer-songwriters that emerged in the mid-2010s. Tracks such as «Tutti», «Pesto», «Gaetano», and «Controtempo» round out a catalog marked by intimate storytelling, deadpan delivery, and a sound that mixes indie-pop textures with electronic touches.