ROOTS AND WINGS

Amanda Pascali’s music has been described as an ‘auditory passport’ — it will take you around the world.

By Elvia Limón

Photo Credit: Ana Tejeda

A manda Pascali is a world citizen, and her music proves it. You’d be hard-pressed to find an artist like her, because her style can only be defined as hers. Her influences range from North African Arabic sounds and Egyptian-style harmonic minor scales to Italian folk and pop and traditional Eastern European music — she previously played in the Houston Balalaika Orchestra.

“My music has a huge, huge inspiration from Latin America, which is itself inspired by West African rhythms,” Pascali says. The result is something that will make you want to sing along, dance the tango, watch a cowboy film and drink wine near the Mediterranean Sea — or to think, rebel and fight injustice. “I would say that they are songs that are not only for happy times but also for dark times.”

Since graduating from the University of Houston in spring 2020, the 24-year-old musician has had her first tour canceled due to COVID-19; worked with the city of Houston to teach English to immigrants through music; documented her students’ journeys through an artist residency in the Sixth Ward; been named Houston Chronicle’s artist of the year; won a Fulbright scholarship; and is now celebrating this year’s release of her debut EP, “The Messenger,” a title that reflects her mission as an artist.

In short, it’s safe to say she’s been busy. But her work is far from done.

Immigrant American Folk

Pascali calls her genre “Immigrant American Folk,” a reflection of her background as a daughter of two immigrants. Her lyrics tell the stories and struggles of others like herself and her parents. Her father, a Romanian of Italian descent, was granted asylum in the U.S. after speaking out against a communist government. While attending college in New York, he met Pascali’s mother, who is from Egypt.

“Some children grow up inspired by stories of princes and princesses,” Pascali says. “I was inspired by the story of my parents as two immigrants who fell in love in New York City. They were the heroes of my story.”

Pascali’s heritage often made her feel like an outsider as a child. At age 12, she learned to create her own personal space through music and began writing songs. She realized she could use that space to connect with others who have felt like outsiders.

“Growing up, I spent a long time trying to find a box to fit in,” Pascali says. “I think the moment I started to gain traction as a musician was when I started making art that showed who I was, where I came from and the mix of all the cultures that I am.”

“They are songs that are not only for happy times but also for dark times.”

Photo Credit: Ana Tejeda

Photo Credit: Ana Tejeda

The Other Side

Pascali’s efforts to share the stories of outstanding people go beyond her music.

Pascali was ready to launch her music career after graduation and go on tour in Europe. However, as the pandemic spread, the world shuttered, effectively canceling her gigs.

“That was a really low point for a lot of musicians, because our entire livelihood was taken from us,” Pascali says. With her European tour on hold, Pascali focused on other projects to keep from spiraling. A Let Creativity Happen! grant funded by the city of Houston and the Houston Arts Alliance helped her do just that.

Pascali was tasked with creating at-home DIY video lessons for English as a second language classes that were moved online, to help immigrants and refugees in Houston learn English through music and pop culture. The course eventually evolved into another, equally impactful, project: documenting the students’ stories. Through visual art, music, literary events, poetry and film screenings, Pascali shared their stories with the world in a six-weeklong exhibition titled “The Other Side” at the Sixth Ward’s Sawyer Yards creative community, where she recently held an artist residency.

Pascali says the project helped her as much as it helped her students. Seeing the drive and dedication students had, even after a full day at work or while caring for children or cooking dinner, inspired her to keep pushing forward with her own music.

Photo Credit: Maria Alducin

Photo Credit: Maria Alducin

“While I was busy obsessing over a chapter of my life that wasn’t going in the direction that I wanted, it was really inspiring to see that,” Pascali says. “I really needed that. Honestly, I think a lot of it was for me as well as for them.”

Canta e Cunta

That summer, Pascali began translating the work of Rosa Balistreri, a Sicilian singer who denounced social inequality through her music.

She learned that Balistreri, a blue-collar worker for most of her life, had escaped an abusive arranged marriage, learned to read and write at 32 and mastered the guitar in her 40s. Through her music, she shone a light on Sicily’s issues: inequality, classism, femicide, incarceration and war.

“This was so inspiring, especially after doing my ESL program and contemplating the words I think and read and write,” Pascali says. “She became famous essentially for being exactly who she is and where she was from and making the world know the stories of those places.”

This October, Pascali is heading to Sicily for nine months on a Fulbright scholarship to work on her “Canta e Cunta” storytelling project, which will translate Balistreri’s songs to English and document the stories behind them.

“I now realize the gravity of translating the works of such an incredible woman in history,” Pascali says. “She said she was not a singer but a protester who protests with a guitar and a voice. Language and writing and songs are powerful tools for sharing messages. I feel that there are a lot of things in common between Sicily and Texas. I am bringing a Texan, American, female perspective to the conversation on Sicilian music and its translation and preservation.”

OUT OF THE BOX

Now that music venues have reopened, Pascali has begun performing live again. She is even planning to relaunch her longawaited European tour.

For her, performing is much more than a job. It’s about inspiring others to be proud of their roots and differences.

“People share a lot with me about the history of their families and how I inspire them to write their stories and document coming to America or making a new life in America,” Pascali says. “That part is really rewarding, hearing other people’s stories and what my music means to them.”

Her music, like her family heritage, is a blend of so many cultures, genres and languages, making Houston — one of the most diverse cities in the country — the perfect stage for her message. And though her music might not fit in any predefined box, it definitely fits in her own. She is proud of her roots, the way artists have to be.

“I spent a long time trying to find a box to fit in and therefore trying to change myself to be more like what I thought everybody else was like, or what the world wanted me to be,” Pascali says. “Rosa Balistreri became famous for being exactly who she was.” That’s the message she wants to share: “Be proud of where you come from.”

Amanda Pascali blends music and activism, at home in Houston and abroad. Photo Credit: Maria Alducin

Amanda Pascali blends music and activism, at home in Houston and abroad. Photo Credit: Maria Alducin

Out of the Box

Now that music venues have reopened, Pascali has begun performing live again. She is even planning to relaunch her long-awaited European tour.

For her, performing is much more than a job. It’s about inspiring others to be proud of their roots and differences.

“People share a lot with me about the history of their families and how I inspire them to write their stories and document coming to America or making a new life in America,” Pascali says. “That part is really rewarding, hearing other people’s stories and what my music means to them.”

Her music, like her family heritage, is a blend of so many cultures, genres and languages, making Houston — one of the most diverse cities in the country — the perfect stage for her message. And though her music might not fit in any predefined box, it definitely fits in her own. She is proud of her roots, the way artists have to be.

“I spent a long time trying to find a box to fit in and therefore trying to change myself to be more like what I thought everybody else was like, or what the world wanted me to be,” Pascali says. “Rosa Balistreri became famous for being exactly who she was.” That’s the message she wants to share: “Be proud of where you come from.”

Learn more about Amanda Pascali’s projects at amandapascali.com.