20 hours ago
From Europe to the Aussie outback, Italian singer builds her country roots
There are seldom similarities between the fashion capital of the world and the rodeo capital of Australia.
But when Italian-born and raised Nicole Piccione moved from Milan to outback Queensland, she learnt home is where the music is.
The 24-year-old budding country singer is a long way from her original classical roots.
Swapping authentic cappuccinos for true-blue cattle stations, buzzing flies and red outback dirt, Piccione is working on making a name for herself in the wild west.
Since moving to the Sunshine State in May 2024, Piccione has donned her black cowgirl hat to perform at campdrafts, local shows and pubs, revelling in the fiery orange sunsets.
Before she discovered a love for western tunes and style, Piccione was classically trained at the University of Music in Milan.
"I started to sing before I started to talk," she smiled.
But it wasn't until her father took her on a trip to Canada that country music came into her life.
"He brought me to this pub, and there was this group singing folk music, and I fell in love," she said.
"I just said, 'OK, that's what I want to do.'"
The performer travelled to Australia to pursue her country music dreams and a blossoming relationship from across the globe.
"I saw a video of a guy playing football in his house in Sydney, and he was an Italian guy, and I loved his lifestyle … he seemed so free," she said.
"I texted him [about] how he did it and he told me about the working visa, and then we FaceTimed for three months.
"Then he came from Australia to Italy just to meet me, and then we went back together."
Their working adventure began on cattle stations in the Western Downs and Central Queensland, and they planned to head interstate.
But along the way, they ended up pitching a swag in Mount Isa, Queensland's "stack city", where Piccione learnt to pour a proper schooner in her job behind the bar of the local pub.
"The plan was to go to Darwin or Alice Springs, and Mount Isa was just in the middle," she said.
While friends and family do not share her taste in music, Piccione was inspired by Tennessee icon Dolly Parton and Australian indie folk band Sons of the East.
Piccione said it was the sense of belonging and community bush spirit that drew her to the genre.
"I think just seeing the people dancing here. It's not common in Italy to see people dance, and so you feel part of something," she said.
"It's always connected to their roots, but it evolves.
The happy couple have no plans to end their trek through the outback and head home.
"It's an authentic adventure, with authentic people," Piccione said.
"It's completely different from Italy … another experience."
