Gabriella Cilmi
Gabriella Lucia Cilmi[1]
10 October 1991
Dandenong, Victoria, Australia
- Singer
- songwriter
2004–present
- Island
- Mushroom
- Universal Republic
- Sweetness Tunes
- Kin Records
- Ferryhouse (GER)
Her debut album, Lessons to Be Learned, was released in March 2008, becoming a moderate international success.[4][5][6][7][8] Cilmi won six ARIA Music Awards, including Single of the Year and Best Female Artist, in 2008. Her second studio album, Ten, was released in March 2010. Her third studio album, The Sting, was released in November 2013. In November 2019, Cilmi released a six-track EP, The Water, which she called a taste of a yet-to-be-released studio album. Cilmi holds dual Australian-Italian citizenship.
Early life[edit]
Gabriella Cilmi was born in the Melbourne suburb of Dandenong to parents of Italian and Italo-Albanian descent.[9][10] She attended Sacred Heart Girls' College in Oakleigh.[11][12] She moved to London with her family when she was fifteen, where she currently lives with her parents Paula and Joe (whose origins are in Calabria and Sicily, Italy) and her brother Joseph. At an early age, Cilmi developed an interest in a wide range of blues and rock music acts, including Nina Simone, Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, Sweet, T. Rex and Cat Stevens.[13] She has also cited Suzi Quatro as a particular influence.[14] Despite her natural aptitude and vocal talent, Cilmi was told that she lacked the discipline necessary to pursue a singing career. Idolising Janis Joplin, during this time she sang with a band (Foucault) covering songs by Led Zeppelin, Jet, Silverchair and others.[15] Cilmi recorded original songs with writer/producers Barbara and Adrian Hannan of The SongStore.[16]
In 2004, Cilmi captured the attention of Warner Music executive Michael Parisi while giving an impromptu rendition of the Rolling Stones' song "Jumpin' Jack Flash" at the Lygon Street Festa, a community festival in Melbourne. At the age of 13, Cilmi travelled to the US and UK with Adrian Hannan and was offered four major US deals. She eventually signed a contract with Island Records UK.
Popular culture[edit]
In 2008, "Sweet About Me" was released in Simlish (Sim speak) as part of The Sims 2 expansion pack Apartment Life's soundtrack.[57] Cilmi is mentioned in Ed Sheeran's song "You Need Me, I Don't Need You".[58] Her song "Sorry" is featured in the 2005 movie Hating Alison Ashley.
Headline
As supporting act