I met Sonia Zadro at an Emore bar and found myself in the company of someone both charismatic and friendly, all the while aware of her role within the Italian-Australian music scene.

In an industry dominated by Anglo Saxon influences, Zadro, who is of Italian origin, is emerging. She appears to bring the sound and passion of Italy to local Australians.

The next concert by her band, Terza Madre, will be on May 31 at The Vanguard in Newtown. The band is so popular, the show sold out soon after tickets became available online.

Zadro expresses herself, rather differently, via her two musical projects. The first is the aforementioned Terza Madre, where Zadro sings in Italian, focusing on covers of Italian songs. This probably comes from the fact that growing up, Zadro listened to Italian music of the 1960s and 1970s with her mother. Terza Madre not only pays homage to her origins but allows her to bring something different to the Australian music scene - a melodramatic and theatrical style that she feels is missing in the mainstream indie scene.

Her other project is Hotel, a predominantly all-female band where Zadro sings in English. The group’s songs are geared toward Indie Rock and Post Punk, with a greater emphasis placed on innovation and sonic experimentation through lyrics that are personal, introspective and socially thematic.

“At the moment I’m between jobs. I had to take a break because I was sick. Now that I’m better, I’m happy to be able to go back to doing what I love,” explained Zadro, who just won a battle with cancer. Zadro has never been one to give up easily.

Despite linguistic challenges - she isn’t fluent in Italian but knows song lyrics and an impressive array of swear words inherited from her nonno by heart – she’s decided to bring the drama and passion of Italian melodies to her Australian audience.

“I put a lot of effort into it, even though I don’t know the words and learn them on purpose, I have the privilege of being accompanied by fantastic musicians. It means a lot to me because of my Italian origins. I don’t want to disappoint anyone.”

Zadro cites icons such as Mina and Milva, acknowledging the importance female singers in Italy and the cultural impact they had.

Concerts like the one planned for May 31 become more than performances; they’re celebrations of an identity that lies between two cultures.

During our interview, Zadro reflected on the legacy of Italian migrants in Australia, a story that contains both the highs of success and the gutting lows of discrimination and pain. She spoke of how racism marked the lives of Italians in Australia, who suffered violence and attempts to undermine their identity through negative stereotypes.

These experiences and reflections are woven into the fabric of her art, giving Zadro an extraordinary authenticity that defines her as an eclectic and multifaceted artist.

Zadro then revealed a powerful moment she experienced with her grandfather on his deathbed, when he said to her, “I’m sorry I brought you to this country.”

These words reflect a controversial and rarely spoken about regret that some migrants feel, challenging the idea that they should only be grateful.

“Once, after a Terza Madre concert, someone came up to me and said, ‘Oh, you guys didn’t do the best song’,” recalled Zadro.

“When I asked which one, they said, ‘The one that goes What’s the matter you eh (‘Shaddap You Face’ by Joe Dolce). You should use Italian jokes, you should make people laugh, you should make fun of each other.’

“But I replied, ‘No way, we’re not interested in turning ourselves into a comedy sketch for anyone!”

Zadro not only entertains her audience but educates them, bringing to light an authentic, deep and sometimes painful Italian narrative that’s far from clichés and closer to the truth experienced by those in the community.

Since Milva was known as ‘the panther’ and Mina as ‘the tiger’, Zadro calls herself “the pussycat”. Despite the playful quip, her talent and stage presence have nothing that falls short of her two idols.