For Federico Ficarra, playing at Potsdamer Platz station is just a small step: Berlin is just a halfway point on his journey to the USA, where he wants to land one day to study African American music. Federico is not an amateur, he is an academic.

In Venice, he graduated as a sound technician and musician. Then he worked on a virtual listening system that allows listeners to understand from which direction sound waves are coming. So he wanted to revolutionize the recording of classical concerts, and he himself composed Blues.

"I've always really loved African American music. Maybe because I've always listened to it with my girlfriend," he says.

On the Internet, you can listen to his recordings: jazz full of temperament with wild piano solos. Something crazy, but beautiful.

After three hours, street music becomes boring, says Federico, as crowds of people rush past him.

For now, music is his only resource. He doesn't want to play on trains, it would be too restrictive.

Federico is free, he can come and go whenever he wants.
However, he doesn't want to return to Venice so soon.

On his Facebook profile, his place of birth is listed as New Orleans.