Emmecosta is an alternative/pop/rock band formed in 2000 in Positano (Italy), and is currently residing in Gothenburg (Sweden). The band is composed of Claudio Pallone (vocals, guitar), Carlo Prisco (drums), Alfonso Fusco (lead guitar) and Stefan Olsson (bass guitar). The latter joined the group in 2008.

After years in the rehearsal room and a few public performances, the band released its first demo in 2006. This demo brought the band to a summer tour between Amalfi Coast and Sicily.

It didn’t take long before emmecosta, thanks to its intense live activity, was approached by an independent label that distributed the band's two singles on many italian radio stations and world-wide digital stores. The same label also took the band on a summer tour in southern Italy promoting them as an artist opening for big names in Italian music.

In 2007 emmecosta presented its single "Atmosfera" on the late evening TV show "Max Stile Libero" on national Italian channel. Afterwards, emmecosta decided to self-produce two video clips, which in a short time earned the 1st and the 2nd place of the "music category" in an Italian TV show called "Talent Uno"

As time passed, emmecosta, despite the restrictions imposed by their music label (their producer brought them to have shows in only playback), were gradually able to share their music and release interviews on national radios.

At this time the need to work for survival forced the band to take a long summer pause.

During this break the band began to feel the need for something else, something truly different, and especially because of the impossibility to have good live performances the band felt the need to leave Italy. After a lot of research and inspection of numerous European cities, emmecosta decided to start from the scratch in another country in front of a new audience... Gothenburg, Sweden, a city renowned for its music scene, seemed to be a good choice for the band.

After finding an apartment and shipping all the equipment, with a little cash left, emmecosta arrived in Gothenburg in November 2008. A few days after their arrival in Sweden, on November 25th, to be exact, they had their first gig in Stockholm, introducing new songs and a completely new sound.

Although, time seemed to pass slowly, and despite many economic difficulties, the boys began to get gigs around the Swedish west coast and they started to become known for the "magic" that evolves during their live shows. Their lyrics and their sounds were primarily inspired by the emotions felt during their adventures and the journey as a band. This new sound was developed through a lot of research and long sessions in the rehearsal room.

During the spring/summer of 2010, emmecosta participated at "Emergenza Festival", (world-wide contest for unsigned bands) and after passing the early stages the band is rewarded by audience, competing artists and jury, as the "best" unsigned band in the city of Gothenburg, the second best unsigned band in Sweden and fourth in the entire Scandinavia.

This first important success motivated and inspired the guys even more, leading them to concentrate more energy on their research.

In September 2010 emmecosta self-recorded a cover of Erik Hassle's song "Taken (Still In My Blood)". Through a votation on Youtube and a live show at Pustervik (Gothenburg), they were given the opportunity to open two shows for Hassle himself, both, in Gothenburg and Gislaved.

In autumn 2010 the band participated in "Tour Music Fest" (Italian competition for unsigned bands) and won the award of "the Band of the Year" 2010, established by a jury of artists and producers, led by Mogol (one of the most important songwriters in the last 30 years in Italian music scene history).

At the beginning of 2011 emmecosta recorded, what they consider, their "very first album" at Nacksving Studios in Gothenburg with the help of the sound engineer Anders Lagerfors. In the following May, the band had a turnè in Germany and this was a motivating boost for the guys to keep on looking for more gigs and expand their borders. Later on emmecosta partecipated once again in Emergenza and this time won the Swedish as well as Scandinavian final.

In july 2011 the band shared its music on British territory, performing at Proud2, a venue inside the O2 Arena of London, as guest artist at the finals of Live and Unsigned.

During the second week of august 2011, emmecosta tours through Hungary and Germany. The first show, at Sziget Festival of Budapest, saw the band performing in one of the biggest european festival, getting a big acclamation from a totally new audience. The next gig, at Taubertal Festival (Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany) marked another big success for the band. They have been infact competing at the International Finals of Emergenza Festival with other bands from all over the world, getting the 6th place as best band, and 2nd place for the best drummer in the global ranking of the 2011 edition.

Right now emmecosta is looking for more gigs around the world and a lable that wants to work with them and help spreading their music as much as possible.

"Emmecosta is a dream, our dream, that one day, however it goes, will continue to be a dream."

Claudio, Carlo, Alfonso and Stefan.

"Emmecosta pratique un rock aux structures alambiquées, une musique cérébrale qui garde pourtant une véritable spontanéité. A l’instar de groupes comme Radiohead, Muse ou Coldplay (j’ai bien conscience que le fait de mettre ces deux derniers groupes avec le précédent fera bondir les puristes…) ou du chanteur italien des années 70, Lucio Battisti (référence clairement revendiquée), on sent vibrer chez ces jeunes garçons l’amour des mélodies finement ciselées et le désir de sortir des sentiers battus. Pour simple exemple les circonvolutions, chargées de delay, du guitariste Alfonso Fusco qui feront tourner bien plus d’une tête. Vous l’aurez compris, Emmecosta fait partie de mes coups de cœur de cette édition."

Matthieu B. Michon - In-sect.tv - 20/08/2011

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"Day 2 and once again we tread on the mud as a result of the heavy rainpour. It is up to Emmecosta from Sweden to kick off the day. We can start by saying that they did a marvelous job. A well arranged set with sounds inspired by radiohead and sonic youth. A wonderful vocalist hitting high notes with ease and a dynamic drummer keeping time and blending off beats and great patterns around the kits. A lot of cymbal work and floor tom “pounding” made his presence the foundation of the songwriting. A tipically gorgeous Fender sound for the boys from Gothenburg blending guitars and “fat” bass, proved that they were not phased by the early timeslot and the rain. In the end, everybody showed approval and appreciation by screaming for more. A wonderful day to start day 2….Thank you for the sounds."

emergenza.net - 13/08/2011

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"Emmecosta are an Italian/Swedish 4 piece who moved to Gothenburg in 2008, looking for a fresh start and a new audience, they have since acquired a member from these shores. Recent success in the Emergenza festival (they won the Scandinavian Finals) sees them through to an international final in Germany and the band get a chance to play Londons 02 arena at the end of the month as a guest at the Live and Unsigned final. All this suggests that the band are a good live act, perhaps not a surprise for a band who have actually been together since 2000.
This is the bands first album and is self financed and jointly self produced. The production is spot on throughout and some serious credit should go to the band and experienced producer Anders Lagerfors for production which would shame many more expensive efforts.
It is an assured set of songs, clearly carefully and painstakingly crafted. Not without ideas, the band never feel the need to outstay their welcome and the 10 songs come in at 35 minutes long. Early highlights such as Ghosts and theAnswer is in the onion set a good benchmark, the latter is an excellent track and must surely be a live favourite. We’ll always be here is another delight with its Flaming Lips esque verse and soaring chorus. Its an album not without a surprise or two such as the catchy Strokes-like chorus on the final track Chop my head off, but the album never sounds disjointed. Overall it is a confident set of songs and there is more than enough here to warrant further investigation. It is perhaps missing that absolute killer track, although this would be harsh criticism of a band who have produced an impressive debut."

Richard ‘Skip’ Sherwin - In My Kitchen’s Blog - 05/07/2011