Maria Chiara Fraschetta (born 2 February 1980),[1] better known by her stage nameNina Zilli (pronounced[ˈniːnadˈdzilli]), is an Italian singer-songwriter. After releasing her debut single "50mila", she achieved commercial success with the albumSempre lontano, released after participating in the newcomers' section of theSanremo Music Festival 2010. During theSanremo Music Festival 2012, Zilli was chosen to represent Italy in theEurovision Song Contest 2012 inBaku, Azerbaijan, where she placed 9th with the song "L'amore è femmina (Out of Love)", included in her second studio album. Zilli returned to theSanremo Music Festival in 2015, and competed with the song "Sola" from her upcoming album,Frasi&Fumo. She was also a judge ofItalia's Got Talent from 2015 to 2017.
After moving to Ireland, she started performing live and, at the age of thirteen, she started studying opera singing at the conservatory.[6]
In 1997 she founded her first band, The Jerks.[7] After completing high school at theLiceo Scientifico Respighi in Piacenza,[8] she spent two years in the United States, living in Chicago and New York.[9]
Between 2000 and 2001 she co-presented Red Ronnie's TV showRoxy Bar, broadcast in Italy byTMC2.[10] In 2001 she also debuted as aVJ forMTV Italy.[11] Meanwhile she obtained a recording contract with her new band, Chiara e gli Scuri, founded in 2000. In 2001 the band released the single "Tutti al mare".[12] They also started working on an album, but it was never released, due to some disagreements with the recording label.[11]
During the same years, Zilli started her academic studies, later graduating in Public Relations from theIULM University of Milan.[13]
In 2009, she chose the stage name Nina Zilli, combining her mother's surname withNina Simone's first name.[14] Zilli released her debut single, "50mila", on 28 July 2009.[15] The song features vocals byGiuliano Palma, though a Nina only version was later included in the soundtrack ofFerzan Özpetek's filmLoose Cannons.[16]
On 12 January 2010, it was announced that Nina Zilli was one of the winners of the contestSanremo New Generation, allowing her to participate in the newcomers section of the60th Sanremo Music Festival.[20] Zilli's entry, "L'uomo che amava le donne [it]", was performed for the first time on 18 February 2010, and it was admitted to the final,[21] later won by Tony Maiello's "Il linguaggio della resa".[22] During the competition, Zilli received the Critics' Award "Mia Martini"[23] and the Press, Radio & TV Award.[24] The single was certified gold by theFederation of the Italian Music Industry[25] and it was included in Zilli's debut album,Sempre lontano, released on 19 February 2010.[26] A special edition of the album was released on 30 November 2010, together with the single "Bacio d'a(d)dio".[27] On 18 February 2011, the album was certified platinum in Italy, for domestic sales exceeding 60,000 copies.[28]
In February 2011, she received two nominations at the 2011TRL Awards in the categories Best Look and Italians Do It Better.[29] Zilli was also the presenter of the night, broadcast byMTV Italy on 20 April 2011.[30] In March 2011,Sempre lontano was also released in Spain.[31]
Sanremo Music Festival 2012,L'amore è Femmina and Eurovision Song Contest
Zilli's second studio album,L'amore è femmina, was released on 15 February 2012.[36] In March of the same year, she co-presented the showPanariello non esiste, created by Italian comedianGiorgio Panariello and broadcast byCanale 5.[37]
