Clap! Clap!
Italian producer blending global folk with electronic dance music.
Cristiano Crisci, who performs as Clap! Clap!, is an Italian producer and DJ with a background in jazz, having previously released music under the name Digi G'Alessio. He entered the electronic scene in 2013 with his first Clap! Clap! release on Origami Sound, and later put out several well-received records through the Bristol label Black Acre. His debut album, *Tayi Bebba*, earned praise from Gilles Peterson, was named one of Okay Africa’s best albums of 2014, and appeared on Bleep.com’s year-end list; its track "Viarejo" was also included in the soundtrack for *Grand Theft Auto V* on Windows and current-gen consoles. Crisci’s sound blends his own field recordings with West African percussion, Latin soca, Chicago footwork’s staccato rhythms, and Italian folk melodies. He contributed additional production to three songs on Paul Simon’s *Stranger to Stranger*—"The Werewolf," "Street Angel," and "Wristband"—using African sounds with a modern electronic dance twist. In an NPR interview, Simon called *Tayi Bebba* a masterpiece. Crisci’s second album, *A Thousand Skies*, arrived on Black Acre in 2017, softer than his earlier work and mixing samples with live instrumentation alongside collaborators like Bongeziwe Mabandla, John Wizards, and ØY. The album tells a story of a young girl traveling through the stars. Its track "Nguwe" appeared in Okay Africa, and "Ar-Raqis" was featured on the 2019 Pro Evo Soccer soundtrack. In 2017, Crisci contributed to the soundtrack for the award-winning film *Liyana*, set in Eswatini, and later worked with Italian composer Vittorio Cosma on the documentary *I Am The Revolution*, directed by Benedetta Argentieri. His discography includes *Tayi Bebba* (2014), *A Thousand Skies* (2016), and *Liquid Portraits* (2020).
- born
- Not specified
- died
- Not specified
- field
- Music producer, DJ
- nationality
- Italian
- known_for
- Eclectic electronic music blending field recordings, West African percussion, Latin soca, Chicago footwork, and Italian folk rhythms
Lore & Background
Cristiano Crisci, performing as Clap! Clap!, debuted in 2013 with the release 'Gwidingwi Dema' on Origami Sound. His inaugural album 'Tayi Bebba' (2014) was supported by Gilles Peterson and named one of Okay Africa's 'Best Albums of 2014', also appearing on Bleep.com's 'End of Year Roundup 2014'. The track 'Viarejo' was featured on the soundtrack of Grand Theft Auto V for Microsoft Windows and current-gen consoles.
Crisci's musical style draws from his own field recordings, West African percussions, Latin soca influences, Chicago footwork staccato, and Italian folk rhythms. He provided additional production on three tracks of Paul Simon's album 'Stranger to Stranger'—'The Werewolf', 'Street Angel', and 'Wristband'—which Simon called a masterpiece in an NPR interview.
His second album 'A Thousand Skies' (2017) on Black Acre marked a softer, eclectic progression, combining samples and live instrumentation with collaborators including Bongeziwe Mabandla, John Wizards, and ØY. The album is anchored by a story of a young girl's journey through the stars. Clap! Clap! also contributed to the soundtrack for the award-winning film 'Liyana' and collaborated with composer Vittorio Cosma on the documentary 'I Am The Revolution'.
Reader's Guide
Clap! Clap! occupies a distinctive space in electronic music by synthesizing field recordings and global folk traditions—particularly West African and Italian—with contemporary dance genres like Chicago footwork. His work on Paul Simon's 'Stranger to Stranger' and inclusion in the 'Grand Theft Auto V' soundtrack brought his sound to broad audiences. His albums 'Tayi Bebba' and 'A Thousand Skies' received critical recognition from outlets such as Okay Africa and Resident Advisor, and his collaborations with South African and Italian artists reflect a cross-cultural approach. The narrative structure of his albums, especially the star-journey theme of 'A Thousand Skies', adds a conceptual layer to his productions. His contributions to film soundtracks ('Liyana', 'I Am The Revolution') further demonstrate his versatility. Clap! Clap! remains an example of how electronic music can absorb and transform diverse acoustic and rhythmic traditions without losing a cohesive artistic identity.
Did You Know?
- Clap! Clap! previously worked under the alias Digi G'Alessio.
- Paul Simon called Clap! Clap!'s album 'Tayi Bebba' a masterpiece in an NPR interview.
- The track 'Viarejo' was featured on the soundtrack of Grand Theft Auto V.
- Clap! Clap! contributed to the soundtrack for the award-winning film 'Liyana', set in Eswatini.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Clap! Clap!?
Clap! Clap! is the performance name of Italian producer and DJ Cristiano Crisci, whose musical roots stretch back through a jazz background and an earlier alias, Digi G'Alessio. He is best known for crafting electronic dance music that pulls in a wide range of global folk traditions.
What genres does Clap! Clap! blend in his productions?
His tracks fuse field recordings, West African percussion, Latin soca, Chicago footwork, and Italian folk rhythms into a single electronic framework. This cross-continental palette is what distinguishes his sound from more conventional club music.
What is Clap! Clap!'s debut album and how was it received?
His first full-length record is titled Tayi Bebba. It earned a public endorsement from Gilles Peterson, was named one of Okay Africa's best albums of 2014, and landed on Bleep.com's year-end list.
Which labels has Clap! Clap! released music through?
He launched the Clap! Clap! project in 2013 with a release on the Italian imprint Origami Sound. He later put out several well-regarded records through the Bristol-based label Black Acre.
Did a Clap! Clap! track appear in a video game soundtrack?
Yes—the song "Viarejo" from Tayi Bebba was licensed for the Windows edition of Grand Theft Auto V. That placement introduced his folk-and-electronic hybrid sound to a much broader audience beyond the vinyl-collector and club crowd.
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