Elio e le Storie Tese need no introduction for Italian music aficionados worldwide. Over the past 30 years, they have left an indelible mark on pop-culture with iconic albums and a highly recognizable style that mixes humor, surreal imagery, and Zappa-meets-Toto technical prowess. Their devoted fan base spans generations, and, as you can imagine, the band has accumulated a staggering trove of content. When Ensoul took on the challenge of replatforming their website, we knew we were diving into a massive project that needed to strike the perfect balance between technological sophistication and creative flair. Here’s how we brought it to life—and all on Shopify. It took us six months of our time to finalize this project.
A Two-in-One Platform Puzzle
Before we began, the Elio e le Storie Tese online presence was split across two main platforms:
- Processwire – This installation powered the institutional website, featuring their expansive history, exhaustive song list, lyrics, video archives, and a “Ricordi” section where fans could upload concert memories, photos, and videos for a staggering grand total of over 2000 pages.
- Prestashop – The e-commerce component existed separately, adding another layer of complexity to how fans interacted with the site.
Our mission was straightforward but far from simple: unify everything under a single, seamless platform—Shopify. We are well aware that Shopify is widely recognized as an e-commerce solution, not necessarily as a content management system on the scale of Processwire or WordPress. However, recent advances in Shopify’s features, particularly meta objects, allowed us to take on the mammoth challenge of bringing 2,000+ pages (and counting) into one cohesive experience. By pushing Shopify beyond its usual e-commerce boundaries, we were able to transform it into a robust content hub as well.
Leveraging Shopify’s Meta Objects
A pivotal element in this replatforming was the extensive use of Shopify’s meta objects. Typically, Shopify is tailored for products, collections, and standard e-commerce workflows. But Elio e le Storie Tese’s universe called for intricate data modeling: from historical anecdotes to user-submitted concert photos, from hours of video content to specialized textual narratives that go far beyond typical product descriptions.
- Complex Database Queries: We needed advanced filtering and search capabilities that were not part of Shopify’s out-of-the-box experience. By systematically linking meta objects and customizing our approach, we created a pseudo-relational database, letting us query content in ways the platform usually doesn’t handle.
- Curated Fan Contributions: Content from fans—photos, videos, and messages—constitutes a core piece of Elio e le Storie Tese’s legacy. In the new platform, these user memories are still at the forefront, integrated cohesively so visitors can easily navigate through decades of fan-submitted material.
- Dynamic Song & Album Pages: Another challenge was displaying each song’s lyrics, related videos, and background stories. Meta objects helped us build these interconnected, content-rich pages that feel more like a music encyclopedia than a standard e-commerce listing.
We also want to extend our gratitude to Blueant Solutions, who aided tremendously in making sure the technical complexities of the whole Prestashop-to-Shopify ran smoothly.
A New Backbone for Orders, Lessons, and Future Growth
One of the most exciting aspects of this unified platform is the improved backend ecosystem:
- GLS Integration: Ensuring timely deliveries was a top priority. Shopify’s ecosystem provides robust APIs for shipping solutions, and we integrated GLS directly, automatically syncing order information and shipping details in real time.
- Private Music Lessons: The site will soon offer paid, members-only access for lessons from the band members themselves (tentatively titled “OnlyFaso” – italian readers will get the pun). This subscription-based area will cater to fans who want a deep dive into the unique musicality Elio e le Storie Tese are renowned for. By using Shopify’s authentication and payment features, we can maintain a frictionless user experience.
With this setup, the site is poised to handle additional premium or gated content in the future—whether that’s behind-the-scenes studio footage or exclusive limited-edition merchandise drops.
Harnessing 30 Years of Visual Gold
When you’re dealing with a band like Elio e le Storie Tese, you’re handed the perfect starting point for design: decades of graphic materials and references. Posters, album covers, gig flyers, absurd comedic doodles—there was an enormous archive to draw upon. Our challenge was to channel these assets into an updated, visually coherent system that feels new but remains unmistakably “Elio.”
The Design System Adventure
Building a design system from scratch while keeping it faithful to an existing brand is no small feat. It took two dedicated designers two months to perfect the system, focusing on:
- Color & Typography: Vibrant, pirotechnic color choices echo the band’s flamboyant personality. We wanted visitors to instantly think “Elio!” the moment they landed on a page.
- User Flows & Funnels: Mapping user journeys was critical given the sheer size of the site. Balancing content discovery with quick paths to purchase demanded a thoughtful approach. Even the comedic interludes had to be timed so as not to disrupt the e-commerce flow.
- Inspiration from the Surreal: We took heavy cues from Monty Python, known for its iconic, surreal animated sketches. Elio e le Storie Tese have similarly playful and provocative imagery, so this reference fit beautifully.
- The “Elizzatore”: Our home page “Elizzatore” takes its quirky style from the interludes seen in “Conan, the Boy of the Future” by Hayao Miyazaki—crossed with the spontaneity of Google’s “I’m Feeling Lucky” button. It’s a whimsical feature that whisks users to random pages or experiences within the site, surprising them in Elio’s signature, offbeat fashion.
- Subbuteo-Inspired Biographies: Another playful nod to the band’s penchant for humor can be found in the newly revamped Biografie (biography) section. Here, each member of Elio e le Storie Tese is whimsically represented in a style inspired by Subbuteo, the classic tabletop soccer game.
- Energy-Saving Features & Sustainable Coding: Going beyond mere aesthetics, we placed a strong emphasis on energy conservation throughout the site. One standout feature is a built-in “energy saving mode” that shifts the screen to black after a period of inactivity, significantly reducing power consumption—particularly on OLED devices. This initiative reflects Ensoul’s broader commitment to eco-friendly, accessible development practices. In fact, we received a special mention at the FVG Energy Awards for our sustainable coding approach, underscoring that cutting-edge web experiences can and should be designed with such issues in mind.
Ensuring a “Social Media” Feel on Mobile
With the seismic shift to mobile usage, mobile-first design isn’t optional; it’s absolutely crucial. Elio e le Storie Tese’s fanbase—ranging from longtime devotees to new-generation listeners—lives largely on smartphones. Thus, we set out to replicate some of the best features from Instagram and TikTok:
- Vertical Scrolling & Video Focus: Knowing how potent video content is (especially in comedic or musical contexts), we dedicated prominent real estate to short, looped clips. These can be scrolled through quickly to emulate the addictive, swipe-based exploration fans love on social apps.
- “Buy Now” Integration: Placing immediate “Buy Now” or “Shop Now” buttons adjacent to content significantly boosts conversions. If a user sees a T-shirt or album snippet in a short video, they’re just a tap away from checkout.
- Familiar Gestures: We wanted the site’s interface to feel second-nature to those accustomed to social feeds. Minimizing friction was paramount, ensuring that new or returning fans move effortlessly from discovering content to making purchases.
A Roadmap to Awards and Continued Refinement
Although the replatformed site is live, it still has an optimization and stabilization phase ahead before it goes head-to-head in competitions and awards. For Ensoul, this was our flagship project of 2024, and we’ve approached it with profound responsibility—not rushing announcements until we felt it truly met our standards.
Why such caution? Because the stakes go beyond e-commerce transactions. Elio e le Storie Tese’s legacy is monumental, and each page must reflect their irreverent, playful style while also delivering a modern digital experience. We believe it’s vital to test the site under real-world conditions, gather feedback, and refine further. After all, no award is worth more than the genuine satisfaction of the band and their fans.
Owning Content in the Age of “Brain Rot”
Beyond the technical triumphs, this project underscores a broader, industry-wide movement: creators and influencers reclaiming their content. In a world where social media algorithms shift at a whim—and where “brain rot” from repetitive, low-quality content can stifle creativity—content ownership has never been more important. Elio e le Storie Tese’s new platform positions them firmly in control of their digital legacy, free from the unpredictability of third-party platforms.
We see this shift happening across the board: authors, musicians, podcast hosts, and influencers are rallying to own their domains, their mailing lists, and ultimately, their brand narratives. By anchoring Elio e le Storie Tese’s massive content library on Shopify’s infrastructure, we’ve given them the power to bypass the noise and keep direct lines of communication open with their audience.
The predictable “Thank you part” and a Big Takeaway
This project has been a labor of love. We owe a huge thanks to the band members themselves—especially Civas and Faso—whose enthusiasm was infectious from day one. Their commitment to the replatforming process, attention to detail, and willingness to experiment fueled our creativity. Members of the staff behind Elio e le Storie Tese gave us the ultimate compliment:
“Beyond all the technicalities, which were nailed down without a hitch, it was wonderful feeling the calm and confidence your team brought to the project.”
To us at Ensoul, that feedback is priceless. It reaffirms our belief that the best digital solutions emerge when trust, collaboration, and a shared vision come together in harmony.