Vivian Grillo

Vivian Darlene Cecilia Grillo better known by her stage name Vivian, is an Italian-American singer, rapper and songwriter. She was born in Vicenza, Italy and raised/resides in Villaverla, Vicenza but travels annually to the United States. Vivian received public notice after being selected as one of the final 12 contestants on X Factor (Italy series 8) in 2014. She was noticed by Fedez (famous Italian rapper, owner with J-AX of the Newtopia X Factor (Italy series 8) Record Label and one of the 4 X-Factor judges for the “under 25 males”) for her rap flow, originality and sensual moves.

Quotes:

“Rappi come un drago” - Fedez “You rap like a dragon!” - Fedez

«In un mercato moribondo, tu sei un petardo dentro un obitorio» - Fedez “In a dying market, you are a firecracker in a morgue” - Fedez

CONTENTS: 1. Life: Family and School

Vivian Darlene Cecilia Grillo was born in Vicenza,. Vivian has three siblings (Desiree Ann Grillo, Peter Joseph Grillo II and Lawrence Francis Grillo), and was born into an art and music friendly family environment. Her mother a homemaker and her father, who retired from the U.S. Army, after 21 years of military service in 1998, now works as a civil servant for the U.S. Government as the Logistics Manager and Accountability Officer for American Forces Network – Europe (AFN-E), a radio and television service that covers Europe and South West Asia. She attended Dante Alighieri elementary school (2000-2005) and Carlo Goldoni middle school (2006-2008) in Villaverla (Vicenza), where she was noted as being musically and theatrically inclined. She took private guitar (with Elisa Moretto) and piano lessons (with Elena Righi) during her elementary education. She started writing her own songs at nine years old with her first one being “Why I'm going down”. During middle school, she was selected and requested by Prof. Dalla Gassa to be the soloist for the Montecchio Precalcino and Villaverla middle schools for an event where all district schools participated. She performed “Zombie” by The Cranberries making an impression on everyone present and it was recommended that she attend a music school. Vivian graduated from Liceo Don Giuseppe Fogazzaro, Vicenza in 2013 with a GPA of 94/100 percent, where she focused on psychology, sociology, and child behavior and development, but was heavily involved with music and performing arts throughout her school years – particularly in the drama/theatre program and the school choir. Vivian then enrolled in college at the University of Trento, Italy (one of the top Research Centers of Europe) with the 59th best score on the entrance exams (only 110 accepted in her course of studies). She studies “Tecniche di Psicologia e Scienze Cognitive” (Psychological Techniques and Cognitive Sciences). Vivian regularly attended classes and took all the required exams she could between the X-Factor Italy, Eighth Edition auditions, but once she was in the program she decided to put her studies on hold, in order to pursue this amazing career opportunity. She has said in many interviews and in her Meet & Greets with students, both before and after her time on X-Factor Italy, that one of her personal goals is to finish her studies, because she believes they are essential for her to be well-rounded, and to continue her personal growth, development and overall knowledge base.

1.2. Life: Music Journey Musical journey: Vivian has been noted as being musically inclined since elementary school and has been immersed in a music environment since early childhood. She took private guitar lessons with Elisa Moretto (from 2003 to 2007) and piano lessons with Elena Righi (from 2005 to 2007). She started writing her own lyrics and melodies at age nine. While in Middle School, she was asked by Professor Dalla Gassa to perform as a soloist singer for the School District Performance. From 2010 to 2011 she started her first vocal lessons with Chiara Santagiuliana. From 2011 to 2013 she continued vocal lessons with Lorenzo Fattambrini. During this time, she was also taking lessons in piano accompaniment for singers with Riccardo Pettina` and lessons in music theory and solfeggio with Riccardo Brazzale. She had the honor of recording her first single - never released - “Haunting me” with Lorenzo Signorini and with the support of her then vocal coach Lorenzo Fattambrini at the Music Institute of Thiene, directed by Bruno Grotto and Riccardo Brazzale. She auditioned for The Music Institute of Thiene's Vocal Project (IMTVP) and became a member of the choral group in 2011. Thanks to this vocal group (IMTVP) she had the opportunity to work with Tactus Rosa, international artist Knagui and Italian singer/songwriter Davide Peron. IMT Vocal Project → Received the Excellence Award and Special Prize for the best Choral arrangement in the Festival of Coralita` Veneta Competition in 2010. → Was the winner of the Gran Premio of Coralita` Veneta in 2012. → Was the winner of the National Choral Competition in Vittorio Veneto in 2013. → In 2014: L'IMTVP recorded and released their first CD: vox jubox.

For a couple of years, Vivian attended the “Musica d'Insieme” course offered by the Musical Institute of Thiene, thanks to this course she has had the pleasure to work in a group (band setting) and to musically grow with the help and support of Federico Malaman and Lorenzo Guarda. -In 2013 she was invited to sing for the CIMEC Christmas concert, in Rovereto. Vivian has also participated in several vocal competitions (listed below) with the intent of learning/growing as an artist and having fun doing what she loves to do.

Vivian participated in the following Vocal competitions:

1. - Musica E` (Caldogno) 2012 → finalist (singer/songwriter category)

2. - I Make Musik 2011 (Thiene) → finalist (singer/songwriter category)

   - I Make Musik 2012 (Thiene) → winner (Song interpretation category) 
   - I Make Musik 2013 (Thiene) → finalist (singer/songwriter category)

3. - Montagna Spaccata 2011 (Recoaro Mille) → finalist (Song interpretation category)

   - Montagna Spaccata 2012 (Recoaro Mille) → winner (Song interpretation category)
   - Montagna Spaccata 2013 (Recoaro Mille) → finalist in 3 categories (cover category,               songwriting category, live vocal performance with live accompaniment)

4. - Festival Show 2014 (Italian National Competition) → finalist (TOP30) 5. - Gran Polu 2014 in Castelnovo with Radio Caldogno → finalist (third place) 6. - X-Factor Italy, 8th Edition 2014 → (TOP12) she arrived to the 5th Live Show and placed eighth.

1.3. Life: Drama and Acting Her High School promoted the arts: Music and Theater/Drama. Vivian took courses in singing/chorus under the supervision of Sereno Ruaro and performed at the school's live events, and was also selected as a top soloist. She performed various plays with Liceo Fogazzaro under the direction of Ketti Grunchi. The school took part in the European Initiative “Commenius”, with a German and a Czeck school. The school theatrical group also participate in 2011 in Bologna at the Festival d’Europa. This allowed Vivian to go to the Czech Republic and work on her acting skills. Vivian performed in various school plays, always having main male roles; she says she loved interpreting the opposite sex while acting, because no other girl wanted to look masculine and according to her it was cool to totally dive into a completely different world.

The names of the theatre shows are:

 9th grade (2009): “I trogloditi”

10th grade (2010): “La vita degli insetti” 11th grade (2011): “Donne d'Italia” 12th grade (2012): “Orlando furioso” 13th grade (2013): “Ulisse”

All these shows were performed in the Astra Theatre in Vicenza. Vivian also took Music/theatre classes/lessons for a year with “La Compagnia del Villaggio” directed by Luca Lovato that earned her the part as Rifiki that she gave up due to scheduling conflicts.

2. Personal Life 2.1. Dreams Vivian said in various interviews that she has always dreamed since she was a baby of becoming a performer. And her dream and goal to date is that of recording her first original album. She also wants to finish her studies in Neuroscience and study Music Therapy. She wants to use music to help and better the lives of others.

2.2. Values Vivian was raised in a military family where values and discipline were key.

3. Career 3.1 Festival Show She tried out for the Italian Talent Show “Festival Show” in 2014 sponsored by Radio Bella e Monella e Radio Birikina. She was selected and continued on until the finals.

3.2. X-Factor Eight Italy – 2014 She then tried out for “X-Factor Italy – Eighth Edition” and was moved on through to the Live Shows (TOP 12). Her judge/mentor was Victoria Cabello (Italian television presenter) whom, besides Vivian, chose Ilaria Rastrelli and Camilla Magli to be part of her team, the “under 25 female group”. Vivian performed five Live Shows out of eight and finished in eighth place. The public believed her elimination was attributed to Coach Cabello's inability to choose songs that fit Vivian’s voice and vocal style and the mentor’s preference for the other two young ladies in the chosen sub-group. 3.3. Collaboration with Fedez Vivian caught the attention of FEDEZ; the coach for the “under 25 male group”, whom after her elimination from X-Factor Italy, publicly announced on 10 December 2014 that Vivian would accompany him on all the dates of his "Pop-Hoolista Tour" throughout Italy. Other collaborations include Vivian performing with Fedez at the “Capodanno con Gigi D'Alessio & Friends”, a New Year’s Eve event in Naples, transmitted by TV station Canale 5 where she sang “Magnifico” from the album Pop-Hoolista and “Cigno Nero” from the album Sig. Brainwash. On 14 January 2015, during the TV Show “Invasioni Barbariche” conducted by Daria Bignardi and produced by La7, she sang with Fedez “Pop-hoolista”, hit song from his new album; again sang the same song on 21 January 2015 for TV channel Radio Italia conducted by Daniele Bossari and also on 19 February 2015, during the TV show “Fronte del Palco” on Italia1 presented by Simone Annicchiarico.

4. Artistry 4.1. Musical Style and Influences Vivian is known for being the best Italian female rapper and for writing her own lyrics and melodies, music. She hasn't revealed her influences yet.

4.2. Voice Vocally considered a potential powerhouse by the judges of X-Factor and known for her ability to rap for long phrases and periods of time without interruption and her amazing breath control and diaphragmatic support.

4.3. Songwriting She started songwriting at the age of 8–9 years old and still writes her own music today.

4.4. Public Image Known for her long eye-liner and extravagant outfits worn on the X-Factor stage.

5. Tours 5.1. Fedez's Pop-Hoolista Tour Vivian will be opening all “Pop-Hoolista Tour” concerts with her own performance and will be singing the female parts of Fedez's songs. The tour begins on the 19th of March 2015. The dates are: 19 March - Rimini, Stadium 105 21 March - Assago (Mi), MediolanumForum - SOLD OUT 22 March - Assago (Mi), MediolanumForum - SOLD OUT 27 March - Roma, Atlantico - SPOSTATO AL PALALOTTOMATICA 2 April - Napoli, Casa della Musica 7 April - Firenze, OBIHall - SOLD OUT 8 April - Firenze, OBIHall 14 April - Bologna, Estragon - SOLD OUT 15 April - Bologna, Estragon 17 April - San Biagio di Callalta (TV), Supersonic Music Arena 18 April - San Biagio di Callalta (TV), Supersonic Music Arena 21 April - Bologna, Estragon 23 April - Fontaneto D'agogna, Pala Phenomenon 29 April - Nonantola, Vox Club 23 June -Sesto San Giovanni (Mi), Carroponte 8 July - Brescia 10 July – Trieste, Piazza dell’Unita` 11 July- Marostica 17 July- Villa Franca di Verona 9 August- Monopoli

References

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