Carmen Consoli was born in the Sicilian town of San Giovanni La Punta, near Catania.  She released her first album in 1996, and has since gone on to become one of the most successful Italian female vocalist of her time.  On June 17^th, Carmen Consoli performed at Le Poisson Rouge (158 Bleecker Street) to the delight of both Italians and New Yorkers alike.  In a New York Times review of the concert, Jon Pareles wrote, “her songs touched on tango, waltz, tarantella and rock. With all her craftsmanship, and her distinctly individual perspective, her songs came across almost as natural, rooted in the particular earth of a reimagined Sicily.”

TimesSquare.com met up with the Italian Megastar before her New York City performance.   

TS: Tell us about your latest album.

CC:  This new album is the seventh, and is titled Elettra.  Electra is, in Greek mythology, the girl who murdered her mother to avenge her father Agamemnon.  This is also examined by Freud.  She [Electra] was viewed as a daughter in love with her father.  So she represents paternal love.  This is a love album which I try to tackle love… paternal love, maternal love, sisterhood, brotherhood … abused love.  I also have a song about abusive love, and so on. 

TS: How does it feel to be back in New York City?

CC: I think that music is perceived as a social apparatus here in New York City.  This does not happen in Italy.  In Italy, music is perceived as a pastime and is neglected by the government and the authorities that are in charge of promoting culture.  Here [New York City], I feel at ease.  I love music, and to see this respect towards music, somehow moves me a lot.  It thrills me a lot.

TS: Has the New York audience been open to your type of music?

CC: Yes.  It is very encouraging because I sing in Italian, and I try to introduce it to this audience.

TS: Is there a large Italian following here in New York?

CC: It’s a fifty fifty split.  Usually the audience is curious, especially New Yorkers, they are curious.  Curious to get into Italian culture, and in my case Sicilian culture, because I talk about Sicilian culture, I introduce Sicilian harmonies, Sicilian innuendoes, Siclian colors, and so on.  It’s a wonderful experience, and the feedback is very encouraging.

http://www.carmenconsoli.it/en/#/home

http://lepoissonrouge.com/