Francesca Battistelli

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Francesca Battistelli


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Background = solo_singer
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Born = May 18 1985(age 23)
Origin = New York City, New York, USA
Instrument = Guitar
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Genre = CCM, Pop, Soul
Occupation = Singer, songwriter
Years_active = Start date|2002 - Start date|present
Label = Fervent Records, Warner Bros. Records
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URL = [http://www.francescamusic.com/ francescamusic.com]
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Francesca Battistelli (born May 18, 1985) is a Christian musician from New York City, New York.cite web |url=http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/artists/FrancescaBattistelli.asp |title=Francesca Battistelli Artist Database, Francesca Battistelli Discography |publisher=Jesus Freak Hideout |accessdate=2008-06-11] She was originally an independent artist and had released an independent album, "Just a Breath", in 2004. Her first studio album on Fervent Records, "My Paper Heart", was released on July 22 2008. Her first single, "I'm Letting Go", was released to radio stations in spring of 2008 and has charted on national Christian CHR charts since then.

Biography

Early life

Battistelli grew up in a musical family with both of her parents involved in musical theatre.cite web |url=http://christianmusic.about.com/b/2008/05/21/introducing-francesca-battistelli.htm |title=Introducing Francesca Battistelli |date=2008-05-21 |publisher=About.com |accessdate=2008-06-11] "There was just something about live theater—especially musical theater—that has always resonated with me" she said. She "knew that she was going to spend her life performing" after seeing a performance of the musical "The Secret Garden" on Broadway at the age of six. "So I thought that was it. I was going to be Mary Lennox in "The Secret Garden"."cite web |url=http://www.yourmusiczone.com/go/ymz/music_artist_more/battistelli_francesca/ |title=Francesca Battistelli Biography |publisher=Your Music Zone |accessdate=2008-06-12]

When she was 15, however, she became a member of an Orlando all-girl mainstream pop group. The group's touring performances included singing and dancing; "two things I loved", she said. After the group disbanded, Battistelli picked up the guitar and began writing songs.

Musical career

As an independent artist in 2004, Battistelli released her debut album, "Just a Breath". In early 2008, she released the "I'm Letting Go EP" exclusively through iTunes on Fervent Records which contains four songs, including the title track. All four songs were included on her first major label studio album, "My Paper Heart", which was released on July 22, 2008.cite web |url=http://www.lightvox.com/francesca-battistelli-im-letting-go-my-paper-heart.html |title=Francesca Battistelli My Paper Heart - Releases July 22nd |date=2008-05-18 |publisher=Word Music Group; Lightvox.com |accessdate=2008-06-11] The album was produced by Dove Award-winning producer Ian Eskelin, and will be released on Fervent Records through Word Distribution.cite web |url=http://www.cmspin.com/newsmanager/anmviewer.asp?a=4951&z=26 |title=Francesca Battistelli Opens Her Heart With July 22rd Release |date=2008-05-15 |publisher=CMSpin.com |accessdate=2008-06-11] Her first radio single, "I'm Letting Go", was released in spring 2008. The song had reached into the top 20 on R&R's Christian CHR charts by May 30 2008.cite web |url=http://www.yourmusiczone.com/go/ymz/news_more/francesca_battistellis_july_22nd_release_my_paper_heart_already_garnering_m/ |title=Francesca Battistelli's July 22nd Release, My Paper Heart, Already Garnering Major Buzz |publisher=Your Music Zone |date=2008-05-30 |accessdate=2008-06-11] . In early July 2008, the song reached #10 on Christian CHR charts. [cite web |url=http://www.radioandrecords.com/formats/charts/christ_chr_chart.asp |title=R&R – Christian CHR National Airplay |publisher=R&R |date=Issue date: July 4, 2008 |accessdate=2008-07-08] "My Paper Heart" debuted at #1 on iTunes in July and was in the top 10 Christian albums for 4 weeks.

Battistelli has been touring the US in the spring of 2008, playing solo concerts as well as performing with fellow Fervent Records band Big Daddy Weave. She will be playing at Christian music festivals during the summer of 2008, such as Spirit West Coast in California and Alive Fest.cite web |url=http://www.yourmusiczone.com/go/ymz/news_more/francesca_battistelli_opens_her_heart_with_july_22nd_release_my_paper_heart/ |title=Francesca Battistelli Opens Her Heart With July 22nd Release, "My Paper Heart" |publisher=Your Music Zone |date=2008-05-28 |accessdate=2008-06-11]

Her debut single "I'm Letting Go" reached #3 on R&R's Christian CHR and AC charts as of August 20, 2008.She will be on tour in the fall of 2008 with NewSong and Aaron Shust.

tyle

Battistelli's music has been given several different genre labels. A reviewer once said that "Battistelli's soulful piano-pop sound resembles a blend of her music interests—jazz, rock, gospel and R&B."cite web |url=http://www.musicremedy.com/f/Francesca_Battistelli/videos/Im_Letting_Go-22601.html |title=Francesca Battistelli I'm Letting Go music video |publisher=Music Remedy |accessdate=2008-06-11] Battistelli stated that when she first began writing music, "I really longed to bring something authentic to the [Christian music] scene that even non-Christians could listen to."

Discography

*2004: "Just a Breath" (independent)
*2008: "I'm Letting Go EP" (iTunes Exclusive) (Fervent) (Warner Bros.)
*2008: "My Paper Heart" (Fervent) – (Warner Bros.)

;Music videos
*"I'm Letting Go" – peaked at #10 on national Christian CHR charts, including the Top 3 on R&R magazine [cite web|url=http://www.weekend22.com/|title=R&R August 2, 2008 Christian CHR chart|date=2008-08-02|publisher=R&R as reported by the Weekend 22|accessdate=2008-08-03]

References

External links

* [http://www.francescamusic.com/ Official website]
* [http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=11126129 Francesca Battistelli] on MySpace