Francesca Michielin (Italian:[franˈtʃeskamikjeˈlin],Venetian:[mikjeˈliŋ]; born 25 February 1995) is an Italian singer-songwriter. She rose to fame after winning thefifth season of the Italian talent showX Factor, she published five studio albums and several successfulsingles, peaking four times at number one on theItalian singles chart and selling over 1.3 million copies in Italy.[1][2]
Her first single, "Distratto", debuted atop the Italian Singles Charts, becoming the first female winner ofX Factor to achieve it. Michielin's debut studio album,Riflessi di me, was released in October 2012, preceded by the single "Sola". Between 2013 and 2014 she recorded two commercially successful collaborations with Italian rapperFedez "Cigno nero" and "Magnifico". During the following years, she released the albumsdi20 (2015) and2640 (2018), and several hit singles, including "L'amore esiste" (2015), "Nessun grado di separazione" (2016), "Vulcano" (2017) and "Io non abito al mare" (2017). In 2020 Michielin published her fourth studio albumFeat (stato di natura) with the lead single "Cheyenne", followed byCani sciolti in 2023.[3]
Michielin was born inBassano del Grappa, to Vanna Moro[6] and Tiziano Michielin.[7] She has an older brother, Filippo.[7] Her first experience with playing music came from studying piano, when she was 9-years-old.[8] She later started studying electric bass.[8][9] At the age of fourteen, she started singing in her hometown'sgospel choir.[10] Thanks to her brother, she developed an interest in rock music, and she later focused on artists likeBon Iver,Jeff Buckley andDamien Rice.[11]After listening toAdele's debut album19, Michielin started writing her own songs on piano.[12] During high school, she also founded a three-piecespunk rock girl band, named Monkey Nuts, in which she played bass.[8][13]
Before rising to fame, she was a student at the third year of theliceo classico Brocchi in Bassano del Grappa.[14] Starting from the school's fourth year, she only took exams as an external candidate, to continue pursuing her musical career.[13][15] In July 2014, she obtained the maturity diploma at the Cavanis institute inPossagno.[16][17] In March 2022, she was graduated injazz singing with honours at the Conservatory Agostino Steffani inCastelfranco Veneto.[18]
On 29 December 2011, during the semi-final, Michielin premiered the song "Distratto", written byElisa andRoberto Casalino.[23] In the final on 5 January 2012, she was announced as the winner, beating runner up vocal group I Moderni.[24] With her victory, she won a recording contract withSony Music, with a stated value of €300,000.[25]
Her debut single "Distratto" was released as a digital download EP on 6 January 2012.[26] On 12 January 2012, the song debuted at number one on theItalian Singles Chart,[27][28] it was later certified double platinum by theFederation of the Italian Music Industry, for domestic downloads exceeding 60,000 units,[29] and it was the 10th best selling song of 2012 in Italy.The song was included in Michielin's debutEP,Distratto, which was released on 24 January 2012.[30] The EP includes re-recorded versions of some of the songs she performed during the live shows. On 17 February 2012, Michielin appeared as a guest during the fourth night of the62nd Sanremo Music Festival, performing the song "Al posto del mondo" with contestantChiara Civello.[31]
Michielin's second single, "Sola", was released on 31 August 2012. The single preceded her debut studio album,Riflessi di me, featuring collaborations with producer Andrea Rigonat and singer-songwritersElisa andRoberto Casalino.[32] Michielin has writing credits on three songs on the album, including the title-track,[33] co-written with Elisa andVirginio Simonelli.[34]Riflessi di me later spawned the singles "Tutto quello che ho" and "Se cadrai".
In March 2013, Michielin was featured on the song "Cigno nero" by ItalianrapperFedez. The song, co-written by Michielin herself, was included in Fedez's albumSig. Brainwash − L'arte di accontentare and was released as its second single.[35][36]
In 2014, Michielin took part in the theatrical performanceLa ragazza con l'orecchino di perla, with music written byFranco Battiato. The show was held atTeatro Comunale di Bologna on 19 and 20 January 2014.[37]On 28 March of the same year, Michielin released a new single, "Amazing".[38] The song, entirely composed in English, was written by Michielin with Fausto Cogliati and Negin Djafari for the Italian version of the soundtrack ofThe Amazing Spider-Man 2.[39][40]
In 2014, Michielin appeared on Fedez's track "Magnifico" for his albumPop-Hoolista.[41] After being released as the album's second single, the song reached the top spot of the Italian singles chart, and it was certified triple platinum in Italy.[42][43][44]
2015–2016:di20, Sanremo Music Festival and Eurovision Song Contest
Michielin performing "No Degree of Separation" during rehearsals for the Eurovision Song Contest 2016
In April 2014, Michielin confirmed she was working on new material.[40] The single "L'amore esiste", produced byFortunato Zampaglione andMichele Canova, was released on 6 March 2015, ahead of her second studio album,di20.[45] The song achieved commercial success, entering the top ten of the ItalianFIMI Top Digital chart, and receiving the Lunezia Pop Award.[28][46]"L'amore esiste" was followed by "Battito di ciglia", released on 10 July 2015, and "Lontano", released on 25 September 2015.[47] To launchdi20, Michielin performed at the Unicredit Pavilion inMilan on 21 October 2015, four days before the official release of the album.[48]
In January 2016, Michielin also embarked on her first concert tour, titled Nice to Meet You.[49] A liveextended play was recorded during the show and released exclusively to digital stores on 30 January 2016.[50]In February 2016, she competed in the66th Sanremo Music Festival, performing the song "Nessun grado di separazione".[51] The song placed second in the competition, behindStadio's "Un giorno mi dirai".[52] The band was then eligible to represent Italy in theEurovision Song Contest 2016, but they declined, stating they would be on a previously planned tour in May 2016. Their decision ledRAI to select Michielin as the Italian entry for the 61st edition of the European competition.[53][54] Michielin's entry was a new version of "Nessun grado di separazione", featuring an English-language chorus and titled "No Degree of Separation".[55] In the final she placed 16th out of 26.[56]"Nessun grado di separazione" debuted atop the Italian singles chart and was included indi20are, a new edition of Michielin's second studio album.[57][58]
On 3 June 2016, "Un cuore in due" was released as the album's fifth single.[59] The music video was directed by Giacomo Triglia and was released on 13 June 2016.[60]
On 23 September 2016, "Almeno tu" was released as the album's sixth and final single. It was also included in the soundtrack ofPiuma.[61] A music video featuring Michielin as well as segments from the film was released on 24 September 2016.[62]
In January 2017, Michielin announced through her Twitter account that she had started working in the studio on her third album, the title of which was later announced as2640.[63][64] The album was recorded in Los Angeles with producerMichele Canova.[65] The album's lead single "Vulcano" was released on 21 July 2017,[66][67] along with a music video directed by Giacomo Triglia and filmed between 10 pm and 5:30 am inBerlin.[68] The song achieved a platinum certification in Italy.[69]On 1 October 2017, Michielin performed "Vulcano" onChe tempo che fa and announced the album's release date as 12 January 2018.[65] The album was made available topre-order on 22 December 2017, with the song "Tropicale" as a pre-order bonus.[70]
Francesca Michielin performing at the Teatro Quirinetta in 2018
"Io non abito al mare" was released as the album's second single on 17 November 2017.[71] Its music video, filmed atCretto di Burri, was directed by Giacomo Triglia and released on 20 November 2017.[72][73] Lyrically, the song speaks of the difficulty of communicating, the difference between feeling and listening and the desire to embrace, not to be afraid of showing that side of feeling that is pure tenderness.[71] The song achieved a platinum certification in Italy.[69]
"Bolivia" was released as the third single from the album on 16 March 2018.[74] The music video was released on 20 March 2018. It was directed by Giacomo Triglia and the screenplay was written by Francesca Michielin.[75] In an interview withRolling Stone, Michielin said that the song is a criticism of people who chase change and run away to exotic and remote places with the idea of living a more genuine life and making a difference, without realising that the problem to be solved is often within them.[76]
"Tropicale" was released as the fourth single on 15 June 2018, along with a music video.[77]In May 2018, Michielin also provided featured vocals, together with rapperFabri Fibra, on the single "Fotografia" by Italian recording artistCarl Brave.[78]On 16 November 2018, Michielin released a new song, "Femme", written by Michielin and Calcutta and remixed by Bruno Belissimo.[79] A vinyl edition of2640 was released on 7 December 2018, including the original 13 tracks as well as "Femme", "Fotografia" and the demo of "Tropicale".[80]
Michielin composed the original soundtrack for the short filmA Cup of Coffee with Marylin, which was directed by Alessandra Gonnella and which premiered at the2019 Cannes Film Festival.[81]
Michelin began teasing her musical return on her social media accounts on 8 November 2019,[82] culminating in the announcement of the single "Cheyenne" featuringCharlie Charles, which was released on 15 November 2019 as the lead single from Michielin's fourth studio album.[83][84][85] TitledFeat (stato di natura) and released on 13 March 2020, the album included 11 tracks, all of which featured other artists, with the main theme being the contrast and union between urban and natural environments.[86][87] It was set to be preceded by three concerts, each with a different location, theme and arrangement. A new song from the album was premiered during each event, and released on the following day—"Gange", featuring Italian rapperShiva, was released after the performance which took place at the Rocketnightclub on 20 February 2020;[88] "Riserva naturale", featuringComa Cose, premiered on 27 February 2020 during a show which was set to take place at the Serraglio nightclub, but was turned to a Facebook livestream session due to restrictions aimed at containing the outbreak of theCOVID-19 pandemic in Italy.[89][90][91] "Monolocale", featuringFabri Fibra, debuted at the 5 March 2020 event, broadcast onRaiPlay.[92][93]The album debuted and peaked at number 7 in Italy.[94] The song "Stato di natura", featuringMåneskin, was released as the album's second single on 13 March 2020.[95] On 3 April 2020, "Monolocale" was released as the album's third single.[96][97]
In the meanwhile, Michielin performed a cover ofGianni Morandi,Enrico Ruggeri &Umberto Tozzi's "Si può dare di più" withLevante and Maria Antonietta for the third night of the70th Sanremo Music Festival, on 6 February 2020.[98] She was among the artists involved in the charity eventMusica che unisce, created as a collage of home made contributions and performances recorded and broadcast during theCOVID-19 lockdown,[99] and she performed "Cheyenne" from a panoramic corner in her hometownBassano del Grappa during the 2020 International Workers' Day concert, annually supported by Italian trade unionsCGIL,CISL andUIL and adapted in 2020 to a televised show without any audience.[100][101]
On 22 January 2021, Michielin released the song "Cattive stelle" with Vasco Brondi, as an addition to her previous albumFeat (stato di natura).[102] In February of the same year, she launched herpodcast titledMaschiacci – Per cosa lottano le donne oggi?, interviewing celebrities about topics related to the fight againstgender stereotypes.[103] In March 2021, she performed the song "Chiamami per nome" withFedez at the71st Sanremo Music Festival.[104]After being the bookmaker's favourite to be victorious in the contest, it placed second overall.[105][106]This marked the pair's third collaboration, following 2013's "Cigno nero" and 2014's "Magnifico". The song reached number one in Italy.[107] Michielin also dueted withSamuel on the single "Cinema", and later recorded the song "Nei tuoi occhi" for the soundtrack of the filmMarilyn's Eyes.[108][109]
In March 2022, Michielin debuted as a record producer on the track "Liberi", included on the albumCaos by Italian rapperFabri Fibra. The track also features Michielin's vocals.[116]Her singles "Bonsoir", a pop song produced byDario Faini, and "Occhi grandi grandi", a track influenced by rock andnu metal, were released on 1 July 2022 and on 9 September 2022, respectively.[117][118]
In Fall 2022 Michielin returned atX Factor, replacingLudovico Tersigni as the host of the sixteenth series of the show.[119] In the meanwhile, she started a series of six live shows at a small venue in Milan, the Mosso.[120] A tour celebrating the first ten years of Michielin's career, named Bonsoir! – Michielin10, took place in Italian theatres between February 2023 and April 2023.[117] Michielin's fifth studio album,Cani sciolti, was released on 24 February 2023.[121] In the same year, she was confirmed as theX Factor host for a second series.[122]
In December 2024, Michielin was announced as one of the participants in theSanremo Music Festival 2025 with the song "Fango in paradiso".[123] She ultimately placed 21st.[124] Shortly after the contest, she parted ways with her manager Marta Donà, explaining she wanted to pursue a new musical direction and start a new phase in her career.[125][126]In October 2025, "Fango in paradiso" was included in the EPAnime, preceded by the auto-biographical single "Francesca", launched in May 2025, and by the song "È naturale", recorded with Italian electronic bandPlanet Funk.[127][128][129]
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