Life doesn't always let us take the easiest route. Sometimes it asks us to
find another one.
I grew up in the cosmopolitan city of Milan. My birth city gave me everything I could possibly want. It offers world-class museums, art galleries, and concerts by major artists. It is also surrounded by the Alps, which are always a spectacular sight, and it’s the capital of fashion.
My aunt Bianca worked as a seamstress for Italian fashion designer Gianfranco Ferré. She attended fashion shows and would sometimes pass on clothes to me that had been gifted to her afterwards, still bearing the tag of the model who had worn it. It's no wonder I grew up with an eye for style and an appreciation of fashion.
Though I lived in Milan, I spent my summer holidays on the largest island of the Mediterranean: Sicily.
My family and I would catch the overnight train to the island. It’s a 16-hours journey but we had our own cabin so we were comfortable. You might think that sleeping on the train would be rough, but I loved being rocked by the movement of the train. To break the journey we listened to music, played card games and had lovely treats. My favourite was Cipster potato puffs. Our car travelled with us too!
When we arrived in Calabria (the boot), we would look out of the window and admire the deep blue Mediterranean sea. At Villa San Giovanni the train was loaded onto the ferry to cross the Strait of Messina.
There is something magical about travelling slowly, stepping onto a train that carries you through landscapes, then boarding a ferry and watching the coastline disappear behind you…
Sicily, only a 20-minute ferry ride away, right in front of us. You could almost touch it!
Italy gave the world musical giants such as Vivaldi, Rossini, Verdi and Puccini, but its greatest musical gift is its diversity. Because the country remained divided into kingdoms and foreign-ruled territories for centuries, each region developed its own distinct musical identity, so travelling through Italy is like changing playlists every few hundred miles.
Milan pulses with a modern, urban energy, while Romagna comes alive with the joyful waltzes and polkas of Liscio. In Rome, the witty Stornelli still echo the city's working-class spirit, Naples pours its heart into timeless ballads like 'O Sole Mio’ and, as you head south towards Sicily, the infectious rhythms of the Tarantella accompany the journey.
Growing up between Milan and Sicily, I didn't just discover different places. I absorbed the soundtrack of an entire country!
Every summer I return to Sicily for the sea, my family, and the food, rediscovering Italy’s two very different cuisines as I travel from North to South.
Northern Italy tempts me with Milanese risotto, polenta, tiramisú and Aperol Spritz, while Sicily answers with swordfish, ricotta, cannoli and latte di mandorla (almond milk). Choosing between them? Impossible and, thankfully, I don't have to!
Is this blog making you hungry yet?
After my dad became ill with cancer in 2014, I developed post-traumatic stress. Since then, I haven't been able to fly but, while flying is not currently an option, travelling still is. I just take ferries and trains, like I used to travel with my family.
Italians are very determined people. They believe there is always another route, another solution, another possibility. Every journey I take home from the UK to Italy, reminds me of the determination it takes to refuse to give up on the things that matter most to me. This refusal to give up is, in fact, what keeps me moving forward in my music career.
Whatever obstacles appear, I'll simply find another route.
Podcast
The Consu Narrative is inspired by and expands upon the themes explored in Consu's blog. Although not narrated by her, the conversations are rooted in her stories, reflections, and creative vision. Through warm and thought-provoking discussions, two hosts explore the stories behind the music and the life experiences that make us human, delving into meaning, purpose, challenges, and the ongoing journey of self-discovery.