There are rarely similarities between the fashion capital of the world and the Rodeo capital of Australia.
But when Nicole Piccione was born and lifted in Italian, from Milan to Outback Queensland, she heard at home where the music is.
The 24-year-old budding country singer is far away from its original classic carrots.
Piccione exchange authentic cappuccinos for real blue livestock stations, buzzing flies and red outback dirt, Piccione is working on making name in the Wild West.
The music inspiration of Nicole Piccione is Dolly Parton. ((ABC News: Abbey Halter))
Colosseum to Cowgirl
Since he moved to the Sunshine State in May 2024, Piccione has hired her black Cowgirl hat to perform at Campdrafts, local shows and pubs, enjoying 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 singing before I started talking,” she smiled.
Piccione studied at the University of Music in Milan. ((ABC News: Abbey Halter))
But it was only when her father brought her to Canada on a trip that Country came into her life.
“He brought me to this pub, and there was this group that sang folk music, and I fell in love,” she said.
“I just said,” Okay, that’s what I want to do. “
The artist traveled to Australia to pursue her country music dreams and a thriving relationship from all over the world.
“I saw a video of a man who played football in his house in Sydney, and he was an Italian man, 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 have Facetimed for three months.
“Then he came from Australia to Italy to meet me, and then we went together again.”
Piccione (right) is happy to have brought country music into the life of her family. ((Lever: Nicole Piccione))
Journey to Mount Isa
Their working adventure started on cattle stations in the Western Downs and Central Queensland, and they were planning to lead the Interstate.
But along the way they threw a SWAG in Mount Isa, Queensland’s “Stack City”, where Piccione learned to give a real schooner in her work behind the bar of the local pub.
“The plan was to go to Darwin of Alice Springs, and Mount Isa was just in the middle,” she said.
Piccione and her partner have been together for a year and a half, after meeting each other online. ((Lever: Nicole Piccione))
While friends and family do not share her taste in music, Piccione was inspired by Tennessee icon Dolly Parton and the Australian Indie -Folk band Sons of the East.
“In Italy they don’t really like country music,”
she said.
Before moving to Australia, Piccione sang in jazz performances with the British saxophonist Ray Gelato. ((Lever: Nicole Piccione))
Piccione said it was the feeling of connectedness and community bus spirit who pulled her to the genre.
“I think only the people here dance. It is not common in Italy to see people dancing, and so you feel a part of something,” she said.
“It is always connected to their roots, but it is evolving.
“I don’t know how to explain it – Country music changes, but it’s always the same.“
The lucky couple has no plans to end their journey through the outback and go home.
Piccione has performed on cattle stations and shows in Outback Queensland. ((ABC News: Abbey Halter))
“It’s an authentic adventure, with authentic people,” said Piccione.
“It’s completely different from Italy … Another experience.”
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