Chicago multidisciplinary artist Sandra Antongiorgi, who is known for her murals and genre-defying music, is preparing to return to Fitzgerald’s for an Aug. 21 live show.
The Berwyn venue, located at 6615 W. Roosevelt Road, has become one of Antongiorgi’s favorites because of the deep connection she feels with audiences there, she said.
“Fitzgerald’s always brings this kind of magic,” Antongiorgi said. “Every time I perform there, we just have such a good time. The energy is real in that room. They’re really there with us the entire time, and Fitzgerald’s has really good sound.”
This time, Antongiorgi is planning a set that spans her career, including songs from her Spanish EP, fan favorites and some new pieces she’s written this year. Antongiorgi approaches the setlist as if she’s mapping out a journey, thinking about the audience’s night from start to finish.
The goal is to create an experience that feels like a release, Antongiorgi said. “They’re taking their time to come out, unwind and be in a different space,” she added. “So how can we make this into something that’s like a getaway?”
Antongiorgi writes and performs in Spanish and English, sometimes blending the two within the same track. It’s a choice she attributes to her Puerto Rican heritage.
When she is on stage, she feels like the barriers between languages can fade away, she said, adding, “We all start to share the same language. There’s a oneness in it.”
Antongiorgi’s connection to music began early. Her grandfather played the cuatro, a traditional Puerto Rican string instrument, her father played guitar and her mother sang. By the time Antongirogi was old enough to hold a guitar, she was determined to play.
Today, Antongiorgi’s sound reflects a lifetime of influences. She resists labels, instead describing her music as “rooted in passion [and] movement” with “very soulful textures and rhythm.”
Outside of music, Antongiorgi’s murals have become fixtures in Chicago neighborhoods, telling stories of heritage, resistance and healing.
She approaches songwriting with the same mindset she brings to painting. The same ways she thinks about color, space and narrative in a mural are applied to how she considers tone, structure and lyrics in a song.
Antongiorgi considers both disciplines to be about about connection and honesty. “What do you want people to feel and take away?” she said. “It’s a big responsibility and something I’m really respectful of.”
Raised in Humboldt Park, Little Village and other Chicago neighborhoods, Antongiorgi draws constant inspiration from the city’s culture, music and people, she said. “The neighborhoods, their languages, murals, food and musical legacy—it’s almost like part of my DNA.”
As she readies for the Fitzgerald’s performance, Antongiorgi hopes to create more than just a concert.
“I hope that I carve out a space where they are feeling present, alive and joyful,” Antongiorgi said. “All together, we are creating something for you… and I hope people leave feeling pretty good about how they spent their night.”
Tickets to Antongiorgi’s Aug. 21 show start at $18.48 and are available through Ticketweb.