I
Teresa De Sio

About:

25 July 1955

At a young age Teresa de Sio had ambitions to become an actress instead of a singer. A concert of folk singer Joan Baez (she witnessed at the age of 15) made her decide otherwise. In 1976 singer Teresa De Sio started to work with Eugenio Bennato and the band 'I Musicanova'. Their goal was to give a new impulse to traditional folk music. Their first album was not released up until 1979 called 'Villanelle popolaresche del '500'. In the same year she also plays a part in the experimental project 'L’egliogabalo' from progrock composer Emilio Locurcio. In the play (dubbed as an operetta di irrealista) she plays the part of the Metropolitan girl next to Lucio Dalla and Claudio Lolli.

In 1980 Teresa started a solo career with the album 'Sulla terra sulla luna'. Succes had to wait until the second album ‘Teresa De Sio’ in 1982. The album sold over 500,000 copies and featured popular songs like 'Voglia 'e turnà', 'Aumm aumm' and 'Pianoforte'. The third album also sold very well, which gave Teresa the liberty to experiment more on her next recordings. She teamed up with Brian Eno for the album 'Africana'. The album was followed by 'Toledo e regina' on which Teresa returns to her folk roots. In 1988 she again collaborates with Brian Eno and guitarist Michael Brook for the opera 'Sindarella suite: the story of Lupita Mendera'.

In 1993 she releases an album inspired by poetry from around the world called 'La mappa del nuovo mondo'. The album is followed by an longlasting tour through Italy under the title 'Parole e musica'. In 1995 she works together with Fabrizio De André and Fiorella Mannoia for the album 'Un libero cercare'. The 1999 album 'La notte del Dio che balla' is a new attempt to mix traditional music with modern technique. After its release, Teresa sets up a live show at the bay of Genova. In 2000 she records a version of 'La Balata de Mich’e' in memory of the deceised De André. The public has to wait until 2004 for a new album. 'A Sud! A Sud!' is a powerfolk album filled with Napolitano dialect and gypsy like rhythms. Parallel to the album she also works on the project for the 62° Mostra Internazionale d’Arte cinematografica di Venezia 2005 and plays a part in the opera 'Lino Miccichè'. The follow up album in 2007 'Sacco e fuoco' goes on in the same style as 'A Sud...'.

At the end of 2009 , her first novel Metti il diavolo a ballare (Put the devil to dance) was published. A socio-anthropological noir set in post-war Puglia which expertly tells the story of a family life in southern Italy between poverty, ignorance, violence, traditions and the magic linked to the myth of the "taranta" dance. In 2010 Teresa De Sio transformed her novel into a show halfway between theater, concert and narration. After this tour she quickly releases two new albums on her own label.

On the web:

- Teresa's website: http://www.teresadesio.com

What do we think:

PR: Teresa de Sio is an unique artist who explored - and streched - the borders of pop and Italian folk music. She might be known for her folky, ethnic music, but do mistake her for 'another' floky girl-singer. Teresa is a power-girl. She has a tremendous voice, writes most of her own songs and always shows an enormous amount of passion, energy and love of life. Her life performances are famous and lots of international credible artists have worked with her on her albums (Brian Eno for example). It might take a while for you to really get to appreciate her art, but in the end you will see her for the unique gem she is and you wil not rest until you have collected all her albums!

DB: Great artist with a bit of a weird touch. Dipping heavily into the folk tradition she picks up on new wave in the eighties and makes a small niche for herself with Italian folkpop. Gradually her productions get more and more perfect. It shows the depth of her talent that once reaching that point of excellence she steps back and records a fierce and lively folkpop album with A Sud which is raw and unpolished. Unique artist.

If you like this, you probably like... / european counterparts:

Renata Przemyk (Poland)

Albums:

♪♪♪ - Villanelle popolaresche del '500 - 1978

♪♪♪ - Sulla terra sulla luna - 1981

♪♪♪ - Teresa De Sio - 1982

♪♪♪ - Tre - 1983

♪♪♪♪ - Africana - 1985

♪♪♪ - Toledo e regina - 1986

♪♪♪♪♪ - Sindarella suite - 1988

♪♪♪♪ - Ombre rosse - 1991

♪♪♪♪ - La mappa del nuovo mondo - 1993

♪♪♪♪♪ - Un libero cercare - 1995

♪♪♪ - Primo viene l'amore (live) - 1997

♪♪♪♪♪ - A Sud! A Sud! - 2004

♪♪♪♪ - Sacco e fuoco - 2007

♪♪♪♪♪ - Tutto cambia - 2011

♪♪♪ - Canta Pino - 2017

♪♪♪♪ - Desiderio - 2019

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♪♪♪♪♪ = outstanding album, an absolute must-have
♪♪♪♪ = great album, highly recomended
♪♪♪ = nice album
♪♪ = be careful, requires listening before buying
♪ = best to be avoided