Ettore Bandel is an Italian composer, songwriter and pianist who builds his music around the piano, and his new single “Tears,” featuring vocalist Elena Canti, is the first look at his upcoming EP Hallucinations. Released September 25, 2026 on Retro Reverb Records, the song pairs cinematic piano writing with restrained vocals and atmospheric production, and it has already been picked up by the music blog Obscure Sound.
Listen to Ettore on Spotify, where “Tears” is streaming now.
At a glance
- Artist: Ettore Bandel, composer, songwriter and pianist
- From: Italy; studied piano in Milan
- Sound: dream pop, indie and cinematic pop
- Label: Retro Reverb Records
- New single: “Tears” feat. Elena Canti (September 25, 2026)
- Next up: the EP Hallucinations
- Listen: Ettore Bandel on Spotify
Who is Ettore Bandel?
Ettore Bandel came to songwriting through the piano. According to his team, he spent nearly a decade studying the instrument and has been completing his formal piano education, with training in classical piano, jazz piano and harmony in Milan. That background still sits at the center of everything he writes. The piano is where his songs start, and it stays the emotional anchor even as the production around it grows.
What has changed is the frame. His press kit describes a move from formal training into a contemporary sound shaped by cinematic textures, dream-pop atmosphere, electronic touches and intimate songwriting. He is signed to Retro Reverb Records, and “Tears” is the first release in this new chapter.
What does “Tears” sound like?
“Tears” runs about four and a half minutes and gives itself room to breathe. The song is built around cinematic piano writing, with Elena Canti’s vocal kept intimate and restrained rather than pushed to the front, and atmospheric production filling in the space around them. Ettore’s team describes it as a blend of dream-pop sensitivity and spacious, emotional production, and as an introduction to the reflective sound world of Hallucinations.
The cover art sets a quieter, stranger mood than the title might suggest: Ettore stands in white against a white backdrop, head bowed, beside a tipped-over barrel spilling red. It is a single image that matches the song’s mix of calm surface and heavy feeling underneath.
Who is Elena Canti?
Elena Canti is the vocalist on “Tears” and a central part of the project. Ettore’s press materials describe Hallucinations as a project created with her, so this is less a one-off feature and more a partnership. On “Tears,” her intimate vocal is set against Ettore’s piano and the song’s atmospheric production, and the two share the credit on the single.
What have critics said about “Tears”?
The single has already drawn editorial attention. Obscure Sound, the long-running independent music blog run by Mike Mineo, featured “Tears” in October, praising its piano, its dream-pop atmosphere and Elena Canti’s vocals, and calling the song “a definitive success.” According to Ettore’s team, the song has also received airplay on Retro Reverb Records’ radio station, and the label has posted a YouTube interview introducing the project.
What’s next for Ettore Bandel?
The EP Hallucinations is next. “Tears” is its first single, and Ettore and Elena are continuing to build out the project’s sound from here. No release date has been announced yet. His team says he would be glad to talk about the project as the EP takes shape, which makes this a good moment to start listening. Follow him on Spotify to catch the next single as soon as it lands.
- Spotify: Ettore Bandel on Spotify
- Stream “Tears”: “Tears” feat. Elena Canti
- Read: Obscure Sound on “Tears”
FAQ
Who is Ettore Bandel?
Ettore Bandel is an Italian composer, songwriter and pianist who studied classical piano, jazz piano and harmony in Milan. His music blends cinematic piano with dream pop, indie and cinematic pop, and he is signed to Retro Reverb Records.
When was “Tears” released?
“Tears” by Ettore Bandel featuring Elena Canti was released on September 25, 2026. It is the first single from his upcoming EP Hallucinations.
Who sings on “Tears”?
The vocalist on “Tears” is Elena Canti, who is working with Ettore Bandel on the Hallucinations project.
Where can I listen to Ettore Bandel?
Ettore Bandel’s music is on Spotify and other major streaming platforms.
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