Pre-order now — Available for Download in Several Formats November 8, 2026
In 1984, Chris Spedding – internationally known for producing the early Sex Pistols, as well as lending his versatile guitar playing to Bryan Ferry/Roxy Music, Elton John, Brian Eno, Art Garfunkel, Nina Hagen and many others – said, “I haven’t seen that many new bands in the last few years that really knocked me out… The Pretenders, The Police when they first played CBGB’s, a few others… I thought Dolce Vita’s music was really great, and they really had what it takes live for being as young as they are.”
In 2024, the rediscovery of the New York band’s music through the Reddit lostwave search to identify the source of their infectious punk/funk anthem “Break Down Those Walls” only proved Spedding right.
But before their original Braineater Records release, Dolce Vita was still a small post-punk trio, consisting of bassist Lorenzo Gilioli, drummer Chris Romano and guitarist Tommaso Commonara. They chose their name to highlight their Italian roots, playing the New York scene as a trio. Their combination of punk attitude with a dominant New York dance beat attracted an influential booking manager, Ruth Polsky. Polsky had a knack for discovering and developing talent, booking U.S. debut appearances for New Order, the Cure, the Specials, the Psychedlic Furs and many others.
But Dolce Vita needed a singer. A Village Voice ad attracted the powerful, emotive voice of David Quinn, who had just moved to New York to form a band and write for the theater. After two months rehearsing in an unheated cellar just off the West Side Highway – the site of the album cover of Dolce Vita – Dolce Vita launched, opening for Klaus Nomi at the Mudd Club in December 1982 to an excited crowd of downtown artists and club kids. The band soon become a regular at CBGB’s, Danceteria, the Ritz and a host of East Coast rock venues, tightening up their performance, creating songs and building a rep as one of the bands to watch in New York.
Determined to record while the music was hot, Polsky secured a test deal; A&R Exec Howard Thompson booked them to record five songs for CBS/SONY, produced by former Psychedelic Furs drummer Vince Ely. One song, “Break Down Those Walls,” was a “response to the post-punk dance energy at the time, with just a shot of DIY freedom loving political edge.” These recordings have yet to be released. (Time will tell.)
In 1983, the band’s second manager, Dick Lynn, signed Dolce Vita to Braineater Records and introduced them to his client, Chris Spedding. Spedding liked their demos so much he offered to produce the band’s next recording—their self-titled 1984 EP. With the introduction of Julius, a powerful new drummer adept at punk, dance, funk – and even a touch of behind the beat jazz – the Dolce Vita sound matured and diversified. Spedding helped capture the spirit of their live shows on their first record, which earned positive reviews, especially from College Music Journal and indie free forum radio stations and zines. Dolce Vita sold well for an indie act at the time, which helped them reach beyond life as a “house band” at Danceteria and The Ritz (Webster Hall, today) and soon they were “riding the small bus” to open large halls for Billy Idol, Lene Lovitch, Men Without Hats and the Thompson Twins.
Despite the success of their EP, Dolce Vita found it hard to secure a major label recording deal, and the band’s momentum stalled. Tommaso and David, writing new songs for a second release, tired of having to hire freelance musicians for gigs. They missed being a band. Soon, by mutual agreement, they took a break from performing. A demo was produced in 1987 by the songwriting duo, which captured a new energy, but no recording contract was offered.
Today, Dolce Vita’s new wave EP has been re-released – remastered by Markus Hall for From The Vault Records, echoing the DIY spirit post-punk of 30 years ago, with a sound still fresh and unique. “Beginning All Over” rides new wave licks with rebel swagger. (Chris Spedding’s main note to David Quinn before he cut the lead vocal, “Well, how would Marlon Brando do it?”) Rhythmic and hypnotic, “Looking Away” dramatizes social isolation while spinning in a dance floor trance. “Never Let Go Now,” a murky basement ballad, emphasizes the melodic core of the Quinn/Commonara songwriting style, with a voice that stretches from naked to emotive to last-stand defiant. And you can hear the passions of young New Yorkers trying to transcend their social and political reality in “Break Down Those Walls” to fulfill their uniquely multicultural Urban American Dream.credits
On From the Vault on Bandcamp November 8, 2026
Bass – Lorenzo Gilioli
Drums & Percussion – Julius
Guitar, Keyboards & Vocals – Tommaso Commonara
Lead Vocals & Keyboards – David Quinn
Produced by Chris Spedding
Engineer – Joe Barbaria
Restoration by Markus Hall
Description by Jacques Torrance & Markus Hall with additional information from David Quinn
©2026 Dolce Vita
℗2026 Dolce Vita
℗1984 Dolce Vita
Released under exclusive license.
