Amanda Pascali embodies the complexity of modern identity. Born to a mother from Cairo raised in France and an Italian father raised in Romania, she’s a mixed-race, bilingual Gen Z troubadour perpetually between worlds. Rather than lamenting this displacement, Pascali has turned it into her artistic superpower.
She began writing songs in her teenage bedroom, performing them at coffeehouses and underground bars. That curiosity eventually led her to Palermo on a Fulbright fellowship, where she developed To Sing and Recount (Canta e Cunta)—a digital storytelling project that translates and revitalizes Southern Italian folk songs, revealing their relevance to contemporary social issues.
At fourteen, Pascali discovered Sicilian folk legend Rosa Balistreri and was struck by her rebelliousness. She began translating these songs into English, drawn to their raw, revolutionary spirit. Her new album, Roses and Basil, reimagines these folk translations alongside her own immigrant-American songs.
The lead single, “Wake Up, Baby,” flips an ancient Sicilian serenade into a modern story of being “left on read,” blending old-world melodies with contemporary humor and heart.
With viral videos and over 130k Instagram followers, Pascali has earned accolades ranging from Fulbright Scholar to Library of Congress Artist-in-Residence. More importantly, she proves that old songs can be endlessly reshaped for new generations.
Constellation
3111 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL, 60618
Doors: 8:00PM | Show: 8:30PM
This initiative is part of America 250, the nationwide commemoration marking the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. America 250 aims to reflect on the nation’s past, celebrate its present, and inspire its future through inclusive and meaningful programs. Within this framework, this initiative seeks to enhance and showcase the partnership between Italy and the United States in all its dimensions, while highlighting the significant role Italians have played in the founding of the American nation and in its historical development. By exploring these historical and cultural connections, the project promotes greater understanding, dialogue, and appreciation of the enduring ties between the two countries.