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How Misstress Barbara became the queen of electronic music

Misstress Barbara and Carl Cox

Misstress Barbara and Carl Cox. Source: instragram.com/misstressbarbara

Italian Canadian artist Barbara Bonfiglio - aka Misstress Barbara - has landed Down Under, bringing her beat across the country. Her nom de plume comes from her mother, a cheeky wink to her Italian heritage.


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By Carlo Oreglia

Source: SBS



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Italian Canadian artist Barbara Bonfiglio - aka Misstress Barbara - has landed Down Under, bringing her beat across the country. Her nom de plume comes from her mother, a cheeky wink to her Italian heritage.


Born as Barbara Bonfiglio in Catania, Italy, Misstress Barbara moved with her parents to Montreal when she was almost 8 years old. 

After discovering percussion, she started her musical career in a heavy metal band and in 1994 discovered electronic music.

"You stress me out, Barbara" ("Mi stressi, Barbara) was her mother's cry and was adopted as a pseudonym for her stage persona.

With a successful career that spans over the last 20 years, Misstress Barbara is now in Australia: listen to her story as told to SBS Italian.

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