She brought with her the charm of her Sicily and the strength of popular music reinterpreted in a contemporary key: Luisa Briguglio, an artist from Messina based in Marseille, won the XVIII edition of the Andrea Parodi Award, the most important Italian contest dedicated to world music, which took place at the Teatro Massimo in Cagliari from 9 to 11 October. The singer-songwriter also received a mention for best interpretation.
For Briguglio, who only a few years ago approached singing by chance by joining the PopulAlma group, the recognition represents a fundamental stage in an artistic journey that began “very late”, as she herself says. After discovering popular music thanks to Rosa Balistreri, the musician found the core of her research in the Sicilian and Mediterranean tradition.
His first album, “Truvatura”, released last September for Liburia Records, has already obtained the Ethnos Award and is now enriched by this new achievement. A work that combines minimalism, songwriting and sounds of the world, including Sicilian dialect, Italian and hints of French, and which reflects the many nuances of his artistic journey.
On the Cagliari stage, Briguglio performed Inghirios – a song by Andrea Parodi brought to success by Elena Ledda – and two pieces from his album, U ‘nnamurata ea morti and Figghia mia figghia.
The 2025 edition of the Parodi Prize recorded a wide international participation: among the awards, Noemi Berrill (Ireland) obtained the critics’ prize, Nicole Coceancig the one for the best text, while Eva Verde & Danilo Tarso won the mention for the best music.
«This award has enormous human value for me», declared Luisa Briguglio, «because it comes after a difficult but emotional journey. It is a recognition that gives strength and substance to the Truvatura project and everything it represents.”