Veronica Ballestrini
| Veronica Ballestrini | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Born |
October 29, 1991 Waterford, CT, USA |
| Genres | Country/Pop |
| Occupations | Singer-Songwriter |
| Instruments | Guitar, Keyboard, Vocals |
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Labels | Timbob Records |
| Website | http://www.veronicaballestrini.net |
Veronica Jean Ballestrini (born October 29, 1991) known as simply Veronica, is an American country pop singer-songwriter, musician and actress. Her self-made success story has caught national attention as Jon Caramanica wrote in the New York Times, "... When someone like Ms. Ballestrini arrives essentially unannounced and begins to attract attention, it’s significant.”[1] Veronica is endorsed by World Famous Microphone manufacturer Sennheiser after winning the 2011 songwriting contest with the company.[2] Veronica was named one of six "Artists to Watch For" by Marie Claire Magazine.[3]
As part of her ministry, Ballestrini visits Women's Correctional Facilities around the United States sharing her music with inmates.[4]
Biography
Ballestrini was born in New London, CT and raised in Waterford, CT. She comes from a large family of four brothers and one sister. Her father Rosario Ballestrini and mother Carol Marandino Ballestrini are both Italian-American[5] Her parents took her to a Dolly Parton concert when she was eleven and this started her interest in country music.
Ballestrini began playing guitar and writing songs at the age of thirteen the same year she started her MySpace music page. With only cover songs up at the time, she still managed attract many fans.[6] Veronica's popularity increased after writing and composing her song "Daddy" and posting it to her MySpace playlist. At age fourteen Veronica began performing around her homestate of Connecticut at local talent contests and fairs. In November 2006 Veronica won 1st place at the USA World Showcase in Las Vegas, performing her song "Daddy". Her internet status caught the attention of many Nashville record producers, who then contacted her about recording in Music City.[7] On her fifteenth birthday, her family surprised her with a round-trip ticket to Nashville to pursue her dream.
While still in high school, Ballestrini made her professional singing debut. Ballestrini created an independent label in 2009 and worked with producer Cliff Downs, with whom she has written many songs. Downs produced her debut album "What I'm All About".[8]
October 1, 2010, Ballestrini join a first annual fundraiser called M.A.D.D dancing at Mohegan Sun ballroom in Uncasville, Connecticut. The tickets help victims/survivors through the multitude of emotions and criminal proceedings that take place through court accompaniment and by providing grief counseling and support groups.
Music career
2009-2010: What I'm All About
Ballestrini went on to record her debut album What I'm All About which was released on August 21, 2009 on her own independent label. Her first single "Amazing" charted on the Music Row Country chart[9] and the music video debuted at No. 3 on CMT Pure.[10] "Don't Say" and "Out There Somewhere" were two other singles released off this album.[11]
Veronica's song "Destiny" is featured in the Diary of an Ex-Child Star (formerly Leaving Hollywood) movie and on the soundtrack. "Destiny" was also on her "What I'm All About" CD released in 2009.
2010: If I Can Dream
In April 2010, Veronica was chosen as the "Editors Pick" in the If I Can Dream MySpace contest, created by Simon Fuller. She visited the Dream House in Beverly Hills from June 4–7, 2010. Veronica returned to the Dream House on June 23, 2010. During her stay she recorded a demo for her song "Fascinated" and developed a romantic relationship with Alex Lambert.[12] For her audition video, she sang "Blessed The Broken Road" by Rascal Flatts.
2010-2012: Gotta Make A Change
In the Summer of 2010 Veronica was part of the "Mead Five Star" Music Insider nationwide sweepstake along with 9 other bands. In October 2010 it was announced Veronica was the winner of the fan voted contest, scoring $25,000.[13] Ballestrini used that money to work on her sophomore album.
In 2011, Veronica began working on a project titled Gotta Make A Change, a process that set in motion her inspirational "Gotta Make A Change" tour. Throughout the summer 2011, Veronica performed shows at various camps, festivals, Girl Scout events and women’s correctional facilities across the U.S. to help spread the project’s motivational message. "Life is full of struggles. We stumble, we fall down, and in those moments we feel we will never get up again," Veronica says on the project’s website. "Sometimes all it takes is one person to say or do something to help you to see life in a new perspective and inspire you to get up and make a change. Life will never be pain free, we just have to learn to embrace the pain and find strength.[14]
In July 2011, Veronica announced to her fans her single "Temporary Fix is going to release in August. On August 11th, Veronica released a new single "Temporary Fix". The music video for this single was shot in Malibu, California.[15] "Temporary Fix" was released on iTunes on August 11, 2011 and the music video, released on September 24, 2011, accumulated over 150,000 views within the first month of being online. In November 2011 Veronica charted on the Billboard Social 50 chart at No. 50 and No. 2 for Country artists.[16]
On February 14, 2012, Ballestrini open up for Andy Grammer at 3rd and Lindsley in Nashville, Tennessee, after asking Grammer on YouTube to open up for him singing "Fine By Me".
In 2012 Veronica released another single "Don't Give Up On Me", along with a music video to YouTube and receive 50,000 views in its first week.[17]
2013-2014: The Flip Side
Veronica began working on her sophomore album with producer/engineer Brandon Metcalf. On January 23, 2013, Veronica performed a live show on stageit, and sang new songs off the album, and told her fans the title. While working on her album, Ballestrini spent a month on tour with Secondhand Serenade and Juliet Simms. The kick off show was in Lexington, KY on March 8 and ended in Hollywood, CA on April 9.
Ballestrini did a duet with Secondhand Serenade for his new album, which is going to be released in 2014. The song is entitled "By The Way." On March 10, Destiny Nashville uploaded acoustic video of them performing to YouTube, and the video reach over 80,000 views within 2 months.
Late April 2013, Veronica was chosen by Ford to be an agent for the Ford Fiesta Movement. She received a blue 2014 Ford Fiesta for a year, along with free gas, insurances, and all expenses paid. She gave the car back in December 2013.[18]
On May 20, 2013, Ballestrini had another stageit show online and had John Vesely from Secondhand Serenade guest star, and sang their song "LA LA Love" for 61 viewers. She sang few songs from the upcoming album.
May 31, 2013, Ballestrini performed at Comcast Theater in Hartford, Conn for Luke Bryan, whom she met in Nashville at CRS in 2010.
September 23, 2013, Ballestrini and Secondhand Serenade filmed a Ford Fiesta commercial in Nashville using their song "LA LA Love". The commercial was film by Glenn Sweitzer, who previously did Veronica's first 3 music videos. The commercial was released to YouTube on October 1 and reached over 12,000 views within 4 days.[citation needed] Also in September, Ballestrini was in a Guitar Center contest, but sadly wasn't in the runner up.
On October 6, Ballestrini ran a 10k with Women's Health Magazine and Ford Fiesta in Chicago. Then on October 11, Ballestrini ran for the Fiesta Movement in Los Angeles, and it show on Live with Jimmy Kimmel on October 16.
December 2013, Ballestrini went to Los Angeles for the Tubeathon party, and $1 went to Covenant House when people tweeted #fiestamovement and #tubeathon on Twitter.
January 8, 2014, Veronica posted her album cover of "Flip Side" to her Instagram and Facebook page. On January 28, Ballestrini announced on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram page, her single "Guys Like You" will release to iTunes on March 3rd. February 1, Veronica uploaded her song "Be My Reason" to iTunes for a limited edition. "Be My Reason, is a song I wrote about wanting a love that is real. The kind of love you see in the movies… I was sitting at the airport one day and I saw this older couple holding hands and looking at each other with so much love. I want to feel something like that"... Ballestrini explained.
Discography
Albums
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| What I'm All About |
|
| The Flip Side |
|
Singles
| Year | Single | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | "Amazing" | What I'm All About | |
| "Out There Somewhere" | |||
| 2010 | "Don't Say" | ||
| 2011 | "Storm inside of you" | "Temporary Fix" | The Flip Side |
| 2012 | "Don't Give up on Me" |
Music videos
| Year | Video | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | "What's up with That" | Glenn Sweitzer |
| 2009 | "Amazing" | |
| 2009 | "Out There Somewhere" | |
| 2010 | "Don't Say" | Glenn Sweitzer |
| 2011 | "Temporary Fix" | |
| 2012 | "Don't Give up on Me" | |
| 2014 | "Guys Like You" | D.J. Cosgrove |
Filmography
| Shows | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2010 | If I Can Dream | Herself | 5 episodes |
| 2010-2011 | I'm_Still_Dreaming_(series)#Cast_members|I'm Still Dreaming | Herself | 7 episodes |
| 2013 | "Fiesta Movement_(series)#Cast_members|Fiesta Movement | Herself | 3 episodes |
| Music Video Appearances | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Title | Artist | Director |
| 2009 | Days That We Live For | Matt Gary | Glenn Sweitzer |
| 2009 | Trail of Lies | Katie Armiger | Glenn Sweitzer |
| 2011 | Start Again | Sam Tsui | Kurt Hugo Schneider |
| 2012 | Perfectly | Shay Mooney | Harcourt Media |
| 2013 | La La Love | Secondhand Serenade | Glenn Sweitzer |
References
- ↑ Caramanica, Jon. (2009-07-31) Following in Taylor Swift’s Footsteps, Young Women Change the Face of Country. NYTimes.com. Retrieved on 2011-09-18.
- ↑ Press Release - Sennheiser endorses Connecticut singer-songwriter Veronica Ballestrini. Sennheiser USA. Retrieved on 2011-09-18.
- ↑ Annie Reuter CMA 2009: Six Artists To Watch. July 10, 2009
- ↑ Veronica visit Women's Correctionals Veronica Visits Correctional Facilities.
- ↑ Veronica's family. Veronicaballestrini.net. Retrieved on 2011-09-18.
- ↑ Veronica growing up. CMT. Retrieved on 2011-09-18.
- ↑ Veronica gaining popularity through MySpace. Cmt.com. Retrieved on 2011-09-18.
- ↑ .Veronica growing up biography
- ↑ Music row Veronica. Musicrow.com (2010-06-20). Retrieved on 2011-09-18.
- ↑ CMT music video. Cmt.com. Retrieved on 2011-09-18.
- ↑ . MusicRow.com Retrieved on 2011-11-01.
- ↑ Veronica on "If I Can Dream". Hulu.com. Retrieved on 2011-09-18.
- ↑ . Veronica wins MEAD Five Star Contest
- ↑ "Gotta Make A Change". "Gotta Make A Change". Retrieved on 2011-09-18.
- ↑ "Temporary Fix Video Shoot". Youtube.com (2011-06-25). Retrieved on 2011-09-18.
- ↑ "Billboard Social 50". "Social 50 Billboard Chart". Retrieved on 2011-11-18.
- ↑ "Don't Give Up On Me". Youtube.com (2013-05-13). Retrieved on 2011-09-18.
- ↑ "Ford Fiesta Veronica. Fiestamovement.com. Retrieved on 2013-05-13
External links
- Veronica Ballestrinis Official Website
- Veronica Ballestrini's Official Myspace
- Veronica on CMT
- Veronica on Sennheiser