Nina Zilli

Nina Zilli

Musician

Forfans of soul and r&b, listeners of contemporary italian pop with retro influences, readers of album reviews.
2 Reviews 21 Definitions 2 Charts

The Profile

Italian singer who performs as Nina Zilli (born Maria Chiara Fraschetta). Debuted commercially in 2010 with the album Sempre Lontano; her music blends soul, R&B, reggae and Italian song traditions. She has appeared at Sanremo and is noted for a powerful, vintage-tinged voice.

Stage name pays tribute to Nina Simone combined with her mother's surname. Reported childhood between Italy, Ireland and the United States; performed publicly for over a decade before her 2010 record deal. Sanremo appearances and the single "50mila" (duet with Giuliano Palma) increased her visibility ("50mila" featured in the film Mine Vaganti soundtrack).

Two DeBaser reviews assess Nina Zilli's early albums, praising her voice and vintage-soul production while noting a still-developing personal identity. Sempre Lontano is lauded for its soulful arrangements; Frasi&Fumo is seen as well-made but not yet breakthrough work.

Notable Quotes

❝ "Thanks to Nina Simone for the warrior spirit, Alton Ellis and the chills of his beautiful singing, Otis Redding for every note he sang..."

❝ Since her debut back in 2010 with that "L'Uomo che Amava le Donne" which convinced more than a few of her abilities, Nina Zilli's talent has (almost) never been questioned and indeed, whether one likes it or not, it cannot be denied that she possesses technical and vocal skills and a stage presence capable of overshadowing far more "illustrious" colleagues.