cantautore
what it is
Cantautore is the Italian version of the English term singer-songwriter. The word is the blend of "cantante" (singer) and "autore" (writer). The term also means all those who compose and then perform their own songs, the term in contemporary Italian refers to Italian popular singers, for example the musicians during the student protests of the 1960s and '70s, who wrote songs that have social or political relevance.
✦ start here: albums
✦ who's making it, level by level
level 4 · further
art pop, hyperpop, and the underground
level 5 · all the way
deep experimental
✦ make cantautore a playlist
turn these 24 artists into something you can press play on.
✦ nearby genres
questions
What is cantautore?
Cantautore is the Italian version of the English term singer-songwriter. The word is the blend of "cantante" (singer) and "autore" (writer). The term also means all those who compose and then perform their own songs, the term in contemporary Italian refers to Italian popular singers, for example the musicians during the student protests of the 1960s and '70s, who wrote songs that have social or political relevance.
What are good cantautore albums to start with?
Try Non al denaro non all'amore né al cielo by Fabrizio De André, Rimmel by Francesco De Gregori, Grande Raccordo Animale by Appino, and Nuntereggae più by Rino Gaetano.
Who are some women making cantautore?
musicisforgirls.com/genres/cantautore/girls lists women, non-binary artists, and bands with women making cantautore, from mainstream to underground.
genre notes from last.fm listeners · artists and albums from last.fm, updated 2026-10-21