But Rossella Fanelli, originally from Castellana Grotte in the province of Bari, has done just that. Today, she is one of the lead vocalists of Echoes of Pink Floyd, an Australian tribute band that brings the legendary group’s music to theatres across the country.
A graduate in Performing Arts from the University of Bari, with an Erasmus stint in France, Fanelli was no stranger to life abroad. Her international journey began with attempts to work on cruise ships, followed by a singing contract in Madagascar.
One opportunity led to another, including a period in Thailand, where she performed in luxury resorts for several months. There, she deepened her connection with diverse audiences and cultures, calling the experience both personally and professionally enriching.
“I approached everything with curiosity and openness, sharing daily life with local workers, learning to listen, observe and adapt,” she recalls.
After that came a more challenging chapter in London, where she attended a music school but struggled with the city’s fast pace and high cost of living.
By the end of 2017, Fanelli arrived in Sydney with the idea of forming an Italian music trio. In search of collaborators, she posted an ad in the Italiani a Sydney Facebook group. From there, two musical projects were born; Jazz Amore, a female duo with guitarist Eleonora Catalano, and Accord Into Us, a collaboration with accordionist Paolo Campanari.
Through these groups, Fanelli played at Italian restaurants, cultural events and festivals across Australia, representing the Italian Institute of Culture, the Chamber of Commerce and the Italian Embassy.
Her role went well beyond singing as she handled promotion, client relations and logistics, gradually building a visible presence within the Italian-Australian community.
Fanelli’s path crossed with Echoes of Pink Floyd thanks to a personal recommendation. “Denise Cavalletto, an Italian singer in the band, was leaving Australia and suggested me as her replacement,” Fanelli explains. After a first meeting at a concert in the Blue Mountains, the band invited her for an audition.
Personality mattered as much as talent. Made up of Australian musicians, the group places high value on reliability and the ability to keep pace with the demands of touring life, so joining required serious preparation.
“One of the key songs in our set, The Great Gig in the Sky, became the core of my vocal work,” Fanelli reveals, “It’s built on a complex melody that has to stay true to Clare Torry’s original improvisation.
“I spent nearly a year perfecting it with the help of a vocal coach, learning every detail to navigate the full vocal range, from low notes to the highest. The hardest part isn’t going high, it’s coming back down smoothly.”
Today, Fanelli is one of the band’s two official vocalists, performing in major theatres across Australia.
“After shows in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, we’ll be heading to Western Australia and Tasmania, with a tour in New Zealand planned for November,” she adds, “And there’s talk of taking the show to Asia as well.
“The pace is intense, the travel is long, the hours can be exhausting,” she admits, “It’s a constant cycle of motel rooms and theatre stages. But I love my work, and it’s that love that keeps me going.”
