The Italian darkwave/post-punk band Christine Plays Viola proudly announce their signing with the legendary American label Cleopatra Records (Los Angeles), which will release their upcoming album F.I.V.E. – Fear Increases Violent Emotions, scheduled for 2026.
“Joining the Cleopatra family is a dream come true for a band like ours,” say CPV. “We’ve always admired how Cleopatra keeps the darkwave spirit alive worldwide, and this partnership opens a new chapter for Christine Plays Viola with a stronger international vision.”
With this new deal, Christine Plays Viola further establish themselves as one of the most active and respected Italian bands within the international darkwave scene.
The upcoming fifth album, F.I.V.E. – Fear Increases Violent Emotions marks the beginning of a new chapter for Christine Plays Viola and represents their most powerful, atmospheric, and emotionally intense work so far.
The lead single My Redemption introduces this new artistic phase with a dramatic hybrid of darkwave and gothic rock: pulsating synths, brooding baritone vocals, and a soaring melodic climax. Thematically, the song explores pain, vengeance, and rebirth — a statement of personal struggle and resilience.
“Christine” recalls the kaleidoscopic elegance of a Siouxsie and the Banshees song — a reflection of mystery and emotion in constant transformation.
“Plays Viola” evokes the fragile, human resonance of a bowed instrument — intimate, trembling, melancholic.
Together, they create a duality: beauty and decay, light and shadow, grace and disquiet.
A name that captures the band’s very essence — where melody and anguish coexist, and every note becomes confession.
Christine Plays Viola: a sonic journey for lovers of The Cure, Joy Division, Depeche Mode, and for all those who still seek poetry in the dark.
Christine Plays Viola is a darkwave/gothic rock band formed in 2008 in Abruzzo, Italy.
Active for more than a decade within Europe’s alternative scene, CPV have built a solid reputation for their distinctive mixture of baritone-driven melodies, post-punk tension, and cinematic atmospheres.
The band has toured extensively across Europe, performing at major festivals such as Wave Gotik Treffen and Castle Party, and sharing the stage with artists like Das Ich, Clan of Xymox, Chameleons Vox, And Also the Trees, Pink Turns Blue, Modern English, She Past Away, 1919, and more.
Their music has been broadcast on radio stations, club playlists, and darkwave media worldwide.
In 2025, Christine Plays Viola signed with Cleopatra Records (Los Angeles) — one of the most iconic alternative and dark labels in the world, known for working with Christian Death, The Damned, The Mission, Gary Numan, Clan of Xymox, and many more. This partnership marks a major step forward in the band’s international trajectory and sets the stage for their most ambitious release to date.
After several EPs and compilation appearances, CPV debuted in 2011 with Innocent Awareness (AF Music), followed by Promo 2012.
Their second album Vacua (Cold Insanity Records, 2014) — inspired by Francisco Goya’s Black Paintings — showcased a more conceptual and introspective side of the band.
In 2015 they began their collaboration with French label Manic Depression Records, releasing the 7’’ The Stars Can’t Frighten and the third studio album Spooky Obsessions (2016).
The EP The Bonds Should Be Only Silver Threads (2018) included a collaboration with Miro Sassolini (ex-Diaframma).
Their fourth album Fading (2020), released through Manic Depression and Icy Cold Records, introduced acoustic and psychedelic nuances into their darkwave foundation.
Line-Up:
Fabrizio Giampietro — guitars, synth, programming
Massimo Ciampani — vocals
Gianluca Orsini — drums
Marco Di Ianni — bass
Official Website: www.christineplaysviola.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Christine-Plays-Viola/67686376010
X / Twitter: www.x.com/christineplaysv
Bandcamp: www.christineplaysviola.bandcamp.com
YouTube: www.youtube.com/monolitonero
SoundCloud: www.soundcloud.com/christineplaysviola