Bar Italia are sitting around a table at a nice restaurant in downtown Manhattan, trying to find something they agree on. Jezmi Tarik Fehmi, one of two singer-guitarists in the London trio, offers a definition of their sound: “It sounds like three people having a bit of an argument with each other.”

Singer-guitarist Sam Fenton, to his right, accepts this, but singer Nina Cristante, to his left, begs to differ. “It’s a catchy thing to say, but I don’t think it’s true,” she says.

“We argue a lot,” Fehmi says.

“We also don’t,” Cristante continues. “I know a lot of bands, and we argue very little compared to other bands.”

Fehmi is incredulous: “You’re saying ‘We’re not having an argument’ when we’re arguing!”

This push-and-pull, give-and-take, who’s-on-first energy is a big part of what’

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