Lorenzo Fragola

Lorenzo Fragola
Birth name Lorenzo Fragola
Born 26 April 1995
Catania, Sicily, Italy
Genres Pop
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter
Instruments
Years active 2014–present
Labels

Lorenzo Fragola (born 26 April 1995) is an Italian singer-songwriter. He rose to fame after winning the eighth series of the Italian talent show X Factor. His winner's single, "The Reason Why", debuted atop the Italian Singles Chart, and was later certified double platinum by the Federation of the Italian Music Industry. Fragola competed in the 65th Sanremo Music Festival, performing the song "Siamo uguali" and placing tenth in a field of twenty. His debut album, 1995, was released in Italy on 31 March 2015, reaching the top spot of the Italian Albums Chart.

Biography

Early life

Lorenzo Fragola was born in Catania, Sicily, on 26 April 1995.[1] His parents divorced when he was three. Since then, he lived with his mother and brother.[2] His interest in music was encouraged by his father, who plays piano. As a child, Fragola started to take music lessons, and he subsequently entered a choir. Despite writing songs since a few years, he refused to sing them to an audience until when he was 17, when he composed and performed a song for a musical based on the film Shakespeare in Love.[2]

After completing high school, Fragola moved to Bologna, where he started studying Arts, Music and Entertainment.[2]

X Factor and career breakthrough

In 2013, he auditioned for the seventh series of the Italian talent show X Factor, but he failed to pass the first selection.[3] He tried once again to enter the competition in 2014, when he performed Domenico Modugno's "Cosa sono le nuvole" and his own song "The Reason Why".[4][5] As a result, he was chosen as one of the contestants of the eighth series of X Factor. Mentioned by Italian rapper Fedez, Fragola reached the final of the competition and, on 11 December 2014, he was announced the winner, beating runner-up Madh.[6] His prize was a recording contract with Sony Music, with a stated value of € 300,000.[7]

During the week preceding the final of X Factor, Fragola's debut single, as well as the new song performed by the remaining semi-finalists, was released to Italian radio stations and as a digital download.[8] Titled "The Reason Why", the song immediately achieved commercial success, reaching the top position of the Italian chart during its first week.[9] The single was also certified double-platinum by the Federation of the Italian Music Industry, denoting sales in excess of 60,000 units.[10] The song was later included in his self-titled EP, released by Sony Music on 12 December 2014.[11] In December of the same year, Fragola appeared in the music video for the song "Sayonara", released by X Factor runner-up Madh.[12] Shortly after, Fragola signed a deal with Newtopia, the recording company co-founded by his former X Factor mentor, Fedez. According to the deal, Fragola is now co-managed by Newtopia and Sony Music.[13]

Sanremo Music Festival and debut album

In February 2015, Fragola competed in the "Big Artists" section of the 65th Sanremo Music Festival, performing the song "Siamo uguali", co-written with Fedez and Fausto Cogliati.[14][15] During the contest, Fragola also performed a cover of Ron's "Una città per cantare", which is an Italian adaptation of "The road", originally recorded by Jackson Browne.[16][17] After reaching the final, he finished in tenth place.[18]

Fragola's debut album, 1995, was released on 31 March 2015.[19] The album, composed of both Italian-language and English-language songs, includes both his previous singles, "The Reason Why" and "Siamo uguali", as well as tracks co-written by Nek, Rebecca Ferguson and Tom Odell, among the others.[20] 1995 debuted at number one on the Italian Albums Chart.[21]

Personal life

In 2014, when he was selected as one of the contestants of the eighth series of X Factor, Fragola was engaged with his girlfriend, Federica Consiglio. During an interview released to the Italian edition of Vanity Fair, Fragola stated he considered himself "as if he was married to her", since the couple started living together immediately after completing high school, splitting their time between Bologna, where he was studying Arts, Music and Entertainment, and Modena, where she studies Biotechnology.[2] However, in late December 2014, Consiglio announced through a Facebook post the couple had split on 17 December of the same year.[22][23]

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with chart positions and certifications
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
ITA
[24]
1995
  • Released: 31 March 2015
  • Label: RCA Records
  • Formats: CD, download
 1

EPs

List of extended plays, with selected chart positions and certifications
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
ITA
[24]
Lorenzo Fragola
  • Released: 12 December 2014
  • Label: Sony BMG
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 11

Singles

List of singles, with chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name
Single Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album or EP
ITA
[9]
"The Reason Why" 2014 1
  • FIMI: 2× Platinum[10]
 Lorenzo Fragola
"Siamo uguali" 2015 8 1995

Album appearances

List of other album appearances
Contribution Year Album
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"[26]
(with Madh, Leiner and Riccardo Schiara)		 2014 X Factor Christmas 2014
"Una città per cantare"[27] 2015 Super Sanremo 2015

Music videos

Title Year Director(s)
"The Reason Why"[28] 2015 Cosimo Alemà
"Siamo uguali"[29] 2015 Mauro Russo

Sanremo Music Festival entries

Year Section Song and writers Result
2015 Big Artists "Siamo uguali"
(Lorenzo Fragola, Fedez, Fausto Cogliati)		 10th place

Awards and nominations

Year Award Nomination Work Result
2015 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards Favorite Italian Singer[30] Himself Nominated

References

  1. ↑ Giorgio Dell'Atri (15 December 2014). "Lorenzo Fragola". Catalogo dei viventi 2015 (in Italian). Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Sara Faillaci (17 December 2014). "Lorenzo Fragola: Vado a Sanremo". Vanity Fair (Italian edition) (in Italian). Archived from the original on 19 December 2014.
  3. ↑ Luca Dondoni (13 December 2014). "Lorenzo Fragola: "Per vincere a X Factor ho battuto le mie paure"". La Stampa (in Italian). Archived from the original on 14 December 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  4. ↑ Cecilia Uzzo (26 September 2014). "X Factor 8, cantautori alla riscossa". Vanity Fair (Italian edition) (in Italian). Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  5. ↑ Alessandro Alicandri. "X Factor 8: le Audizioni. Lorenzo Fragola e le pagelle della seconda puntata". Panorama (in Italian). Archived from the original on 30 November 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  6. ↑ Anna Lupini (11 December 2014). "X Factor, vince Lorenzo Fragola". la Repubblica (in Italian). Archived from the original on 16 December 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  7. ↑ Alessandra De Tommasi (11 December 2014). "X Factor, vince Lorenzo, Madh secondo. Il pubblico fischia Morgan e lui: 'Str...'". Leggo (in Italian). Archived from the original on 28 December 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  8. ↑ "Da oggi in radio i quattro inediti dei finalisti di X Factor 2014" (in Italian). Rockol.it. 5 December 2014. Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Classifiche - Archivio - Top Digital - Classifica settimanale WK 49 (dal 01-12-2014 al 07-12-2014)" (in Italian). Federation of the Italian Music Industry. Archived from the original on 13 December 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2014. http://www.fimi.it/archivio_certificazioni.php
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 "Italian single certifications – Lorenzo Fragola" (in Italian). Federation of the Italian Music Industry. Retrieved 19 December 2014. Select Online in the field Sezione. Enter Lorenzo Fragola in the field Filtra. The certification will load automatically
  11. ↑ "Esce oggi in Cd e digitale l'EP di debutto omonimo di Lorenzo Fragola, vincitore di X Factor 8" (in Italian). Sony Music. 12 December 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  12. ↑ "Madh: il video di Sayonara in anteprima su Sky Uno e VEVO" (in Italian). Sky Italia. 24 December 2014. Archived from the original on 29 December 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  13. ↑ "Fedex: A Sanremo con Lorenzo Fragola". TGCOM (in Italian). Mediaset. 22 December 2014. Archived from the original on 28 December 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  14. ↑ Alessandro Alicandri. "Sanremo 2015, i nomi dei 20 cantanti in gara". TV Sorrisi e Canzoni (in Italian). Archived from the original on 16 December 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  15. ↑ Gianni Sibilla (23 January 2015). "Sanremo 2015, l’ascolto in anteprima delle canzoni dei Campioni" (in Italian). Rockol.it. Archived from the original on 27 January 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  16. ↑ "Sanremo 2015, le cover di stasera 12 febbraio" (in Italian). Rockol.it. 12 February 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  17. ↑ Alessandra Vitali (12 February 2015). "Sanremo, Nek vince la serata delle cover. Luca e Paolo, si ride con la R.I.P. Parade". la Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  18. ↑ "Sanrmeo 2015 – Risultati Artisti Campioni" (PDF) (in Italian). RAI. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 February 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  19. ↑ "1995: Il primo disco di Lorenzo Fragola uscirà il 31 marzo" (in Italian). Radio Italia Solo Musica Italiana. 9 March 2015. Archived from the original on 9 March 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  20. ↑ Massimiliano Logno (31 March 2015). "Esce oggi 1995, l'album di debutto di Lorenzo Fragola: ecco tutti gli autori" (in Italian). AllMusicItalia.it. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  21. ↑ "Hit parade, esordio al top per Lorenzo Fragola" (in Italian). Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata. 9 April 2015. Archived from the original on 9 April 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  22. ↑ "X Factor, il vincitore Lorenzo Fragola lasciato dalla fidanzata: ormai è irriconoscibile". Leggo (in Italian). 26 December 2014. Archived from the original on 28 December 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  23. ↑ "Lorenzo Fragola, il vincitore di X Factor ripudiato dalla sua ex ragazza: Basta associarmi a lui, è irriconoscibile". Libero (in Italian). 26 December 2014. Archived from the original on 27 December 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 "Italian Charts - Lorenzo Fragola - Albums". Italiancharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  25. ↑ "Italian album certifications – Lorenzo Fragola" (in Italian). Federation of the Italian Music Industry. Retrieved 24 April 2015. Select Album e Compilation in the field Sezione. Enter Lorenzo Fragola in the field Filtra. The certification will load automatically
  26. ↑ "X Factor Christmas 2014: festeggia Natale con noi!" (in Italian). Sky Italia. 25 November 2014. Archived from the original on 25 November 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  27. ↑ "Super Sanremo 2015 – CD Cover e Tracklist" (in Italian). M&B Music. 13 February 2015. Archived from the original on 17 February 2015.
  28. ↑ Gianmarco Regaldi (13 January 2015). "Lorenzo Fragola: attesa finita. Ecco il video di The Reason Why" (in Italian). AllMusicItalia.it. Archived from the original on 14 January 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  29. ↑ Enrico Furnari. "Lorenzo Fragola: storia d'amore al fast food per il video di Siamo uguali" (in Italian). AllMusicItalia. Archived from the original on 21 February 2015. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  30. ↑ "Annalisa, Dear Jack, Fedez e Lorenzo Fragola candidati ai KCA 2015!" (in Italian). Nickelodeon. 20 February 2013. Archived from the original on 21 February 2015. Retrieved 21 February 2015.

External links

Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Michele Bravi		 Italian X Factor
Winner
2014 		Succeeded by
Incumbent